"Defeating Malcah comes one simple thing," Giles explained, circling around the blindfolded slayer, who stood in the center of the training room. "Being a better fighter than her."
"And how do I do that?" Buffy asked.
"You are the slayer and you are preparing for battle with an opponent who has every advantage. So, you must be better than her. Every punch she throws you must counter, every attack you make must inflict damage. You must move silently and stealthily. You must never let your guard down," Giles said.
"I get all that Giles. The problem is doing it," Buffy explained.
"One more thing Buffy…" Giles trailed off and Buffy opened her mouth to ask him what he was about to say. At that moment the Slayer was attacked by Spike.
Buffy rolled to her feet and got into her fighting stance. She could sense Spike's presence but he was not standing in one place. The vampire was circling around her, much like they had done when they had first began sparring, several months ago.
"Reach your senses out, Buffy. Find Spike and then attack. You are at a disadvantage, you cannot see him. So every attack you make must do twice as much damage as the attacks you usually make," Giles said from his position in the corner of the room.
Buffy could feel Spike getting closer, probably preparing to attack once more. However, as soon as he got close to her and Buffy lashed out with a punch from her right hand the Slayer realized that was what he had been expecting her to do. Spike caught Buffy's fist and twisted it roughly behind her back. He then took hold of her other arm and, before the Slayer had time to react, her hands were tied firmly behind her back.
"Spike! Untie me you peroxide rat!" Buffy commanded.
"Can't do that Slayer. You need to understand what it means to fight at a disadvantage," Spike told Buffy. The Slayer was sure that he wore a smirk on his face.
"And you're oh so conveniently-" Buffy began, only to be cut off when Spike's foot connected with her chest, sending the Slayer spiraling backwards.
Buffy stopped talking and concentrated on the fight. She could feel Spike's presence around her and knew that if her hands were not bound she would have no problem beating him. Unfortunately, she could do nothing in her present state. Well, not exactly nothing. Buffy lashed at Spike wish a jump kick. However, he caught her foot before it made contact with his chest. Spike flipped the Slayer up. As soon as she landed on the ground once more Buffy rolled onto the floor and kicked Spike behind his knee, sending the vampire to the ground. The Slayer pinned Spike's hands to the ground with her feet and stradled Spike.
"So…did I win?" She asked excitedly. Spike's defeated grown was all the answer she needed.