Chapter Twelve

The College, Sunnydale USA – year 2001

About a week had gone by since her visit to LA, and Buffy was trying not to think about it. Talking to Angel had brought many memories and feelings to the surface for her, and she had a hard time dealing with them. She had come to a few realizations, which in turn had brought her to take several actions when she returned to the 'sleepy' town of Sunnydale.

Her friends had been rather surprised by the changes. They had gotten used to the more distant she who refused to let anyone get truly into her heart. But it wasn't the fact that she broke up with Riley that surprised them, that they had actually awaited for a long time now, it was rather the fact that she started paying attention to her surroundings and grow to them. She wasn't a normal college girl with a second identity anymore, nor was she the slayer who pretended to be a normal college girl. She was simply Buffy.

It was Monday. Buffy and Willow were heading towards their classroom after talking to the study counsellor about changing her course. She had never really been interested in psychology, and with her grades, she had the possibility to learn whatever she wanted. The study counsellor had even suggested that she maybe should switch school to one more specialized to fit her needs.

"I don't know, Will," Buffy hesitantly said. "While I don't want to continue studying psychology, it doesn't mean I should change schools."

Willow smiled at her.

"Why not?" she enthusiastically asked. "I mean, I wouldn't have anything against switching schools if there were any good schools for tech students here in Sunnydale. If my parents had the money, I probably would have gone to one of those fancy colleges in LA where you can get degree even if you can't be at school all the time."

Buffy arched her eyebrows.

"Willow!" she teasingly said. "I never would've taken you for a slacker…"

Hitting her friend lightly on the shoulder, Willow chuckled.

"No, I'm not," she replied, "and I didn't mean it that way. In those schools, you can incorporate the work you have to do with your studying. Say, if you have to learn how to take care of a company you've inherited, you can make that a part of your course."

Buffy nodded.

"That sounds smart," she commented. "What kinds of schools are there?"

"Well," Willow said and walked to a nearby bench, sitting down before rummaging around in her bag after a bunch of brochures. "There are the Maxwell Institute for science, technology and that stuff, the Stahl College & University for business and economics students I mentioned earlier and the Sinclair Academy."

Waiting for a few seconds for Willow to tell her what the Sinclair Academy offered before giving up, Buffy sighed.

"Ok, ok, I'm stupid," she said. "What's the Sinclair Academy?"

Willow gave her a surprised yet somewhat amused look.

"A business school," she told Buffy. "They only take in the most talented students and their teaching are divided between regular classes and individual aims. I'm surprised you don't know it, it's really famous."

The blonde gave her friend a thoughtful look.

"Hn."

Sinclair Academy, LA USA – year 2001

"Welcome to the Sinclair Academy," a stern young man said. "A school, which produces the most talented, intelligent and successful businessmen. You are all privileged to be here, and take my words when I say there will be no favouring by social standing. Here, you are all equal. We expect the same things from you all, and we expect them to be perfect. The students we judge to be unfit for this school will be asked to leave. This may sound harsh, but it is the way it must be if the Sinclair Academy will continue holding it's superior quality."

Buffy looked slightly stunned at the man. She had expected it to be harsh, but not this harsh.

"You will each meet the study counsellor at your assigned time to discuss a suitable schedule," the man continued. "Many of you have special duties to attend to, and we will create your schedule after that. But be warned, duties are no reason to slack. My name is Michael Jay. Congratulations freshmen of 2001. You are now students of the Sinclair Academy."

Remaining with the other students in the auditorium in silence for a few seconds, Buffy then started to move. The opening speech had been very enlightening, maybe even more so than principal Snyder's.

Glancing at the sheets of papers she had been handed by the entrance, Buffy noted that she was scheduled for a meeting with study counsellor Theresa Monaghan in an hour to discuss her enrolment at the school. Sighing, Buffy decided that she could as well spend the time resting in the garden of the academy. It had been a rough night of slaying, and she immaculately tired. But there was nothing she could do about the thing. It wasn't like the demons and vampires would just go away if she asked them to.

Reaching the garden, Buffy steered her steps towards an empty bench situated under a weeping willow. Sitting down, she closed her eyes, relaxing her body and mind even as she remained alert from any threats.

About ten minutes later, her senses alerted her to that someone was approaching her from the main entrance. Someone who walked silent for a human and who were not hesitant in approaching her.

Buffy opened her eyes and studied the person approaching. It was a tall woman with flaxen hair cut short in a manly way. Dressed in slacks and a white shirt, she easily could have been mistaken for a man if not for the fact that the loosened collar at her neck exposed an unmistakable cleavage. But Buffy's trained eyes didn't fail her.

"Yes?" she hoarsely mumbled, her eyes half closed. "Did you want something?"

The other woman chuckled, slouching down on the bench.

"Maybe," she teasingly said. "Or maybe I was just tired in my legs. The school grounds are quite large after all. I'm Haruka Tenou."

Buffy coolly nodded.

"Buffy Summers," she replied. "Are you a freshman as well?"

Haruka shrugged.

"Yeah," she admitted. "Not that I need it or anything. But I thought: hey, why not? Maybe Thomas will finally get off my back on getting a formal education then."

Relaxing slightly, Buffy laughed.

"I recognize it," she dryly said. "Why Sinclair though? I bet there's at least a hundred other suitable colleges in the vicinity, not counting the Sunnydale College."

Haruka closed her eyes and folded her hands over her flat stomach.

"Well," she said, "I travel a lot. And as you said, the college in Sunnydale aren't the best. Sinclair seemed like a reasonable choice."

"Hn. So you live in Sunnydale?"

They talked for some more before it was time for Buffy to depart to the study counsellor's office.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around?"  Buffy said questioningly, getting to her feet.

