The Warlock of Sunnydale

by makoto x chelia

Michael, a new to the craft Warlock found himself in a desperate situation with a Vampire, and fate decided to allow him to live, by meeting Buffy Summers. Now Michael, the new Warlock in town uses his new found powers to protect himself, and his friends from the evils of the world.

14. Chapter 14

Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!

Wolf King 0811; In a weird way, it kind of is adorable, isn't it?

Hellspam; Aah thanks! I am glad that you liked it! Hehe, I just figured that Amy would do something like that, when she's pissed off. And give her credit, she frightened off Angel, and that's no small feat. Yeah, I thought that if nothing else, he shouldn't be a jerk about that, even if he morbid and stuff. Buffy and The Unicorn, I have some more jokes for that so it won't be going away just yet. Hehe yeah, that should be fun, it starts this chapter, actually. Hmmm, I guess that it does, huh. But what is he? A half Demon, or something else entirely? It's gonna be a ride finding out, huh. Yeah, they'll show on his face from time to time, Buffy likes them so yeah, they'll show up again. Funny that you mention God Eater, I have been getting into that lately, I bought it from the PSN store, and have been kind of addicted to it, I love the games mechanics and such. A fanfic of it huh? Hmmm, it is a possibility, a good one at that. When I play the second one, I will let you know~

Cloud4012; Thanks! Glad that you liked it! Hmm, that's a good question, a very good question indeed.

DocSlendy; Yeah, because of what happened at their wedding and all, it could've been avoided really. But I guess that's drama and all that, and what's Buffy if it doesn't have its drama? Darla is more like a Michael junkie, she wants that yummy blood. Hmm, he might not be entirely human. Yeah, he's kinda freaky, isn't he?

Anime PJ; Yeah, after the downer type chapters previously, it was good to write them reconciling again. Yay for Buffy feelings! She's certainly acknowledged them now! Yeah don't piss off Buffy off, good ways to do it is not attack a member of her family, or kill Michael. I'm glad that came off good, it makes me happy. And thanks! I was hoping that the relationships came off well.

Naroku; Thanks! Well his old home could've been something like that, but Michael went to live with his Grandmother, who lived in the apartment that she gave to him upon her death. If we'll see his house in the future, his parents house that is, is a good question, and the answer is, probably yes. And I'll try!

rfsalinasjr; Yeah, I have been planning it since the first chapter. It might even carry onto season two yet, though I haven't decided just yet. I imagine Xander doing something like that, so I thought that I would put it in here. Yeah, that hyena possession is, something like that alright. I have similar views to yourself. Hmm, it always kind of miffed me off about that as well, I thought that he should've been at least told off for what he did. I dunno if I am gonna do it here or not, depending on how it progresses.

BizzareBard; Thank you! Dawn is quite the cute girl, huh. She's quite protective over her elder brother figure. Their friendship is gonna be key later on (after all, sharing the same guy, they have to at least like one another) for what I have planned. Hehe, Harmony and her notes, she's really driving Buffy up the wall. Hehe, I am glad that you do.

Guest; Yeah, in the actual episode, that happened, and it was, as you'd think it was for a viewer to watch it. Seeing that type of stuff isn't what I really like either. But in this story, Xander will be too occupied with a certain Warlock to actually do anything like that to Buffy. Hehe, yeah, that's gonna be good, Buffy shows her cuteness this chapter and Michael will accept his feelings, it shows in this chapter that he kind of does, yet is also reluctant which will be revealed why fully in future chapters.

With those lovely reviews out of the way, it is time to start the chapter!

---

The Pack part one

"Hey Grandmama, I'm sorry for being late. Amy was allowed to come out today so we went into the park to play with Willow, Jesse and Xander. I'll start dinner straight away. Maybe we could have some fish, I just got some yesterday."

A boy walked into an apartment, with striking blonde hair, a smile gracing his lips. Judging on height and voice plus his face, this boy was around thirteen to fourteen years old. He had a bag on his shoulders, which he slanged down onto the floor upon entering this apartment.

When he didn't get an answer, he found it odd, so he looked around.

"Grandmama, where are you? Are you here?"

His eyes looked around the living room he had entered. He couldn't see anyone that could be called 'Grandmama'. This person wasn't on the couches, on the floor or anywhere. The apartment itself was eerie quiet, save for the television that was on.

The boy walked over to the television, and felt it, feeling the heat of it, so he could tell that it had been on for a while. Yet he couldn't see anyone that resembled his grandmother, which was surprising to him, as she was always home.

"Grandmama, don't play games. Come out, okay?"

He continued looking around, thinking that the woman was having a joke…but when she didn't answer, he became more and more worried.

Deciding to search in the kitchen, his feet carried him, his heart going a little faster. He couldn't explain it, he felt like there was something going on, and he wasn't sure exactly what was going on. Since his Grandmother didn't answer him, he was becoming increasingly worried.

Making it to the kitchen, he naturally entered and called for his grandmother.

"Grandmama, are you in-" He paused when he saw that on the floor, there was an old lady, her eyes lifelessly open. "Grandmama…Grandmama?"

He spoke very quietly, his eyes widening in disbelief.

He took a few steps forward, holding a hand to his mouth. His eyes began stinging with tears, his body convulsing. He could barely walk straight, his face painting the picture of pain and sadness, yet his mind couldn't comprehend what was going on.

"Grandmama!" He cried from his soul, rushing over. Upon touching her, he could feel that she was cold. "Grandmama! Grandmama! Please wake up! Please!"

He shook her body, but she wouldn't wake up.

He touched her skin, and felt sick at the coldness. Immediately, he checked if he could feel her breathing with his face, hoping against all hope that he was mistaken, and that she actually was awake, and not dead.

He carefully placed his face next to her own…but nothing. He couldn't feel any breath. He checked for a pulse, but couldn't find one. He looked to see if her chest was moving at all, but there was nothing at all.

Realizing that he wasn't getting a reaction, the boy rushed for the phone, and dialled 911, he waits anxiously, wanting her to wake up, or for someone to answer the phone.

"911, what's your-"

"I-It's my Grandma, sh-she's not breathing!"

His panicked voice carried over the receiver, his body shaking as he watches his fears and realization coming through.

"Is she conscious?"

The operator spoke gently, but the boys mind wasn't really comprehending what she was saying, breaking down at every second that passed by.

"N-No, sh-she's…she's not awaken…she's her eyes…are she isn't…p-please help…"

He pleaded to the operator, pleaded to anyone that could hear. He was only still a child, he didn't know what to do. He was broken, he couldn't think straight. He wanted someone to save him, but no one was coming for him. He felt like he was sinking and nothing could be done.

"Stay calm. Your address, could you give it me? I need to send an ambulance."

"A-Apartment s-seven…M-Morning Avenue…please come…she's cold."

"The body?"

"No!" He snapped at his Grandmother being referred to as a body. "M-My Grandma, she's cold…she's not breathing…"

He felt sick from just saying those words. It was as if he was drained of life or something close to it. His eyes couldn't tear themselves away from the face before him, his own Grandmother's lifeless face.

"It's okay, an ambulance is on the way. Are you alone right now? Did you see if she fell?"

"I-I live alone with Grandma…I-I just came in and found her on the floor, kitchen floor. S-She's really cold, s-s-should I-I make her warm?"

"No. Now, do you know how to preform-"

As the operator was speaking, the boy suddenly remembered something, and put the phone to his ear.

"I have to do something now…I have to bring her back now…"

With that, he hung up the phone, his eyes lifeless. He looked as if light had left him, and nothing was left but an empty shell. There was nothing in his eyes that displayed his cheerful nature, his innocent face looked to be pale, as if life was drained from him.

As if his hope had been ripped out, he walked into the living room, and went to his Grandmother's 'special' books that was in a box.

There was a lock on it, so he threw it against the wall, breaking the box into a thousand tiny pieces, not caring about it in the slightest. All he cared about was laying in the kitchen, dead. So he had to do something, anything. He had to do something and that was something only he could do, he hoped.

A book fell out of the boxes remains, he crawled over to it as tears fell from his eyes.

Carefully, he opened the book, flicking through the pages. He went past many different incantations, until he fell onto a page that said 'Resurrection', his eyes looking through the page, looking at what he needed to do.

"This should do it…magic will solve this…it has too…I don't have the urn…but it doesn't matter, I can...force…I have to do something…I can't let her…go like this…I need her…"

He stood up, the book in hand and returned to the kitchen.

He laid the book down on the floor, by his Grandmother, and began chanting from the book, as his eyes go pitch black, summoning unknown forces.

"Osiris, keeper of the gate, master of all fate, hear me! Before time and after, before knowing and nothing. Hear me, keeper of darkness! Bring her back! Let her cross over!"

Suddenly the lighting in the room goes dark and blue. Michael looks up, his eyes totally black, even with a hint of red from the irises. Dark blue clouds swirl around the ceiling. Lightning flashes (but only inside the room).

He looks up as he continues chanting.

"Keeper of darkness, hear my plea! Bring life to this woman, return…return her to me! Please! Please return her!"

More lightning flashes inside of the kitchen, energy pooling around the boy and his deceased Grandmother. Darkness surrounded the boy, his blonde hair briefly turning dark black, dark veins popped onto his forehead, his body shaking rapidly, but then it turned back to blonde, no veins on his face.

The blue clouds continue to swirl above him, and slowly, they began taking shape.

Suddenly some of the clouds form into a huge face that looks demonic in nature. It speaks in a deep raspy voice. Lightning flashes around it.

"Warlock! How dare you invoke Osiris in this task!?"

The boy, while crying, pleaded.

"Please. Please, bring her back. Please, I'll do anything!"

Even though he pleaded, the Demon shook its head, shooting off lightning towards the boy, but before it could touch him, a barrier erupted around the boy by his own force of will, even if he didn't realize it himself, blocking the lightning from touching him, the Demon wearing a surprised face.

"You may not violate the laws of natural passing. I don't care what you are, but you cannot violate these laws!"

"How? How is this natural? Why did this happen!? Give her back already! You have the power over life, bring it to this woman right now! Bring her back!"

