Buffy walked into the classroom she's scared and didn't know who to go to. She suddenly realizes how little she knew Giles. He blew off the blood shipment and left her alone with vampires. Thank god Angel was there. When she went to see Giles that night he was drunk. She wants to know what's going on with Bizarro Giles.

Buffy walked into the computer lab and saw Cordelia alone with Willow helping Miss Calendar. "Even for a remedial class this is small."

Jenny looked at her. "Well it's more of a study session, also Xander was supposed to be here but he was thrown out." She sees the look on Buffy's face and can tell it's bad. "Is there something wrong?"

Buffy shrugged. "I don't know. Uh it's about Giles, he didn't show up when he was supposed to last night, and then, when I went over to his place, he was acting... well, very anti-Giles. He wouldn't let me in, and he looked really bad. I-I think he might've been... I think he was drinking."

"Tea" Willow asked as reassurance.

"Not tea Will. How about you guys have you noticed anything different?" Buffy asked.

Willow and Jenny shrug.

"It might have something to do with the cop that paid him a visit yesterday." Cordelia said bluntly.

Buffy was in shock. How is she this self centered. Even at her worst she was... just as bad but she'd spread rumors about the police showing up. "Why didn't you mention this to any of us?"

Cordelia shrugged. "You never asked."

Buffy was instantly alert. What kind of mess are they in now. "Let's go check out the library. Maybe you guys will see something I missed."

The scoobies look around in the library but no sign of Giles. Buffy hears something up in the stacks and is instantly alert. When whoever is in there tries to dump the stacks on her she pushes right back and dumps it on him to her surprise its Ethan. "I know you; you're the one who sold me that dress on Halloween."

Cordelia rubbed her fingers into her ears. "Anyone else hear the flute?"

Ethan turned to Buffy ignoring the other girl. "Yes, and you looked smashing in it."

Buffy glared at him. "You're also the reason Xander isn't with us anymore." She looked at Ethan. "God I wish I could see Xander get his hands on you."

At that the door opened and Xander showed himself running into Ethan tackling him to the floor and choking the life out of him with his right hand. Xander quickly punched him the face with the left.

Buffy watched as Xander continued to rain down punches on him. She sees the black and blues forming, as Xander quickly pulled out a knife. Buffy quickly pulled Xander off of Ethan as his bloody face showed that he had no intention of stopping. "We're not the bad guys; we don't beat people to death."

Xander looked at her. He was mindfully watching when to his surprise Buffy had grabbed Ethan. His main goal was to come in and kill the bastard that did this to him. He didn't think Buffy would stand in his way. "Oh please, he's no different then any vampire you've sent to dustville! How many people do you think he killed on Halloween? How many kids? What do you think went through a first grader's mind while his best friend was ripping him apart because one kid went to Party town and another went to him?"

"We don't have any say in who lives and who dies. As much of a cockroach as he is, he's part of humanity, and that's not always pretty." Buffy replied, sometimes it sucks to be her.

Xander rolled his eyes in disbelief. "Fine, but I'm not leaving you guys alone with him."

"Great, we can use the company until Giles gets here." Buffy replied.

Ethan looked at the girl and decided to tell her everything about the mark of Eyghon mainly because it seems her new friend will kill him if he even tries to run.

Xander walked over to the book cage and more in particular the weapons cabinet. He smiled seeing the broadsword hanging on the wall in it's sheathe. He takes the sword out of it's sheathe and smiled. "Hey… you think Giles will mind if I keep this? I've been looking for a new sword?"

Buffy rolled her eyes waiting for the librarian. "Have at it."

Willow looked at Xander and saw him do a couple practice swings. He seems a lot more comfortable with a sword then he was a couple weeks back. That must be Burai's influence. "So, can I ask you something?"

Xander shrugged. "Sure"

"Was there any other side effects from being Burai?" Willow asked.

Xander shook his head. "I know kung fu and I'm a master swordsman. Why do you ask?"

Willow honestly shrugged. "Well I tried looking up Burai when you first went missing. But all I could find was Burai means villain, and when I looked it up all it did was ask me if I wanted to buy Burai Fighter for Nintendo, and when I looked up green ranger all it did was take me to stuff on Tommy."

Xander took a breath of relief, good she doesn't know.

To both of their surprise a zombie bursts through Giles's Office heading straight for Ethan. Ethan makes a break for it but is caught by Xander whom bounced his head off the book cage knocking him out. Buffy kicked the demon in the stomach followed by a punch to the face from Xander wobbling him into the cage. Buffy hopped up and grabbed the top of the book cage using the leverage to kick the zombie in the cage and lock it keeping him in.

Giles burst through the door concerned for the well being of everyone until he saw Ethan at the chair. "Is everyone alright?"

Xander was looking at the cage fascinated. "Dead…guy here interrupted our interrogation but it gave me a chance to hurt Ethan…" He turned to the zombie. "Thanks for that by the way."

The zombie slammed into the cage but Xander simply moved his head back.

Giles goes over and picks up Ethan by the hair. "I would have thought you would have had enough sense to leave town after Halloween."

