The following day, Methos found himself at Duncan's dojo, watching the Scotsman train the slayer in the finer parts of the sword. Richie was there too for sparring purposes, as Duncan felt that it would be best to start her off with someone she could potentially defeat in order to gain her confidence. Richie had taken mild offense to the idea, but agreed to help out nonetheless.

Secretly, Methos didn't think that Richie would pose much of a challenge to the slayer, but he figured that given time, Duncan would cease to underestimate her talents and teach her what it was she really needed to know.

He considered teaching her himself, especially after her revelation to him about why she had run away, but felt it was best that she have an impartial teacher. Where before he wanted nothing to do with slayers, and the legacy they carried with them, now he was far too connected with the young girl to do her justice as a teacher. He cared about her, and wanted to keep her safe. And after learning her story, he respected greatly, and respect was not something he dolled out lightly. No, he couldn't train her. He was too close for that. Should something happen to her, it would be because he inadequately prepared her. He did not want to fail her the way he failed Celine.

Duncan was the best, and he was not burdened with the problem of caring overly much for his charge. Methos knew it was for the best and yet he felt compelled to watch the training, to make sure that Duncan's instructions were helpful and would save her in the fight she would soon undertake. Much as he wanted to, he couldn't forget the infinitely fragile nature of slayers.

"All right," Duncan was saying to her as she lifted the sword he had lent her and proceeded to inspect the weight of it, and how it felt in her hand. He could tell she was still uneasy handling the weapon and hoped that his presence there would also help with that. Unless she could begin to think of the weapon as an extension of herself, she would be useless against Klossen. Methos was determined to help her with that, any way he could. "Now, Richie will be your opponent. We'll start you off slow, so that you can learn the basics."

"The basics?" She raised an eyebrow and Methos felt himself smile. Duncan was underestimating her even more than he had thought.

"Well you're a beginner Buffy, so I'm giving you a partner of the same calibre. I figure with your strength and his minimal experience, it will just about even out." Duncan smiled as if satisfied with his estimate, while both Richie and Buffy glowered.

"I'm not that much of a beginner Mac," Richie muttered. "I've beaten some pretty tough immortals, if you recall."

"And I know the 'basics', as you call them." Buffy added darkly. "I have used a sword before. I defeated a very difficult opponent with it." She cast a quick glance in Methos' direction, who smiled gently as she spoke. He was encouraged by her ability to speak openly of Angel, even within the veiled context. Duncan seemed blind to both of their protests, however.

"I am not trying to patronize either of you." He assured them. Both of them scoffed.

"Of course not," Buffy said sarcastically, "you just called me an amateur and Richie a practice dummy!"

"Hey!" Richie exclaimed indignantly. Methos grinned.

"Actually that last part sounded about right." He put in sweetly. Richie scowled.

"Keep quiet old man." He muttered.

"Look, you want me to teach you, this is how I'm going to do it to start off." Duncan exclaimed impatiently. "If it doesn't work out, we'll figure something else out, but for now, Richie is your partner. Don't go easy on him, but don't take his head either."

"Yea," Richie laughed nervously. "No decapitating."

"Well accidents do happen." Methos said smoothly.

"And no more comments from the peanut gallery." Duncan added sternly. Methos sat back and nodded, allowing the training to commence with his blessing and his silence. It was apparent to Duncan however, that pitting the slayer against the kid was indeed a foolish idea. With her strength and apparent skill with a sword (despite her disdain for the weapon), Richie was on his back within moments, the sword tip pressed dangerously close to his neck.

"How's that?" She asked casually. Methos felt a small smile creep over his features as he saw the flustered look on Duncan's face.

"A lucky shot," Richie growled as he stood up and brushed himself off. Buffy smiled apologetically.

"Sorry Richie, but it's just no contest. I've got slayer strength and training. And like I said before, a little experience with a blade."

"Slayers learn very quickly Mac," Methos put in for Duncan's benefit. "In their line of work, it's a necessity."

"Using your strength against Richie to defeat him won't help you." Duncan reminded her. "When you face Klossen, you won't be stronger than him. Strength will help even out the odds, but it won't put you over the top. Only skill with the blade will."

"So, who do I spar with then?" Buffy asked him. "You?"

Duncan shook his head.

"I don't think you're ready for that yet. You have to learn to fight without your strength first. I'm too skilled with the sword for you to spar with. You'd inevitably rely on your strength to fight me." He paused, considering the matter carefully.

"I'll spar with her." Methos offered quietly. He hadn't intended to train her, but he didn't have anything against sparring with her. Let Duncan handle matters of technique and Methos do the actual fighting. It was better this way, for he knew how she moved and how to both compliment, and challenge her.

"No good," Duncan was saying with a shake of his head. "I know you refuse to admit it Methos, but you are just as good as I am…better if you've been holding out on me like I think you have been. The same thing would occur."

"Plus I've already beaten him." Buffy said added, clearly trying to distance herself from the night they fought.

"No slayer," Methos said gently. "I let you win." He let the implications of that statement sink in before continuing. "Look Mac, I've lived a long time and it hasn't been through sheer luck. Yes, I am exceptionally skilled with a blade, but I am also good at hiding how good I am. Hiding has always been my best talent. And I know how fast slayers learn and how they fight. I can present a challenge to her without beating her too easily. I can be just difficult enough to make this worthwhile. Can you say the same?"

"You so didn't let me win," Buffy muttered to herself. Methos smiled, but didn't argue. Duncan thought for a moment.

"I guess I don't have any other choice." He finally said. "All right, Methos, you can spar."

"What about me?" Richie wondered, clearly disappointed that he was now odd man out.

"You can get us all cold drinks." Methos teased. "You'd make an excellent errand boy."