He couldn't understand it. He didn't want to accept this as a reality. He hated it, he hated the fact that he couldn't do anything, and he was being denied the very right that he thought should allow him to bring back his only family.

"It is a human death, by human means. This woman has died a natural death, not a supernatural one. It is a death that has happened naturally. You cannot change the fact that she has passed on, it is done."

The Demon spoke with its raspy voice, making it known that the laws of the universe were absolute.

"But I-"

"This is not a supernatural death! This is a death of human nature, by human means!"

The Demon head shouted again. The boy however didn't accept it. He couldn't accept this happening, and did all he could so he could have someone, anyone in his life. He wasn't about to give up right now, and did all he could, plead.

"But there has to be a way, please do something. Bend the rules, take my life as an offering and give it to her. Just do something, anything! I'm begging you! I'm begging you! Please do something! Bring her back to me! I can't live without her! Just do it already! You're the person that can do something! Do something now! Please! Can't you see how much this means to me!? Just do it already! Do it!"

His tears became heavy, flowing down his face. Anymore, and most would assume that he was drowning in his own tears. He felt like he was choking on his own tears, sick building up at the back of his throat.

The Demon though didn't show a caring face.

"It is done! Do not invoke the name Osiris ever again under these circumstances Warlock!"

The boys eyes opened wide, knowing he couldn't do anything, but his anger got the better at him, and he screamed.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

As he screamed, a column of pure energy shot out of his mouth, lightning erupting from his fingers, directed at the floating Demon head.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

The Demon howled in tremendous pain as the lightning wrapped around it, the energy hitting it directly in the face, disappearing with a final flash of lightning, leaving the boy alone with his deceased Grandmother.

With the magical energy he released, and with the summoning, he collapses to the ground in a fit of tears, fear etched into his eyes, pain on his face. The tears flowed onto the page of the book that he tried to use to bring back his Grandmother.

"What am I supposed to do now…?"

His voice was broken, alone. It felt desolate, completely devoid of life. His body wasn't even moving. The only way to see that he was actually alive was due to the fact that his chest rose and fell every now and again. But other than that, he looked like the woman on the floor, dead.

His eyes went towards the corner of the room where a surprised Buffy was standing, having witnessed everything, his tears flowing again.

"What am I supposed to do now…Buffy?"

At the question, everything went dark.

---

"Buffy! Buffy, are you alright!?"

Suddenly, in the darkness, a voice could be heard, calling.

Panning above a bed, Buffy could be seen, her eyes shooting open, and immediately, she was met with the concerned look of Michael. She looks shaken, and her eyes were moist, as if she had been crying.

The room she was in was Michael's room, her being in his shirt in his bed. Michael was sat on the bed, shaking her body, holding her by the shoulders, concerned for what was happening with her right now.

"Buffy, are you alright?" Michael's sweet voice called to her ears, Buffy wordlessly nodding, and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a surprise. "Buffy? What happened? Has something happened? Did you have a bad dream or something?"

Buffy collected herself mentally, wondering what the hell she had just witnessed, peering up at the blonde.

"Michael…I yeah…bad dream, totally bad dream."

She didn't even know how to begin. She wasn't even sure that she witnessed something that should be.

"Awww, poor Buffy and bad dreams." He hugged her against his clothed chest, comfortingly rubbing her back as she sat up straight. "Don't worry, dreams are just that, dreams. They can't hurt you. Whatever it was, I'm sure that you don't have to worry. I was really worried, when I heard you crying from the next room. I thought something had happened, but you're okay. You are, right?"

Buffy casually nods, though she couldn't get out of her mind what she witnessed.

Her eyes then went towards Michael, showing that she was, coming back to reality, to herself.

"It was as you said, a bad dream. Anyway…damn, I didn't cause much of a commotion, right?"

"Hehe, no worries. As long as you're okay, nothing else matters."

Buffy took Michael's words kindly, her eyes peering into his own ones.

"I should've said it before, but morning."

"Morning." He greeted back, Buffy sitting up and he realized that she was still hugging him. "Geez, not that I don't like clingy Buffy, but your dream really shook you. What was it about anyway, if you don't mind me asking?"

At the question, she stopped, her eyes going downwards in perplexity.

"That dream…felt so real. Could it have been…Michael? It looked like him, only younger. Yet it couldn't of been him, could it? Strange, it really was a strange dream. And if it was a real event, poor Michael. God, I couldn't imagine going through that, and he was what…. thirteen maybe? But that lightning that shot off from him, can he really conjure lightning to strike people? And what was that weird energy stuff coming from his mouth?" She furrowed her eyebrows, then looked at her fellow blonde again. "Nah, it wasn't anything important. Forgotten already."

She didn't know if she should say anything or not, so held back her tongue for now.

Michael cocked his head to the side, but allowed it to go over his head for now.

"Aah, alright then. So, what was the excuse you used for your Mom this time? Am I Willow again?"

She chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"Willow was overused, so I just opted to sneak out last night, and left a note that said I was going to school early. It should be easy enough to get away with. I lied and said that we had to be at school dead early."

"You little sneak. Gotta punish you for that."

He joked, as Buffy leaned in and kissed his cheek, then lifted her face so she was inches apart from his lips.

Michael wanted to take the plunge and kiss her right there and then, but restrained himself, unsure if Buffy actually did want to do anything like that. Buffy was in the same boat, wanting to kiss him right there and then, but she wanted it to be a little more romantic, so she decided to only kiss parts of his face that weren't his lips, for some kind of contact.

"Oh, Mr Warlock don't punish me. I'm a good girl really~"

She played innocent, but there was a touch of something else as well. A hidden part that wanted a little mischievousness in her life.

"So my Buffy oh adorable Buffy who is cuter than cute, what do you want for breakfast?"

Buffy giggled at the childish tone, crawled onto his hips, basically straddling him, and smiled childlike. He supported her by wrapping his arms around her frame, her delicate frame, surprisingly considering that she could probably kill him with a single punch if she wanted.

"How about a cookie?"

She teasingly spoke, her eyes fluttering.

Michael leaned closer, gently rubbing noses with Buffy, the girl smiling widely at the touch of the noses, wrapping her arms around Michael's neck, dragging him closer to her.

"No, naughty Buffy doesn't get cookie. She gets, an apple."

Michael matched the childish touch to her tone, finding it funny to mimic her.

"Baaaah~" Buffy stuck out her tongue, showing a disgusted face, a fake one. "Buffy don't want apple, she wants a cookie!"

She 'demanded' playfully, Michael 'relenting'.

"Okay, okay. My Buffy gets a cookie. Chocky chip cookie coming up. Anything else my Buffy wants?"

"Buffy will see." She childishly spoke, finding it fun. She then hopped off his lap, standing on the ground, and dragged him to his feet. His frame towered over her smaller one, but she didn't mind, liking her, whatever Michael was to her, to be taller. She then 'noticed' something and pointed it out. "Michael, remember the rule about this? And your glasses as well."

She dragged her finger up his shirt, dragging up upwards ever so slightly.

His eyes furrowed in confusion, then his mind recalled what she was talking about.

"Sorry, I forgot." He raised his hands above his head, removing his shirt as he grabbed his glasses from the side, placing them on his face, Buffy taking in the shirtless and glasses wearing Michael with her eyes, drinking in his form, biting her bottom lip. "There, is that better?"

Buffy chuckled dirtily, nodding her head very slowly.

"Ooh yeah, that's better~"

"I'm glad! Now let's go, get something to eat. We've got that trip to the zoo today."

Buffy remembered the same thing Michael did, sighing.

"Sounds a little boring."

"It is." He admitted, walking towards the kitchen together with Buffy. "But, maybe we could make it fun somehow. Who knows, we'll find something to do, possibly. We'll be able to do something, probably."

Buffy wasn't as optimistic as Michael, but she certainly appreciated his enthusiasm all the same.

"Maybe we could do something alone?"

She suggested, which earned a nod from Michael.

"Sure, I don't see why not. It could be fun for us to go off alone."

Buffy was content with this, as they went fully into the kitchen. Buffy's eyes flashed horror when she recalled the dream she had, coming to the conclusion that what she dreamed was something to do with Michael and his past, but for the life of her, she didn't know why.

---

The Sunnydale Zoo.

A sign points to the reptiles, elephants and the Hyena House. Buffy was walking along the path with Michael right next to her, the pair of them holding one another's hands. He wasn't wearing his glasses anymore, which mildly irritated Buffy, who did want to see them on his face, having a certain fondness for them, but she liked him all the same with or without glasses.

"So Buffy, what you wanna see?"

"Hmmm, I dunno. All I can think about is going back to your place, and cuddling on the couch with some fattening chocolates and milk."

Michael smirked, and got right to her ear, mumbling "Sounds like heaven." which sends the good shivers down her spine, wrapping her arm around Michael's arm, pulling it closer and closer to her body.

The pair walked together, as if they were a couple. It was sweet, innocent, and fond as well as fun. The pair of them loved it, just acting like this. It didn't mean anything powerful, it wasn't labelling them. They were still figuring things out, so being this close was, good. It meant as much as they wanted it to mean. It could mean something significant, or something insignificant, they didn't have to label anything.

As they walked, Kyle (a bully in the school) and his gang, Rhonda, Tor and Heidi, see them coming, and thought that this would be the prime time to give them a little bit of hell, though neither Buffy or Michael really cared about what they thought.

"Oh, look. It's nutty Buffy and her freaky boyfriend."

Buffy and Michael shared a look, rolling their eyes.

"That's a witty retort."

"So highly intelligent. No wonder you all had to hang back another year. Just not being able to keep those grades up, huh. Must be true what they say about Neanderthals, huh."

The gang of bullies stare at Michael with narrowed eyes, the one named Tor giving him the harshest look.

"Do you ever wonder why nobody cool wants to hang out with you?"

"Do you think it's because I don't give a shit?"

Buffy resisted the urge to snort, while Kyle shakes his head dismissively.

Rhonda turns towards Buffy, hoping to scorn her instead.

"Were you this popular at your old school? Before you got kicked out?"

The group laughs, and they continue on their way, leaving Buffy standing there alone with Michael, the pair not even fazed by what they just saw.

Tor, looks at Buffy as they leave.