"Well, you know me Ripper." Ethan gasped out in some pain. "Couldn't go leaving when I still had the shop leased to the end of the month."

Giles let go of Ethan and looked at the man with an expression that would bring about fear in almost any form of demon that wasn't invincible.

Sadly however at this moment the zombie broke free from the door as Xander quickly pulled Ms. Calendar back barely beating the door. The zombie saw Cordelia out in the open and tackled her against the cage knocking her out for the moment as she was standing between him and Ethan. Buffy gets between Ethan and Eyghon before kicked him in the chest three times, forcing him back against the cage. He slid down to the floor, but got back up and came for Buffy again. Before he can reach her, his eyes go wide, he began to convulse and he collapsed to the floor next to Cordy. He disintegrates into a puddle of slime.

Xander looked at the puddle; please don't let that happen to him. He looks to Cordy, gently nudging her and sees she has a bump on the head. "Cordy, are you OK?"

Cordelia weakly nodded as she got to the feet. "I hate this place… I just… hate this place… the weirdest things always happen." She got out groggily. "No offense but I'm getting away from you losers for the day if that's OK?"

Jenny nodded. "Guess that's an end to computer class."

Xander smiled he's only been here for about twenty minutes he'll definitely call this a win.

Buffy looked at Cordy. "You want someone to drive you home."

"No, I'm fine; one Saturday morning is enough of you people." She assured the slayer. Cordelia rolled her eyes at the table and pointed. "Ethan's gone."

They all turn around and see the empty chair. He is not their concern at the moment.

Xander rolled his eyes, you know what he only has X amount of time, he's not wasting it on a shop keep. "I'll find him."

Buffy looked at him. "Xander!"

"And turn him in." The man finished. "Do what's right. I swear on Jessie's grave that if I find Ethan I'll leave him for the authorities. Bye guys I'll see you later."

Buffy took that as an oath and let him go. She really hopes Xander can control himself.

Willow turned to Buffy as Xander left. "Can Xander even do anything to Ethan?"

Buffy saw what Xander could do on Halloween and the club last week, yes he can. "Yea, I'm more worried about Xander crossing the line then what Ethan could do to Xander. So that demon thing is dead right?"

Giles nodded affirmatively. "Cordelia was only stunned so without any dead or unconscious bodies Eyhgon had nothing to possess."

Once Xander and Cordy left the Scoobies simply broke off in pairs Buffy left with Willow while Giles left with Ms. Calendar happy that Eyghon was taken care of so easily.

Xander made a vertical swing with his new broad sword and a horizontal swing with his Zyusouken. He finished up with a couple kicks calling it a day for his practice. It would be better with a sparring partner but he's building to Burai, mainly because there's nothing to do in here besides, eat, sleep, research a cure one page at a time, watch TV, and train. And speaking of TV, he focuses on Buffy and before too long he sees a picture of her sharing a goodnight kiss with Angel.

Xander rolled his eyes there goes his lunch. "Bleh, gross" He focuses on Willow and all he sees is the mirror. "Huh that's weird." The picture comes clear when the mirror moves and Xander quickly turns his head seeing it's a shower door. He keeps fighting the urge to look but his head glances a couple times before guiltily looking away. "Oh wow, you've really changed since the days of footy pajamas." Come on Harris you can't do this to your best friend think of the most boring person you know. "Huh, Giles"

Xander took a breath of relief seeing the watcher alone in his room. Until he sees Ms. Calendar gently holding him. "Oh god it burns. This is not Cinemax after dark, come on." He focuses on something anything right now. "Oh I know, show the cheerleader she devil."

He smiled seeing nothing that could be in anyway lead to perving on his friends. He also sees it's not a house and the back of her head. "Cordy! What are you doing up at this hour?" He watches as she looks up at a store sign that says Ethan's. What's she doing there? What is she hoping to do there? He sees her through the glass of the shop and gets her answer puss and boils all over her face demonic horns, glowing green eyes. The demon must have possessed her in the brief moment it took for him to wake her up. No way can Buffy get to her in time she's on the other side of town and they wouldn't even let her take the road test in September, it has to be him. He takes the Zyusouken and plays a familiar song that would make kids squeal with joy as he returns to Earth.

Ethan looked at the door startled as it exploded off its hinges as Cordy entered as Eyghon. He's going to die to a teenage cheerleader, this is just embarrassing. He really hopes this worked.

Cordy sniffed him and merely smiled. "Do you think you can fool me by desecrating your brand?"

Ethan groaned see, this is why he wanted one of those stupid kids to follow him. He doesn't hate kids mind you he just likes himself more and a fresh tattoo in his presence would drawn Eyghon to its wielder like this former girl would to any guy. Ethan was never happier then when the door opened revealing Xander with a dagger in his hand.

Ethan tried to run but Xander quickly stepped aside and delivered one small jump and kicked Ethan in the knee breaking his leg at the joint as the Chaos Mage toppled over. Xander quickly stomped right above the same foot breaking it in two places as he continuously shouted in pain.