Haruka grinned boyishly.

"You bet!" she said. "Why don't you come around later? That way you can show me 'round the town. Moving is truly a bitch."

Buffy nodded.

"Ok," she agreed. "See you by…let's say…six?"

Haruka nodded.

"Right. It's a date."

Adjusting the clip she had fastened at the back of her head, Buffy gave herself a few seconds to check her appearance in the mirror. Slender, dark jeans and a dark red top sporting a funky anime girl encompassed her body for the evening, an outfit suited for all the activities planned out for the evening. As well as those that weren't.

Glancing at her dressing table, Buffy grabbed a large, bronze cross from it, slipping it around her neck. Then she jammed a slender stake down her jeans at the small of her back, joining the small can of garlic spray already stuffed there.

"Can't be too careful," she muttered. "Especially with a newbie in town."

Grabbing her leatherjacket, Buffy headed for the door. Time to meet up with Haruka.

To Buffy's surprise, Haruka's apartment was revealed to be a full floor penthouse in the best part of town, complete with security guards and all. Walking through the door, she was promptly asked to reveal her name and errand. Then they called Haruka to check the truth of her statement before letting her take the elevator up to Haruka's place.

When the elevator doors glided open, Haruka was waiting for her, dressed in jeans as well with a marine college shirt to. Buffy frowned a bit as she saw her new friend. Haruka arched her eyebrow at her.

"What are you staring at?" she teasingly said. "Do I have something on my face?"

Buffy shook her head, giving the woman an assuring look.

"No," she replied, "it's just that you remind me of someone in those cloths. Someone I saw on TV…"

Haruka grimaced, squaring her shoulders before giving Buffy an incensed look.

"A racer perhaps?" she dryly said.

At Buffy's nod, she led the other woman further into her sparsely furnished home to a bookcase filled with trophies and medals. Gesturing for Buffy to take a look, Haruka took a step backwards. Buffy read a few of the plaques before turning to Haruka, confused.

"You're that racer?" she asked. "But I thought he was a male…"

Haruka shrugged.

"You're supposed to," she offhandedly explained. "Everyone's supposed to. That way, I get some anonymity outside the racing track. No one would believe that Haruka 'Mad Runner' Tenou is a woman. Annoying sometimes, but it makes life so much easier."

Buffy nodded, understanding now.

"I see," she said. "Well, it's not like it matters anyway. So, where do you want to go tonight? To the only club in town or to the cinemas? There's only so much to do here on weekdays."

"The club," Haruka promptly said. "I feel like partying."

The blonde slayer laughed at that.

"The Bronze it is," she said.

The night was pretty uneventful from that on. They got to the Bronze without anything special happening, spent two hours having generally fun before deciding it was time to get home.

Pulling her fingers through her hair, Haruka grinned wildly as they exited the club.

"I haven't had so fun for ages!" she grinned. "Not since I moved here at least. Did you see that girl's face when she realized I wasn't a guy?"

Buffy nodded, chuckling.

"Oh yes," she agreed. "I thought she was going to pop for a second there."

"Me too," Haruka revealed. "Shall we split up now, or do you want to come over to my place and talk some?"

Buffy didn't get the opportunity to answer as a loud scream tore through the air. Before it had even quieted, Buffy had begun moving into the alley the sound originated from, whipping out a stake as she went.

It was two girls who had been pinned by two vampires bent on getting their breakfasts right there and then. Buffy ran right into the fray, ripping the vampires from their victims and flinging them into some trashcans by the backdoor. Spending a few precious seconds shooing the terrified girls out from the alley, Buffy then turned to fight the vamps, just to find that Haruka had followed her into the alley and now was lecturing the two wildly grinning vampires, who expected another free meal.

"Well, not if I can help it," Buffy muttered under her breathe and ran over to the three beings just as the two vampires jumped her friend.

"Shit," Haruka swore as she went down, the two vamps on top of her. "I thought we agreed on not fighting!"

The stockier vamp grinned toothily at her, morphing faces.

"We don't bargain with food," he told her, and then he was promptly ripped away from Haruka's trapped body as Buffy reached her friend.

"Well, I don't bargain with vamps," she quipped, dusting him with her stake.

By then, Haruka had heaved the other vamp from her and was fighting it rather skilfully with different martial arts moves. Absently noticing that the other woman was more than proficient in that way of fighting, Buffy almost missed Haruka's tense shout.

"What is this thing?" she yelled. "Or scratch that, how do I get rid of it?"

She punctuated her yelling by landing two heavy punches in the vamps face, breaking its nose with a satisfying crack.

"Here!" Buffy shouted, throwing the stake to the other blonde. "Stake him!"

Haruka nimbly caught the stake and pushed the vamp into a wall. Then she swiftly stepped towards it and plunged the stake into place. Withdrawing it again quickly, she then watched the vampire explode into dust with a disgusted look on her face. Turning towards Buffy, she gave the slayer a sharp look.

"I think you have some explaining to do," she coolly suggested.

Buffy sighed and went to pick up her dropped purse.

"Yeah, well, what else is new?" she muttered. "Let's go then."

Haruka gave her a suspicious look.

"Where?" she crankily wondered.

"To my watcher," Buffy shortly explained. "He'll explain better than I."

Haruka nodded, dusting off her hands on her jacket.

"All right," she agreed. "But if you are going to try and convince me that I didn't see anything, you're getting a hell of a hard time."

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"No kidding," she said. "You're taking this way too Oz-ish. You don't happen to now a guy named Daniel Osborne by any chance?"

Haruka shrugged.

"No," she answered. "Why?"

"Nothing."