"Careful! She might beat you up!" Tor then looked towards Michael. "Or he might try and sleep with us like his Mom!"

All of them laugh as they walk away, Buffy frowning when they said that about Michael, and vice versa when they said it about Buffy. It seemed that they weren't angry about themselves being picked on, but rather the opposite person to them, the one that were by their side.

"Anyway, ignoring them, wanna go and check out the elephants?"

Buffy suggests, Michael nodding his head a single time.

"I don't see why not. Yeah, let's go and see those creatures, it should be fun."

Together, they walk towards the elephants, arm in arm.

Getting to the elephants. Buffy goes to read the plaque while Michael stares at the large creatures, admiring them.

"You know, a fun fact for you. I once heard that elephants stay pregnant for two years."

Buffy turns towards Michael, disgusted.

"I don't really wanna know how long elephants are pregnant for. That's not a fun fact for me."

"It could be a fun fact for someone."

"Well it isn't for me."

Michael shrugs his shoulders, inching closer and closer to get a better look at what Buffy was reading, finding it slightly interesting.

Buffy notices his approaching form, and then takes his arms, wrapping them around the front of her, Michael behind her, sinking backwards against his chest.

"In a weird way, this almost feels like a date or something. Though the idea of seeing animals isn't the best first…" She paused when she felt him tense. Attentively, she turned to see his unsure face, and that brought some concerns to her. "Something wrong?"

"N-No, you just said date, is all. D-Do you think this is a…erm, a…"

He didn't know what to say. Considering this a first date, he wasn't sure. On a first date, he'd rather do something else, something more entertaining than this. But it was what it was, and he wondered what Buffy thought about this.

Buffy chuckles nervously, shaking her head.

"N-No, not at all. When we do get to have a proper one then…it will be better than this. S-Sorry, I didn't mean too…"

"N-No, it isn't like…I mean, going on a date with you is…w-would you want to go on one with me?"

Buffy whizzed around so her body was pressing against his, chest to chest, arms still around her form, her arms now around his, looking up at him very innocently, Michaels breath catching in his throat at the adorable display.

"Of course. I would love too."

As she said that, Michael became confused by what just happened between the two of them. He wasn't sure if he heard it right or not, and if he actually just did ask Buffy out.

"W-Wait, did I just ask you on…"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders, snuggling against his chest.

"Even if it wasn't, I wanna go on one anyway. If you want to go on one with me, that is?"

Michael smiled softly, inclining his head.

"Sure, I don't see why we…can't. it would be…"

"Totally fun."

Buffy finished, giving a small wink. Michael heartily chuckled, finding Buffy adorable.

---

As they were talking, Xander, Willow and Amy come running up.

"Hey! Buffy!"

"You missed it Buffy and Michael!"

"It was super weird!"

Michael and Buffy turn towards them, immediately Xander's eyes and Amy's eyes go towards the closeness of their bodies, the hug that they were having. Xander looked down at the ground, severally depressed by what he was witnessing, the same for Amy.

"Missed what?"

Buffy query didn't really matter to her that much, as she clung to Michael very tightly.

"We just saw the zebras mating!" He nods to Willow and Amy, the latter thinking it childish. "Thank you, very exciting..."

He stopped when he saw that Buffy was smiling. It wasn't at him, but up at Michael, especially when the word 'mating' was involved. Buffy even went as far as to turn the cute colour of red and pink at the same time.

"It was kinda funny when the male fell off the female and it…eeh, for a lack of a better word, released."

Amy couldn't help but giggle that out, remembering what she saw. But then she stopped when she saw that Michael and Buffy were now holding hands. They looked like a couple right now, and she…didn't like it. She wasn't going to object to it, and say she was better for him that Buffy was, but she wasn't going to take it laying down. She was going to do something, whatever that might be, she wasn't sure yet.

"That does sound quite disgusting, Amy."

Michael pointed out, as the girl stuck out her tongue, briefly forgetting the fact that Michael and Buffy were so close right now. She wondered if she would have to do something to get between the pair of them.

"It was like the Heimlich, with stripes!"

Willow added, as Michael rolls his eyes, speaking with mock disappointment.

"And we missed it. Yet somehow I'll find the courage to live on, right Buffy?"

"Yeah, we didn't want to miss that. Oh well, I'll live."

She begins walking with Michael by her side, who looked around in the sky.

Willow follows, whispering in her ear.

"Where were you?" She paused, then looked at Michael. "Or rather, what were you doing?"

Buffy shook her head of the dirty look on Willows face.

"Nothing Mom."

Willow pouted, turning to her side.

"Gotta look at the positive about this though."

Amy suddenly brought up as she caught up, drawing Buffy's attention who looked on with confusion.

"What about this is positive?"

"We aren't in class. We don't have to do work."

Hearing what Amy said, Buffy couldn't deny that it was quite cool.

"Ah, I'm suddenly very happy!"

Michael chuckled at Buffy's turn of heart, finding it quite cute.

"So, what are we gonna do now?"

Michael looks at everyone, failing to notice the harshness of Xander's glare right now when he was staring at Michael's and Buffy's connected hands. Unlike Amy who was better at concealing her jealousy, Xander wasn't, and kept glaring towards him, even though it wasn't really Michael's fault that Buffy didn't like him the way that he did.

Meanwhile, a nerdy kid by the name of Lance is sketching the monkeys into his notebook. He found them fascinating, mesmerizing. He didn't even realize that there were some people coming, people that he didn't want to deal with, not that anyone would.

Kyle and his cronies approach him.

"Lance! How's it goin'?"

You could hear the slyness in his voice, even Lance could and he didn't want to have to deal with that right now.

"Hey, Kyle."

Lance sounded as if his heart was torn out of his chest right now, because he knew what was coming next.

"So, is this like a, uh, family reunion?"

Kyle gave a cruel joke, Lance looking down at his sketch book, not wanting to deal with what was going on.

"No."

He croaked out, his eyes not allowing themselves to become watery.

"I think it's a family reunion. It's so... touching. Doesn't anybody have a camera?" He makes a sudden photo-taking gesture with his hands. "Whapish!"

Rhonda pops up from behind Lance, a dirty sneer on her face as she takes his notebook.

"Hey, does your Mom still pick out your lice, or are you old enough to do that yourself now?"

"Q-Quit it already."

Lance fights back weakly, showing that he truly isn't the type to do things like this.

"Quit it, huh?"

Tor takes his notebook from Rhonda, skimming through it.

"Hey! Guys, c'mon! It's got my notes in there!"

As the bullying commences, Mr. Flutie sees the commotion, and storms over. Seeing their Principal coming over, they stop bullying Lance immediately.

"What's going on here? I've had it up to here with you four! What're you doing?"

Kyle and the gang try and appear as innocent as they could, not wanting to be in trouble with the man, their Principal.

"Nothing."

Mr. Flutie didn't believe them for a single second, turning towards someone who could actually speak the truth.

"Did I ask you to speak? Okay, I guess I did, but I want the truth. Lance?"

Turning to the man himself, he wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. One part of him knew that if he dropped them in it, then they'd only be on him even more. So, he did what he thought that he would be able to do.

"They weren't doing anything. Really!" He lets out a nervous laugh. "We were just playin' around."

Mr. Flutie wasn't convinced, but for now he wasn't able to do anything but nod his head.

"Alright." Mr Flutie starts away, but turns back. "I'll be watching you."

Mr Flutie with that, walks away, somewhat satisfied, though not completely. He knew Lance was lying, but unless he said anything, he couldn't do anything but keep his watchful gaze on the boy, hoping that they wouldn't do anything to him.

Once making sure the coast was clear, Kyle points at Lance.

"You! Came through big time."

Rhonda smiles way too cheerfully.

"Way to go, Lance!"

Rhonda pats his shoulder in gratitude, but a hint of something else, Tor doing the same thing.

"Flutie's been looking for a reason to come down on us."

Tor explained, Lance sheepishly smiling.

"It's okay."

Kyle's eyes suddenly turn mischievous, and he hatches a plan in his mind. He looks at his other friends, all of them nodding in agreement, as if they were sharing thoughts right now, which weren't difficult.

"Come on, we're gonna check out the Hyena House."

Lance looks towards it, and sees that the area was off-limits, and he didn't want to get into trouble.

"But I think it's off-limits."

He shared his doubts with the so called group, but they didn't show a concerned face at all, Kyle actually laughing about it, the adventure that it could bring them.

"And therein, my friend, lies the fun."

Lance laughs nervously, and they all go off toward the Hyena House.

In to the Hyena House. It's closed, but they duck underneath the yellow barricade tape.

At that time Buffy, Michael, Amy, Willow and Xander see them go in.

"What are Kyle and his buds doing with Lance?"

"Oh, they aren't going to bully him are they?"

Michael added after Willow, showing and sharing concerned looks, knowing how it was like to be bullied. Xander played it off though, somewhat at least.

"Oh, playing with him as a cat plays with a mouse."

"That's just stupid. They truly are idiots."

Amy sighed out, as she could recall when she was picked on as well. Though lately, he hadn't been happening to her. She wasn't sure if she was friends with Buffy or what, but she wasn't as picked on as she used to be.

"What is it with those guys?"

Buffy felt disgusted by their ways, Michael sighing as he explains.

"They're obnoxious. Professionally."

Willow nodded in agreement, putting a finger to her lips.

Xander adopted a frown on his face.

"Well, every school has 'em. So, you start a new school, you get your desks, some blackboards and some mean kids."

"Yeah, well, I'd better extract Lance before..."

Buffy was going to go and do what she does best, however Xander wanted to prove how manly he was over Michael, shooting him a look while he remained oblivious to the situation around him, only being concerned with something that was in the air, a feeling he was getting, and he wasn't sure exactly what that was.

"I'll handle it. This job doesn't require actual slaying."

"Wait for me. You might need some strong eyes."

Xander goes in to try and impress Buffy by standing up for the weak, Amy seeing that he might need backup, does the same, both of them disappearing out of sight before either Buffy, Willow or Michael could say anything.

"Oh no, they could be getting into trouble."

Michael commented, feeling something off at the hyena's cave. Buffy turned her eyes to Michael.

"You think we should follow?"

Michael shrugs his shoulders softly.

"I have a bad feeling coming from that cave, as if there's something not right with it. Maybe it's just paranoia or something. I've been hanging out too long in the cemeteries."

"Amen to that my friend."

Buffy added with a slight pouting of her lips. Michael found it irresistible, the look she was using, and how she wanted, almost begging himself, to try and kiss her. However, he was able to restrain himself for the most part, being able to keep himself level headed.

Willow tipped her head in concern for Xander and Amy.

"Kyle and those guys are jerks, but they're all talk. Mostly."

Buffy shares a look with Michael, who nods his head.

"Why don't we..."

"Yeah, why don't we?"

Willow agreed with them and they went forward towards the yellow keep out tape.

They duck under the tape and start in, but are caught in the act by a zookeeper.

"Oh, hold it, hold it, are you blind, or are you just illiterate? Because hyenas are very quick to prey on the weak."

Buffy and the others look on with sheepish smile.

"Oh, w-we were just gonna take..."

The zookeeper shakes his head.

"You're not going in there. Anyone that does is in a world of trouble."

"No, no one's going in there."

Willow, Michael and Buffy come back out.

Michael felt a wave of something come from the cave itself, as if there was something there, but he couldn't put his finger on it, curiously looking towards the cave.

"Why is it off-limits? Is there something wrong with them?"

The zookeeper carefully eyes up Michael, and felt something coming from him. It felt like a wave of power that washed over him, and knocked him back a little bit, staggering on his feet. Buffy went forward to see what was wrong with him, but she stopped when he returned upright on his feet.

"It's a quarantine. These hyenas just came in from Africa, so keep out." He then cocks his eyebrow, showing frightening eyes. "Even if they call your name."

Willow became a little freaked by this, preferring to hide behind Michael. She didn't want her name to be called. Michael looked at Willow, offering her a caring smile which she returned timidly. Buffy furrows her eyebrows as she contemplates what he was talking about, deciding to ask straight out what the hell he was speaking about.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Masai tribesmen told me that hyenas are capable of understanding human speech. They follow humans around by day, learning their names. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to a person. Once they separate him, the pack," He snaps his fingers. "…devours them."

The creepy look on his face made all three of them back away.

Inside the Hyena House. Kyle and the others tear through more tape blocking the way in and look around.

"Cool!"

Kyle exclaims, his eyes shining with promise, and devious natures.

He and the girls walk up to the enclosure and look in. Lance stays back with Tor behind him.

"I don't see any hyenas."

Lance says his doubts, looking at the area where they should be.

One of the hyenas growls and shows itself between some rocks.

"Okay! Now we've seen it."

He tries to leave, but Tor stops him.

Rhonda looks at it, and coos.

"Looks cute."

Kyle shows a sadistic smile, thinking of a certain someone.

"I think it looks hungry."

He moves toward Lance.

Lance sensing the danger, tries to move away, but he was stopped by Kyle getting in his way, together with Tor.

He and Tor grab Lance, holding him tightly in their hands.

"No! get off me!"

Tor chuckles darkly at Lance.

"C'mon, Spot!"

"C'mon, stop it!"

Lance pleas, but it falls on deaf ears.

They drag him up the steps as he tries to break free but to no avail, and lift him up to the bars.

"Guys! Stop! It's not funny!"

He pleads again and again, but they don't listen to him. They find it funny that he is acting like this. They wish for this to carry on longer and longer. They want to see what he is going to do next, so they come up with another 'plan'.

They press him into the bars and down on his neck.

"Ow! Stop it! It's not funny!"

Xander comes in with, pulls their arms off of him and helps him away.

"Lance, are you alright? They didn't hurt you, right?"

Amy asks with concern, glaring at the females of the group that are with Lance. They sneer back, but don't say anything, having a glaring contest with one another.

"N-No, I'm fine."

It was painful for him to admit this. Even though it was Amy, she still was a girl, and having a girl see him in such a state wasn't exactly what he had hoped for, it was demoralizing if he was honest with himself. He just wanted to get away so he didn't have to deal with the embarrassment anymore.

Xander turns to Kyle, showing a disapproving look on his face.

"Why don't you pick on somebody your own species?"

"What, are *you* gonna get in my face?"

The hyenas growl. Xander, Amy, Kyle and the others look at them. The hyena's eyes flash green, and then two of the kid's eyes do. The hyena's eyes flash green again, and two more kid's eyes do. From above, there seemed to be a drawing of the sacred circle painted on the floor.

Lance looks terrified. He could see that the guys and girls were now snarling dangerously, and he didn't like it one bit.

He makes an anxious move to get away, but trips on a chair and falls. His notebook skids across the floor to the far wall. Kyle and the others turn and laugh when they see him. Lance gets up, retrieves his notebook and rushes out. Xander turns around now, too, and his eyes flash green, the same with Amy.

---

At night, Willow and Buffy are coming from the bar at The Bronze. Buffy has a Coke and a croissant. They make their way over to an empty table.

"I thought Xander would be here by now."

Willow complained, as Buffy was thinking of someone else.

"Hmm, that'd make him on time. We couldn't have that!"

Willow could hear the distance in Buffy's tone, as she looked around but was unable to see Michael either, which she found to be strange.

"Did he seem upset at all on the bus back from the zoo? The same with Amy. After going into the hyenas, they seemed to be…different."

Buffy shrugs her shoulders.

"About what?"

Willow mimics the same action as Buffy.

"I dunno. He was quiet. So was Amy for that matter. She seemed like, she didn't want to talk. Strange, she usually talks to Michael…I guess she didn't feel like talking."

"I didn't notice anything." They sit together. "But then again I'm not as hyperaware of him as, oh, say, for example, you."

"Hyperaware?"

Buffy smirks at the redheaded girl.

"Well, I'm not constantly monitoring his health, his moods, his blood pressure..."

Willow grins, Buffy glad that Michael wasn't around to see how Willow falls over at the mention of Xander, knowing that despite their closeness, there was something for Willow that Buffy didn't have yet, and she wished that she did.

"130 over 80!"

Buffy looks amused at the over excitement of Willow, somewhat happy for her, but also wished that she could deal with Michael and his feelings first. She wasn't sure what Willow felt for Michael, and secretly hoped that she didn't love him so she could, become closer to him.

"You got it bad, girl!"

Willow becomes all giddy, using a childlike voice to express her happiness.

"He makes my head go tingly. You know what I mean?"

"Oh yes, I know." She absentmindedly speaks, thinking of the blonde Warlock. But she came out of her dream-like state when seeing the knowing face of Willow. "B-But, that is…"

"Buffy and Michael, sitting in a tree~"

Willow sung out, glad her friends were getting closer. Now all she had to do was concentrate on her own life.

"More like burning in a tree."

Buffy noted, Willow becoming confused.

"You not getting along?"

Willow hoped that it wasn't the case, and found out that it wasn't when she saw that Buffy was smiling sweetly.

"It's quite the opposite." Buffy admitted, biting her bottom lip as a semi frustrated sigh escapes her lips. "If there was any more sexual tension between us, I'd be on fire. Literally, the closeness we have now is making me melt. I'm surprised he can stay so cool about it. Even just watching t.v together makes me want to mount him…in a good way. Not like do anything disgusting or something shameful."

Willow's eyebrows lift up curiously, hopefully.

"Really? That good?"

Willow prodded for more information, Buffy showing a half smile.

"Yeah…it's good, it's more than good. I'd say that it is fantastic, a short stop to paradise sometimes. Just this morning, we were just acting…I don't wanna say couply…but yeah, I wanna say couply! It was amazing. I woke up, having a bad dream, he was right there beside me, hugging me and I couldn't but think…it was perfect. The setting, everything was perfect, yet…"

"Yet…?"

Willow trailed off, wanting more information, which Buffy provided with a lax face.

"I know this is going to sound stupid, but I feel like there's something, that he's hiding. I don't know why, but I can just…tell something is wrong. Like just the other day, I found a cut on him and he couldn't explain it well, and the explanation he came out with was, not what I would say truthful. He isn't a good liar. I feel like, he's not saying something, yet I feel like it is in front of my eyes…say Willow, this might be a personal question that I should probably ask him, but I don't want to open a can of worms that can't be unopened…but, could you tell me, about his parents?"

Asking that straight out, Willow blinked a few times, seeing the desperate look on Buffy's face, so she moved closer.

"You should ask Michael about it but…I guess you deserve to know as well. Well, actually, it kind of is somewhat public anyway. Though it wasn't at the beginning." Buffy watched intently as Willow cleared her throat. "From what Michael told me, his Dad was an alcoholic and his Mom was a…eeh, woman of the night, if you catch my meaning. I didn't meet them personally, but I heard that they weren't nice, even before they did what they did, but I did meet his Grandmother, and she was lovely. But then…one day, he said that his Dad and Mom were having an argument about something he didn't disclose to me, and his Dad lashed out as Michael for it, calling him "Demon spawn" and slapped him across the face, but that was enough to send him down a flight of stairs, him being near the stairs at that time. And the worst thing was, they didn't even take him to a hospital either, he had to crawl out of a window to get some help, having broken a rib or two, a broken nose from the fall. I heard there was an investigation a few years later, I mean, at the time there was an investigation, but I didn't hear about it until a few years later. But they didn't get punished for it. Not even an assault charge or anything."

Buffy opened her eyes wide, shocked at what she just heard.

"R-Really? How did these monsters not get punished for this?"

Buffy was outraged by now. Willow felt bad about telling Buffy, but she knew Buffy wouldn't say anything about it to Michael.

"I don't know. It just…went away. I don't know how, but the police dropped the case. Thinking on it now, since Michael is a Warlock, maybe one of his parents, or both of them, are magical, and made it go away magically. It should be possible, right? Erasing memories and stuff like that."

Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing. It made her feel sick for Michael, how he got into such a situation when he was a sweet guy.

"God…that was the only case, right?"

Buffy hoped that was the case. But then she recalled the scars on his body, on his chest, and two and two came together.

Willow shook her head sadly.

"No, I didn't know this until…oh God, maybe a few years ago, but that was the first incident he told me about. His Dad wasn't…quite nice. He wasn't always the kindest man from what I've heard but…he got increasingly nasty as he drank. He wouldn't let Michael to play with us, he'd lock him away in a tiny room, and called him all sorts of names, and that's what he told me. I'm sure there's a lot more he didn't tell me, but from what I could gather, his Dad regularly beat him, his Mom sometimes getting in on it too. Amy told me that because she heard it once that they'd have a game of it, to see how much pain they could cause the most to Michael, and seeing what would break and what wouldn't. Apparently they found it funny to torture him."

Buffy held a hand to her mouth, disgusted by what she heard. She couldn't believe it, that someone like Michael was beaten by his own parents. She couldn't even imagine how he must've felt being hit like that.

"Ooh my God…how…that's horrible."

Buffy couldn't say what she really wanted to say. She wanted to curse their names for even laying fingers on him, but from what Willow just said, it sounded like they had actual fun on doing it, feeling horrified that no one tried to help him out of something like that.

"Yes, it was…that's why I am quite protective over him. That's why I asked that you don't hurt him. Even though he plays tough, he's quite emotionally fickle. By no means is he a sissy or anything, but he is quite emotionally…I wouldn't say unstable, but fragile I would say. It isn't any wonder, considering the people that are supposed to protect you, harm you for years."

"So, what happened to these monsters. They are dead right?"

Buffy usually didn't wish people dead, but right now, she hoped these people were. She couldn't believe what they did to her Michael.

Willow to Buffy's everlasting surprise shrugs her shoulders.

"I don't know if they are dead or not. They took off a few years ago. I don't know the whole story, but I heard that they got into some kind of trouble and needed to leave. They left Michael with his Grandmother, and they lived happily together…that was until she died, and he's lived alone ever since. Poor Michael, he found her on his own. It must've been scary to find someone you love like that and then to just…live on your own, must be lonely."

Buffy recalled her dream she had just last night, furrowing her eyebrows.

"God, I can't imagine what kind of pain he must go through every day."

Willow took in a deep breath, trying her best to not cry about what she just told Buffy.

"Afterwards, he told us that he doesn't ever want to remember it again, and he didn't want sympathy or anything, so out of respect, we just don't talk about it, and carry on as normal. Though when you hear slutbomb Cordy going on and on about it, then-"

"Meow! Willow, you've got some claws."

Buffy noted, also taking in a deep breath.

"Hehe, maybe so~ I just feel, angry when they mention it. Can't they just leave it alone? They don't have to mention it all of the-"

She shut herself up, when she noticed Michael come into The Bronze, showing a perpetual smile on his face.

Willow gestures to the door with her head, Buffy following the eyes, to see him looking right back at her, waving and smiling.

"Promise you won't say anything Buffy?"

"Until he wants to tell me, I'll keep my lips closed."

She spoke quickly back as Michael made it to their table.

"Sorry I was late. Got held up." He smiled, and saw that both of them looked down. "Geez, who died?" He joked, but then remembered which town he lived in, so adopted a more concerned look, and face. "Ooh God who died?"

Buffy shook her head, trying to regain her usual peppy voice.

"Willow just told me she's gay and she wants me in her bed, pronto."

It slipped out of Buffy's mouth, she couldn't restrain herself. She couldn't think of anything else that would make her sad (not that Willow being gay would make her sad, but that's all she could think of and now found it stupid).

Willows face dropped into a small frown, as she thought about Buffy calling her gay.

"I-I'm not g-gay. A-And I don't want you in my bed…"

Willow sniffled, Buffy trying her best to not mock cry.

Michael looked between them, scrunching up his eyebrows.

"And, Willow being gay and the possible chance of lesbian sex, made you feel sad?"

"I'm not gay! And I don't want sex with Buffy!"

Willow cried, as Buffy repressed a laugh, turning to her blonde haired male.

"So, what kept you so long mister? I got lonely, depressed, kinda sad as well."

Michael chuckled, wrapping his arms around Buffy, the girl returning it.

"I was supposed to be meeting Amy for a spell, we were gonna delve into some serious stuff, but she never showed. I waited for ages, but she didn't show up. I wonder why?"

Buffy frowned at the mention of Amy, as she thought about how Michael and her seem to one another, seeing that there was a closeness that wasn't really touched upon yet, but couldn't be mistaken either.

Buffy then remembered what Willow said about Xander.

"Say, did you think that Amy and Xander were…acting kind of off before?"

"Hmmm, now that you mention it, Amy was being standoffish. She was, being a little distant. But I thought that was…now that you say it…"

"Ooh my gosh, he's here…with Amy?"

Willow cuts off Michael's train of thought, noticing Xander coming in, and became happy…but then confused when he saw that Amy was with him.

He walks into the club, Amy on his arm. It seemed as if they were close, Michael and Willow opening their eyes wide in shock. The closeness of the touching seemed to be the most stunning part of it all, Willow and Michael secretly wondering what their friends were doing with each other in such a manner, Buffy merely looking between the four.

He comes up to their table, together with Amy.

"Girls! And Michael."

Xander spoke cheerfully regarding the girls, but annoyed with Michael, who caught it and rolled his eyes. Amy looked at Michael, her eyes hungrily eyeing him up as if he was a piece of meat.

"Boy and girl!"

"Sorry we're late, I... just forgot that we were gonna be here. And, Amy and I were, doing stuff together." At that, Michael and Willow frown, glancing between the other. He sees Buffy's croissant, foaming at the mouth. "Hungry!"

He then tears a piece off and eats it…or would've if Amy hadn't grabbed it, and did what he was going to do.

"God, that tastes like shit. What is that? What am I looking at right now? A piece of shit?"

When saying that, Amy looked directly at Buffy, as if calling her a piece of crap, Buffy caught it and glared for it.

"Well, it *was* my buttery croissant Amy. Geez, what's wrong with, you?"

Amy didn't reply, her eyes lustfully looking at Michael. He blinks a few times, seeing Amy working her way closer and closer towards him, her lips enticingly licking themselves to coat them in saliva, a sultry look appearing on her face.

As that happened, Willow tries to connect with Xander.

"Xander, you still want me to help you with geometry tomorrow?" Xander takes a swig of Buffy's cola. "We can work after class..."

Xander gives Willow a thumbs-up.

"Yeah." He then looks to Buffy. "What is this crap?"

"Again, that was *my* drink, I guess I've not got anything anymore. People just seem to take my stuff."

Xander ignores Buffy and holds his nose in the air, as if he was a dog, the same for Amy.

"Man, I need some food! Birds live on this!"

"Couldn't agree more, I'm famished. Eating Buffy's shit wasn't the best ever."

Buffy's eyes narrowed when she heard what Amy said.

Buffy, Michael and Willow then look at each other and then at Xander and Amy, wondering what the hell was going on with the girl and boy.

Xander looks back and forth at them.

"What?"

"What's up with you two?"

Buffy called him out on it, the same for Amy. Amy giggled a little darkly, running a hand through her hair.

Willow's eyes transfixed themselves onto Xander.

"Is something wrong? Did I do something?"

Xander glances to Willow, making it obvious that he didn't want to talk with her.

"What could you possibly do? That's crazy talk. I'm just... restless."

"I'm fucking starved."

Amy groaned, rubbing her stomach.

Xander teasingly runs fingers through Amy's hair, then slowly licks her face, Willow looking as if she wants to cry from doing that alone. But she was stopped when she felt Michael grab her hand, comforting her.

"What do you think you're doing to Amy, Xander?"

Michael hissed out, not wanting to see Amy being touched by Xander, protective over her.

Amy giggles a little, her hungry eyes on Michael's form. She leans close, sniffing his hair, the same time as Xander leans toward Buffy and sniffs her hair.

"Okay, now what?"

"This is getting freaky fetish stuff here."

Michael added after Buffy, the girl agreeing with him.

""You took a bath.""

Amy and Xander both spoke at the same time, leaving the three normal ones baffled by what the hell was going on. Michael was too stunned to even speak, so Buffy did it for him.

"Yeah, I-I often do, I'm actually known for it. And yup, Michael took one this morning as well."

"I bet you enjoyed that, didn't ya? In the same bath together."

Amy sneered at Buffy, Buffy turning her eyes towards the Witch girl.

"What are you talking about?"

She began laughing at Buffy, her eyes gesturing towards his hip area. Buffy looked down to see what she was looking at, only to see her clap her hands in front of her face, bringing her attention right back onto Amy's face.

"Such a naughty girl, do you even know how to be not dirty?"

Willow, Michael and Buffy exchange another look.

"And the weird behaviour award goes to..."

As Buffy was speaking, she notices that Kyle and his group have come in, Amy and Xander looking at them.

A band then starts to play, Buffy rolling her eyes as she sees Kyle and company come over to them.

Xander stares back at them together with Amy.

Kyle stops at their table, and he and Xander stare each other down. Amy and the females of the group also stare at one another, as if they were sizing the other up for something, moving around feral like.

They go around to another table that's occupied.

Kyle snickers to the boy at the table.

"Y'know, I don't understand why you're sitting at our table."

Rhonda slips a hand onto the table, banging it, the boy jumping out of his skin.

"Yeah, shouldn't you be hovering over the football stadium with 'Goodyear' written on you?"

They all laugh as if they find it is funny. Xander was watching along with Amy and laughs also as he turns back to Buffy. He stops laughing when he sees she doesn't think it's funny, Amy doing the same when seeing that Michael was giving her a disapproving look.

"Kid's fat."

"Totally fat."

Amy added, Michael and Buffy unsure of what just transpired here, Willow hoping that nothing was wrong, but she was being optimistic at best.

---

The next day at the library, Buffy and Giles were training together.

Giles is wearing protective gear while Buffy trains on him.

Michael is also there, sat on the table, reading a book, his legs crossed.

As he watches Buffy and Giles train, he couldn't stop thinking about Amy and how she acted last night. It wasn't like Amy to do that, to hurt someone, and call people names. He didn't know what the hell was going on with her. But whatever it was he was damned if he wasn't going to find out.

In his hand, was a single ball. It was the size of a tennis ball, and he was using Telekinesis to lift it up, Buffy kept looking to see what he was doing.

"So, what are you doing hunny…Michael."

She slipped up, though Michael didn't mind all the same.

"Just practicing Telekinesis. I'm just practicing to better get a grasp on control of magical power and such. Giles thinks that it is a good idea, but I think that it is quite boring. I know how to lift things up with Telekinesis, it isn't like I need to do this."

"Doing it and mastering it is completely different things, Michael." Giles explained, donning his all-knowing attitude. "Mastering it will allow you to use it at a moment's notice. If you have to think about it, then there's a delay. Remember, there are good things and bad things about magic, and using it could be-"

"Dangerous, I know." Buffy held back a snort as Giles' face fell into a small frown. "Don't worry Giles, I know what I'm doing. It isn't like I'm going out of my way to do harm or anything. I've been using magic for a while now, so it isn't like I need lectures on it or anything. Besides, I've learned a new spell just recently."

"Oh? Pray tell, what is this?"

Giles wanted to know more, being intrigued.

Michael cleared his throat, then cast a spell on himself, on his voice.

"If you want my future, forget my past~ If you wanna get with me, better make it fast~ Now don't go wasting my precious time~ Get your act together we could be just fine~ So tell me what me what you want~ What you really, really want~ I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah~"

Buffy clapped her hands, impressed.

"That actually sounded like them, I liked it."

Giles was less than impressed, finding it childish. But Buffy found it funny, endearing, and lightened up what was usually a boring lesson, Michael dropping the voice.

"Well, besides putting on a show, what purpose does that serve?"

"I could mimic your voice." Michael cast the spell, and then spoke, sounding like Giles, looking at Buffy. "Now Buffy, how dare you go on dates!? I'm your Watcher, woman! It is disastrous if you date, it could show everyone that my own dating life sucks and I've not been on a date, since I was five!"

"Hahahahahaha~"

Buffy laughed heartily as Giles looked ready to snap at any second.

"Quite amusing. If you're done?"

The tone he used sounded as if he was going to kill Michael. Michael merely smiled and dropped the Giles voice, for his own voice.

"Go Buffy, kick Giles' uptight ass."

He cheered, as Giles himself scowls darkly.

"What's wrong Giles? You seem tense, and tired."

She pointed out, the Slayer catching the fact that there was sweat dripping off him.

Giles wipes his brow, coughing into his hand.

"If you're done with doing whatever it is that you teens do, we could get on with this."

"Okay! If you're sure Giles!"

Buffy does what Giles asks, and starts with a roundhouse kick followed by a high punch and a swinging middle punch to Giles' gloved hands. She continues, doing a full spin and finishing with a backhand punch. She does a full spinning jumping high wheel kick followed by a right middle punch, a high roundhouse kick and a front snap kick. Then she jumps high and does a twin straddle kick. She lands back on her feet and moves in to attack again, when Giles suddenly jumps back.

"Right!" He cries, Buffy stops short of actually touching him. "That's enough training for one day."

"Well, that last roundhouse was kinda sloppy. Are you sure you don't wanna do it again?"

She asked ever so sweetly, but Giles looked like he was about to die. He was so out of breath that it wasn't even funny. Sweat poured off him like rain, dropping onto the floor even. Michael found it quite funny that Giles wanted to train her, yet she seemed to be deadly superior than he was at the art of training.

"No! No, no, that's fine. You just... run along to class."

He dismissed them, unable to do anything else.

"Ah, alright then!" She cheered, turning to Michael. "Coming?"

He nods, getting off the table, and going to her side. Immediately, she latches onto his arm, and they walk out together.

---

In the halls, the pair of them walked through the halls. It was mostly quiet, only for some students walking past. Though he wasn't one for noticing things, he did notice that Cordelia was in the halls, together with Harmony.

Usually, he wouldn't say anything about it, but when he heard some of the topic of conversation, he became worried.

"He's so dreamy, our kids would be so hot."

"Ugh, Harmony, why are you determined to get that freaky kid as your boyfriend?"

"Hmph, you don't understand. He's very strong, you know? And he is so cool. He blows me off all the time."

As if that was a good thing, Harmony's eyes shone brightly. Cordelia couldn't resist the urge to gag.

"You're a weird girl, you do know it shows that he isn't interested in you if he is blowing you off?"

Harmony shook her head strongly, her bosom being shaken as well.

"He is only doing it to keep up pretenses you know? We can't be seen associating with one another until he's popular. You should see what he does when we're alone. I mean, he so treats me like a real Princess. He even gives me unicorn items, I love the one that's in my bedroom. I cuddle it every night."

Michael looked amazed and terrified at what he just heard, everything Harmony was a huge lie, and he couldn't work out why she was saying it, or why he was frightened for his life when she winked at him. He felt like she was going to do something to him.

Buffy looked at Harmony incredulously.

"What the hell is she smoking?"

"Cocaine and injects heroin into her system to get the thrill of a buzz that is drugs." Michael immediately answered with a goofy smile on his face, drawing a confused stare from Buffy. Michael giggled nervously. "I mean, probably nothing. Actually, I don't know if you do smoke cocaine, never tried it."

He quickly covered for himself, Buffy shaking her head.

"Gotta grab something from my locker, come with me?"

Buffy spoke with a slightly pleading tone, Michael didn't complain and followed after her.

Making it to her locker, she opened it, and Michael was surprised to see something on her locker door.

"Damn, I didn't know I was locker door material."

Buffy smiled, seeing the picture that was there, Michael and Buffy, only last week at that.

"Well, of course you are." She stated, inching closer. "Aren't I locker door material?"

His breath hitched in his throat when Buffy asked this. He found her to be very adorable at this moment. However, before he could answer, Harmony and Cordelia walked past, Harmony going straight for Michael.

"Hey Blondie Bear, you going gym?"

Cordelia and Buffy looked between the other, wondering what the hell Harmony was doing, both unsure of it.

Michael smiled weakly, trying his best to not say anything mean.

"S-Soon." He responded with a slight pause. "I'm going to go with Buffy though because we kinda made it a plan, so yeah. See you there, or not."

Harmony frowned, and muttered "Twat." under her breath while shooting a very dark and sinister look at Buffy, Buffy opening her mouth wide, wondering if she heard what she heard to be correct.

"What did you just call me?"

The evil in her voice could be heard. It was obvious that there was intent to kill behind her face right now.

Harmony pretended nothing was wrong, and waved a hand over her face.

"Nothing at all…bitch." Harmony retorted, mumbling at the end, then turned towards Michael, dragging a finger up and down his arm sensually, scaring him and Buffy at the same time. "See you their Blondie Bear! Don't forget, we still need to go shopping for our couple's clothes! Bye!"

Harmony giggled sweetly, and tried to give him a kiss on the lips.

He pulled away, frightened of what Harmony was trying to do.

Fortunately, Buffy stopped Harmony, putting herself between them, but Harmony didn't expect it, and ended up kissing Buffy on the cheek, both of them cringing when it actually happened.

Harmony pulled away, angrily glaring at Buffy.

"What do you think you're doing Buffy!?"

"What do you think you're doing Harmony!?"

Buffy roared right back, referring to her attempt to kiss Michael, wiping her cheek from Harmony kiss, a big lipstick kiss mark on her cheek from Harmony, embarrassment setting into her heart, Harmony not far behind her.

Harmony huffed, turning away.

"Nothing at all. Bye Blondie Bear! See you soon!"

Harmony winked and took off, giggling down the corridor.

Cordelia looked between Michael and Buffy, furrowing her eyes.

"I don't know what the hell just happened, but she's…I don't know."

Cordelia took off after Harmony, her mind confused to what she just witnessed.

Buffy casually looked at Michael, her eyebrows furrowing.

"What the hell was that?"

"Don't ask me, I don't pretend to understand Harmony. She's mental, what else can I say?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders, and rubbed the part where Harmony had kissed her, physically disgusted.

"Ugh, she kissed me on the cheek, I feel violated."

She shivered at the very thought of Harmony kissing her cheek, wishing that it would stop, go away.

"Awww poor Buffy. I wish I could help you."

She looked at him, smiling.

"Well, getting a small kiss from a cute guy might make it better."

"Oh, then I will go and find you a cute guy!"

He joked, and went to leave her side, but before he could, Buffy took his face gently, and put it to her cheek. Responding to it immediately, he planted a tender kiss on her cheek, both of them blushing brightly from the touch.

He pulled away, as Buffy pouted.

"What's wrong Buffy?"

"Uu, Michael left my vicinity, I feel sad now. And I think Harmony called me a twat."

She added at the end with a serious look on her face. Michael's face turned towards confusion as he 'cured' Buffy's sadness, by giving her a hug.

"Did she? When did she say that?"

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Maybe I imagined it. Anyway, we should get going." She went to close her locker as she had everything that she needed from it, but then saw something that made her eyes open wide. "Ooh no Michael, it's The Unicorn."

"Not the flipping Unicorn again."

He muttered with a heavy sigh as Buffy opened the note.

What she saw, horrified her.

She saw an image of two girls having intercourse with sexual aides, Willows head and Buffy's head being where the girls heads should be, obviously having been cut and pasted onto the picture, and there was a note at the bottom of it, Buffy trying not to cry as she read it to herself, Michael doing the same thing.

[Dear Butty, it has come to my attention that you are getting too comfortable with BB, and that's not allowed. So, I have made the image of you and Willard having lesbian sex. I hope that you consider dating Willard, as she is just good enough for you. And if not, stay the hell away from BB or else, you've been warned by The Unicorn. From your natural enemy, The Unicorn.]

At the end of the note, Buffy put a hand to her face with tears stinging her eyes, slamming her hand against the locker, denting it as students nearby cry out from the sudden bang.

"Shit...Michael, I am being bullied by The Unicorn...they spelled Willows name wrong as well...as my own..."

Michael could see the pain on her face, and didn't like it, so grabbed the note and picture, ripping it up, making it disappear with his magic, so no one else could see.

"Buffy, it is gone now. Don't let the creepy Unicorn person hurt you. Come on now Buffy, come and give me a hug."

Buffy trembled, and hugged onto him, closing her locker at the same time.

She didn't know why, but she had to do something about this, what that was, she didn't know.

Eventually, she recovered, and looked into his eyes.

"Who do you think The Unicorn is?"

"I, can't say, I have no clue. Come, we need to go."

She whimpered and did as he asked, walking with him away from his locker.

---

As Buffy and Michael were walking around the corner, Herbert the mascot pig has gotten loose. The students in the hall are startled and try to get away. Mr. Flutie chases the pig.

"Look out! It's gotten loose!"

Mr Flutie cried out.

The pig dodges the students' legs, running from side to side. He crashed into lockers, a helmet being on the pigs head so it couldn't see properly.

Buffy and Michael comes around the corner, reacts quickly to catch him and picks him up, Buffy being the one to actually do it. Michael looks at it, and his first thought was about cooking it, but that slowly disappeared when he saw that Buffy was cradling it sweetie, and he found it adorable that she was doing that.

Mr Flutie comes rushing up, his eyes in gratitude for Buffy.

"Lordy, Herbert! Gave Mr. Flutie quite a scare, didn't he? Students, I'd like you all to met Herbert, our new mascot for the Sunnydale High Razorbacks!"

The students all clap, though some of them are mock clapping.

"He's so cute!"

Buffy squealed, showing it to Michael. Michael laughed nervously, agreeing with her. But he really thought about how he could eat it, being a little hungry, magic doing that to him.

"He's not cute. No! He's a fierce Razorback!"

More clapping surrounded from the crowd of students around as Mr Flutie regards Buffy with a sigh. Buffy herself merely looks at the pig with confusion.

"He doesn't look mean, Mr. Flutie."

"It looks like food to me. Delicious bacon."

Michael noted with a longing look in his eyes, Buffy shaking her head, Mr Flutie glaring.

"He's mean, he's ready for action! He's not food! See?" Mr Flutie indicates Herbert's helmet with foam tusks. "Here are the tusks..." He then gestures at a piece of serrated green foam tied to Herbert's back. "…the scary Razorback!

Michael was less than convinced, but he didn't say anything. He merely opted to watch was Buffy was doing, seeing her sharing the same feelings he was, but unlike him, she thought that she would have to agree with him, even if it was sarcastic.

"You're right. He's a fine mascot and will engender school spirit."

Mr Flutie was less than convinced, but he nodded his head.

"Uh, he better. Costs a fortune to feed him." Flutie then turns to Herbert. "Alright, let's get you back into your cage."

Herbert squeals when Buffy wants to hand him to Mr. Flutie.

Mr. Flutie points behind himself.

"This way."

Buffy sighed, having no choice but to go. Michael of course followed, seeing the look she gave him, not wanting to be alone with Flutie.

---

While that was happening, outside to Willow helping Xander with his geometry. Unlike her who seemed to be enjoying it, Xander was less than receptive to the idea. But she was trying her best to make him see the goodness of it, trying to connect more and more with him.

"I'm not getting this."

Xander growled in frustration, Willow wincing at the tone, and tried to make Xander feel more at ease.

"It's simple, really. See, 'The bisector of a vertex is the line that divides the angle at that vertex into two equal parts.'"

"It's like a big blur, all these numbers and angles."

Xander protested to Willow, but Willow remembered something, and told it to Xander.

"It's the same stuff from last week. You had it down then."

"Why do I need to learn this?"

Xander sighed, finding it increasingly frustrating.

"'Cause otherwise you'll flunk math?"

Willow explained the best she could, noticing that Xander was getting more and more of an attitude, one that she didn't like, and expect from someone like Xander.

"Explain the part where that's bad."

He rubs the bridge of his nose, a dirty smirk on his face.

Willow wasn't accepting that, not wanting to see him fail, and pressured more and more, trying to make him see some sense.

"You remember, you fail math, you flunk out of school, you end up being the guy at the pizza place that sweeps the floor and says, 'Hey, kids, where's the cool parties this weekend?' We've been through this." Xander rubs his right temple Willow noticing. "Do you have a headache? Here, let me help you."

Willow in her concern for her crush, reaches up to him but Xander shakes her off, clearly annoyed with her and the book in his hands.

"Yeah, and I think I know what's causing it." He throws his geometry book into the trash, a cocky smirk on his face. "Ah! That's better, it goes right to the source of the pain."

Willow looks stunned by Xander's sudden outburst.

"Xander..."

Xander gave Willow a frustrated glare, and stands up.

"Look, forget it, okay? I don't get it. I won't ever. I don't care."

He throws his math notebook into Willow's lap and leaves in a huff. Willow pulls her finger back, having had her hand on her lap, and felt some pain from where the book hit her.

Willow watches Xander go, wincing at the finger she felt pain from.

"We can finish this another time. He didn't have to do that…"

---

Back into the halls. Buffy and Michael follows Mr. Flutie to the faculty room with Herbert in her arms. They stop outside.

"See, the problem is you kids today have no school spirit. Hold on, let me get his outfit off." Flutie removes the outfit, continuing his rant. Today it's all gangs and drugs and those movies on Showtime with the nudity." Buffy and Michael gives him a look. "I don't have cable, I only heard. When I was your age we cared about the school's reputation and the football team's record, all that stuff! Of course, when I was your age I was surrounded by old guys telling me how much better things were when they were *my* age."

Flutie goes into the faculty room.

Buffy looks at Michael and then to Herbert.

"Yeah!"

At that moment, Xander comes into the hall from outside. Herbert squeals and reacts to his presence as he walks by. Buffy looks confused as she watches Xander pass, and tries to keep Herbert from jumping out of her arms.

"What the hell was that?"

Michael shared Buffy's confusion, finding something odd with it, and even Michael found there was something odd about it.

Buffy then looked at Michael, an idea coming to his head.

"Do you think Flutie is The Unicorn?"

Michael winced at the accusation, shrugging his shoulders.

"I, don't know. I guess it could be possible. Don't worry Buffy, we'll find out, promise."

Buffy nodded, shooting Mr Flutie a dark glare, making him wince and cry at the same time, even he didn't know why he was like this, but he couldn't stop.

---

Something later, Buffy, Michael, Willow, Xander, Amy, Harmony, Cordelia and the Kyle gang appear in the gym.

Harmony kept keeping her eyes on Michael, while Cordelia wondered what kind of world she lived in, the 'freak' Michael catching the attention of the 'glamourous' Harmony, believing that Michael did something to cause this, though he did, but not in the way that she thought.

Amy and Xander appeared all over each other, arms around each other, unknowingly hurting Willow. Michael found it odd that they were doing that, and wondered what the hell was going on.

"Xander, don't you think that it smells like shit in here? Some blonde in here needs to take a bath, a long one."

Amy pointed out, her eyes going towards Buffy. Buffy narrowed her teary eyes as Xander, and Kyle's group laugh like a bunch of hyena's, Amy then giving Xander a kiss on the cheek, Xander smirking at both Buffy and Michael, as if they were attempting to cause jealousy, but they called confusion to their minds more than jealous thoughts.

"She keeps calling me shit…and Harmony called me a twat before, I know she did. And The Unicorn is going full force as well. What is this? Pick on Buffy day?"

Buffy internally sighed, looking at Amy and Harmony (who was moving ever closer to Michael who didn't realize it, ignoring it to peer at Amy and tried to see what was going on) and sighed even more.

"Ooh, oww."

Willow complained, her finger still bothering her.

Michael turned towards her, alarmed.

"Is something wrong Willow?"

"My finger, I got it…hurt before."

She didn't say it was Xander, not wanting to cause problems. She wanted to believe that Xander did it by mistake, that he didn't mean it. Though it was getting harder and harder to deny that there was something going on.

"Oh, poor Willow. Here, let me help." He cupped her finger, and chanted quietly. "Let the healing power begin, draw energy from within. Goddess of healing, cast your light upon this wound."

As he said that, his hand glowed a greenish colour, and Willow immediately felt the pain disappear.

"Wow, mister. That was cool. Magic guy comes through~"

"Hehe, I can't heal any major wounds or anything, but pain like that is able to be healed. Pretty neat, huh."

"I'll say, it is amazing what magic can do."

Michael smiles as the couch speaks to everyone, holding a large red ball.

"Alright, it's raining, all regular gym classes have been postponed, so you know what that means, dodgeball! Now, for those of you that may have forgotten, the rules are as follows: you dodge."

He tosses the ball to Buffy. He blows his whistle, and the two groups move back from centre court. Michael, Willow, Harmony, Cordelia, and Buffy are on the same team, Xander, Amy and the pack on the other team.

The couch whistles again and the ball throwing commences. Balls go everywhere, and immediately, Harmony cries out, and hides behind Michael, Cordelia following.

"W-What are you girls doing?"

"Blondie Bear, protect us!"

"Aaaah! Do it Michael for God sake! I just got my nails done! I can't have them broken already!"

Harmony cried, Cordelia ducking and screaming overdramatically at the same time, Michael knocking balls away from them, and sighed at the reason that Cordelia gave, but then he stopped when he felt something touch him from behind, his eyes widening.

"Fine, just stay behind me…but could you take your hand off my ass?"

"I'm not touching your butt."

Cordelia spat out, while Harmony wore a sheepish smile.

"Sorry, wanted to feel."

Michael cringed, hoping Harmony couldn't do anything more than that.

"Haha! See that Amy?"

Xander nails his first victim, looking sinister as he does. Amy licks her lips, and nails someone else as well, throwing the ball away from Michael, but going towards Buffy. Said girl dodged it pretty easily, returning one straight back at her.

Just before it could touch her, Amy used magic to make it stop just in front of her, Michael surprised with the level of power she was displaying. He found it quite unnatural that she'd be able to stop it like that, since she has only just begun learning magic, and was slowly coming to a conclusion that he didn't like.

Amy grabbed the ball, and threw it right back at Buffy, but missed by mere inches and more balls were thrown as well.

Buffy and the pack members along with Amy easily dodge the balls. Willow was having some trouble, Michael was trying to not get groped by Harmony, while having to deal with Cordelia clinging to him.

The coach enjoys the game from the sidelines.

Xander nails another victim. Buffy throws a ball and hits her mark.

Xander throws again and nails Willow hard on the back.

"Willow…"

Michael called her, but she didn't respond, only looking towards Xander.

She gives him a hurt and confused look as she walks off of the court. Xander catches a ball as he watches Willow go, but soon continues the game.

Willow sits down, crosses her arms and keeps looking at him. She couldn't take her eyes off him.

"Hah!"

Michael comes up with a ball, nailing one of the pack members in the face, sending them off the court. Harmony cheered from the side, Cordelia still hiding behind him. He didn't even understand what possessed Cordelia to hide behind him, when he was a 'freak' in her eyes, and good for nothing, it was confusing to him.

"Well done Michael, I knew you would protect me."

Cordelia confidently speaks, Michael less than enthusiastic about it all.

Xander notices Michael, wears a sadistic grin and throws ball after ball at him but to no avail. He couldn't touch Michael. Michael blocked every single thing that Xander threw, while protecting Harmony and Cordelia, though he wasn't doing that because he wanted too, because they wouldn't let go and he didn't feel like forcing them to do it either.

A few seconds later just the pack and Lance are left on one side, Buffy and Michael (plus Harmony and Cordelia hiding behind him) on the other.

The pack looks at Buffy and Michael briefly, then focuses on Lance. He falls to the floor and cowers as they each throw their ball at him hard.

"Stop it now!"

Buffy runs over and helps Lance up. She stares at Xander. He stares back.

"Amy, how could you do that?"

Michael asked genuinely concerned for her behaviour. But Amy merely grins wickedly, something unlike Amy, and it drew alarm bells for him.

Michael and Buffy watches as Xander, Amy and the others leave.

"Well, that ended, freaks. What was up with them?"

Cordelia didn't really care, but she was sort of glad that Michael did protect her.

Harmony casually looked towards Michael, and winked.

"Thanks sweetie pie~ I knew my strong blonde hero would protect me~"

Michael internally sighed as Harmony latched onto him, not letting go.

---

A little while later, Willow is waiting for Xander, and goes up to him when he comes from the other hall with the pack, Amy being right on his arm which made Willow feel upset. She couldn't stand back anymore, she had to know what was going on with him.

"Xander... What's wrong with you?"

Her concern was obvious. It was laced in her voice. She was very worried about Xander and his behaviour, and how he seemed to be with, Amy now.

He looks at the others briefly and pulls Willow aside.

"I guess you've noticed that I've been different around you lately."

"Yes."

Willow said it sternly. Xander showed a 'caring' smile.

"I think, um... I think it's because my feelings for you have been changing."

At that moment, Buffy comes around the corner to her locker and sees them, Michael by her side, watching what was happening.

She works the combination as she notices Amy wave a hand in front of her face as if she smelt something bad, pointing straight at Buffy. Buffy felt tears stinging her eyes, the teen in her feeling as if she was being attacked personally.

Xander continues on with a dark smile on his face.

"And, well, we've been friends for such a long time that I feel like I need to tell you something." Willow looks at him expectantly, hoping that he was going to confess, Michael looked on and didn't know if he should be happy or sad. "I've, um... I've decided to drop geometry. So I won't be needing your math help anymore. Which means I won't have to look at your pasty face again."

He and the others laugh. Willow is crushed. Her spirit and love telling her what he did, made her feel so terrible inside. She couldn't be more depressed right now. She just couldn't face it, she felt embarrassment, and didn't want to deal with it anymore. She felt like there was nothing else that could hurt her, because she was at the bottom of the spectrum now.

She turns and leaves, unable to handle it anymore.

Buffy watches her quickly walk by. Michael does as well, and feels pain for her. He feels like he just watched Willow's soul get crushed, and he wasn't going to stand for it. So, he marched over to Xander, and he stops laughing immediately, adopting a dark and angry face.

"What do you want?"

His tone was harsh, but Michael didn't care, and glared right back.

"How dare you be mean like that to Willow? What gives you the right to speak like that? You know how she feels for you, yet you speak like she's an inconvenience, like she is a bit of crap on your shoe? She's a girl with real feelings, for some dick like you which goes over my head, but she does. And you treat her like that? I hope she wakes up and sees that you aren't as great as she thinks you are. If you aren't interested in her fine, that's your feelings. But don't treat hers like they are nothing. What gives you the right to break Willows heart like this?"

Michael felt like it was his place to defend Willow. He didn't like seeing her sad, and usually it was when Xander ignored her in favour of others. But when he decided to be nasty to her, he crossed a line that he shouldn't of crossed, and it wasn't going to sit with him.

Xander chuckled evilly right back at Michael.

"Because I can, that's why, am I right guys?" Turning to his pack, they start laughing, even Amy did. His eyes then traced over to Michael again, this time in a dark frown. "Also, stay away from Buffy. She doesn't need someone like you, even speaking to her. Why don't you go and find your Mom and Dad so they can finish the job they started? Ya know, beating you."

Michael tightened his fist immediately, his knuckles turning white and was tempted to clock Xander across the face. But even for Xander, he knew that this level of hate wasn't something he'd normally bring, so he held himself back for the moment, Buffy watched on and glared as well for the comment.

"Hmph, you know it isn't a good idea to piss off a Warlock. You never know what I could do to you right at this moment. A beating would be a dream compared to what I can do to you for hurting Willow."

Xander smirks and gets right in Michaels face, yet says nothing. Michael glares right back at him, having a glaring match.

As Michael and Xander glare, Amy walks over to Buffy, staring at her.

"You gonna say something to me?"

Buffy demanded an answer, and it came when Amy indicated Buffy's smell.

"Geez, get a bath sometime. You're stinking up the joint, you bitch." Buffy blinked at being called a bitch as Amy moved closer. "Also, while we're at it. Why don't you keep your hooker hands off Michael, alright? He doesn't need washed up Slayer going for him."

"Washed up!? Hooker hands!?" Buffy snaps, tightening her fists. "I'm sorry, but whatever is getting to you, you do not-"

"He doesn't need you! Playing around with him, you don't know anything about him! Why don't you fuck off back to LA where you belong and leave Michael to me already! He and I were getting closer and closer every day, until you came into the picture, and messed everything up! If it wasn't for you, we'd be together, but because of you, we aren't!"

Buffy knew instantly from that comment that it wasn't Amy who was saying this, or at least it wasn't what Amy would say without something being wrong. She couldn't prove anything yet, but there was something going on, and she needed to know what it was.

"I'm sorry Amy, maybe I am what is needed here, are you?"

Referring to Michael, Buffy matched Amy's glare, a glare of women going off.

"Tch, at least I get him. You don't even know him, slut."

"Bitch."

Buffy bit back, as Xander started laughing in Michael's face.

"Something wrong with you Harris? Got something to say?"

Xander sneered, moving ever closer.

"Remember what I said about you dying instead of Jess-"

Before Xander could finish, Michael's power surrounded him, and he flung Xander across the hall, pinning him to the locker with Telekinesis alone, his eyes going completely black. He looked up at Xander, Xander being raised by his power, off the ground.

"What did I say about pissing off a Warlock? Well, you mess with them, and they get pissed off and mess with you. But not with words, little boy."

He flicked his hand sideways, towards the pack, Xander's body being flung into them, knocking them down onto the ground. They all look towards Michael, astonished and frightened of the power that he was emitting right now.

Amy rushes over to Xander, Michael looking at her with concern.

"Do you really wanna be with them Amy?"

Amy didn't answer, helping Xander to his feet, and the others as well.

They went towards Michael to get revenge, but a black eyed glare from him made them back down, Buffy standing next to Michael, and addressed Xander and Amy.

"It's better if you take your new friends and go, if you are gonna act like that."

"And don't bother trying to talk with Willow until you grow up Xander. Because, she doesn't need to be bullied by someone that she truly does love. She doesn't deserve it."

Michael added, them scurrying off straight away, unable to handle the harshness of the glares from the Slayer and the Warlock.

Michael's eyes return to normal and he glances towards Buffy.

"There's something-"

"Going on?" She finishes, he nods. "I'm on the same wavelength, but what is this?"

"I dunno." He shrugs, then notices that Buffy looks down. "Is there something wrong? Did Amy say something to you?"

Buffy thought about what Amy had said, and it kind of got to her. What she said about going back to LA, how she and Michael were getting closer before she arrived. She didn't want to hurt anyone, she just couldn't help who she liked.

"I-It's nothing, but Amy said that maybe I should go back to LA-"

"No." He rejected it immediately, and pulled her closer. "I like the fact that you're here. My life has gotten better with you in it. I am happy that you are here Buffy. My world has brightened up thanks to you."

Buffy couldn't help it when a large smile broke across her face, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, snuggling against him. He responded by holding her back, stroking her back gingerly.

"That's the sweetest thing anyone has said to me." Buffy casually admitted, then furrowed her eyebrows and frowned, tears forming in her eyes. "Do I smell?"

"No, why?"

He answered immediately, wondering where she got that from.

"Amy keeps saying I smell like shit. Do I smell like shit?"

Buffy's eyes brimmed with tears, the girly girl in her couldn't resist it, and wanted Buffy to break down crying. Michael giggled, and teasingly sniffed her, placing a kiss on the side of her head.

"You smell of Buffy."

"Is that good?"

He chuckled, grabbing her hand.

"Very good. The best ever." She smiled pleasingly to that, then Michael looked down the corridor. "Come on, let's go and find Willow. She might need a shoulder to cry on, a person to talk too."

"Yeah, let's go and find Willow."

Agreeing with them, the couple take off down the corridor, unknowingly becoming closer together from that act, and also unknowingly having Harmony following after them, glaring at Buffy, wishing it was her and not Buffy that was holding the blonde males hand right now.

---

End chapter!

So the pack has begun, and a little twist, Amy has become possessed as well! That will play well to bring out her feelings, Buffy questioning her own, and making choices in the future as well. And as you can see, Xander and Michael are, glaring at one another as well, wonder what's going to happen with them? But maybe the most detailing part was when Buffy saw Michael in her dream, and Buffy finding out from Willow a little of Michael's past. More of that to come in the future! There was even a little Harmony attack this chapter, poor Buffy is going through it isn't she? Though she has Michael with her, so that's a plus for her.