"Don't go anywhere." Xander ordered. "So how do I get this thing out of her?"

Ethan looked at him with a smile. "The only way I know of is to kill her." Given the boys hatred of him he's not going to risk telling him that he can transfer it to another dead body. "The only way is to kill her, I'm sorry chap."

"Or a dead body if you kill him." Cordy replied giving Xander the choice, kill Ethan or kill Cordelia.

Xander looked at the demon and considered his options. He's a demon given what happened last time he willingly left a body he's not going to let Cordelia turn into a puddle of goo. He turned to Ethan; he suddenly regrets breaking the Chaos Mage's leg at the moment. "OK, new plan, I fight the demon, you hobble to the sink and fill it up."

Ethan nodded in understanding but pointed to his leg. "Just one problem mate."

Xander looked at him well at least he didn't kill him as soon as he came in he likely would have killed Cordelia too. "So where is the tub?"

"In the back second door to your right." Ethan replied. He's assuming the plan is to drown Eyghon and then he'll perform CPR on the girl. "Best of luck"

Xander walked right towards Eyghon. The demon threw a punch Xander ducked under Xander went for a kick but the demon ducked under that. Xander went for the Zyusouken but quickly took his hand off the blade realizing how bad an idea that was.

Cordy laughed at the gesture. "Ah what's the matter, performance anxiety?" She feigns a punch Xander ducks for and gets a knee to his face for his trouble wobbling him. Cordy throws him at a shelf and his spine hit hard against the wooden edge and he fell to the floor.

Xander groaned in pain this wasn't going well. "Cordy, fight this thing, get it out, you're Cordelia Chase, you're going to sit there and take crap from this thing."

"She can't hear you." Cordy smiled seeing him try to get up so she straddled him pinning him down with her on top. "Ah, it's OK the first time can be a little rough and scary." She choked him with one hand and he put his hand on her shoulder trying to push her off. She grabbed the Zyusouken with her free hand. "I'll show you around the curves." Xander's free hand quickly shot up and grabbed her wrist keeping the dagger away from him.

Cordy looked at Xander as his eyes glowed white. "Cool trick, what are you supposed to be guardian of the slayer, friend to all." The light spreads from Xander's eyes covering his face as it traveled through him. Cordy looked at the light as it traveled down his arms and started at her wrist. "Let go". She shook desperately trying to break free but his grip on her has become something like a vice. "Stop it!" Xander watched as the light coursed through Cordelia's body coming to its last stop her head. "Let g… get out of my body you freak!" Cordy shouted as mist exited through her mouth and faded into nothing as she collapsed on top of Xander.

Ethan looked at the two well that was interesting.

Xander gently nudged her as Cordy caught her breath she looked up to him teary eyed having all those thoughts in her head. She didn't care how lame he was she just needed this tonight as she hugged him and quietly cried into him. Xander just held her close. "It's OK, it's over."

Cordy pulled back she's Cordelia Chase she can't cry. She wipes at her eyes but it doesn't do much. "Walk me home?"

Xander looked at her, figures it's a demon that doesn't know how to drive that is an hour walk. But he won't leave her not like this. "Yeah, just give me a couple minutes so I can sick Buffy and Giles on him."

Cordy looked and saw Ethan hobbling on his feet very slowly, briskly limping and semi crawling for the door. She quickly ran over and kicked him in the family jewels. Ethan toppled over on the wrong side and a sickening crack was heard from his leg again today.

Xander groaned in discomfort actually sharing Ethan's pain just from being a guy. "Wow, right in the British Stones?" He dialed the number and waited for the phone to pick up. Come on Giles who the hell else would call at twelve at night. "G-Man, Ethan's in his shop. His leg is broken in three places and there might be an imprint of Cordy's heel on his boys."

Xander smiled he can actually hear Giles taking off his glasses. "Look the demon possessed Cordy earlier but I took care of it with a bit of magic I learned, but she doesn't want to be around Ethan for obvious reasons, I'll lock him in the store and leave the key under the mat OK… alright… bye. "

Xander hung up the phone. Clearing out the sound of female laughter from the other end of the call… still creepy, Giles is old. "Giles will be over in a couple minutes. Are you ready to go?"

Cordy nodded as the two walked out the door.

Xander looked at her walking home forty five minutes later. It was a peaceful quiet walk but judging she's not in any mood to throw insults he won't say anything mean. "Are you OK?"

Cordy looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, it's just Giles made that thing. The demon kind of makes him not my favorite person for a while. So can I ask you something?"

Xander shrugged no chance she knows what's really happening to him. "Sure?"

"What was with that light thing?" Cordy asked.

Xander walked with her. That's what he'd like to know. Burai did it before at the very end to pass all his stuff to his brother right before he died. But that light was green not white. And it didn't change him into Dragon ranger as much as obliterate the demon that was inside her. "Magical exorcism, I mean something had to have killed it."

Cordelia nodded and easily accepted his answer. "Hey I'm not complaining I'm back to me. You saved me twice now, and I mean, just imagine just how much exfoliating I would have had to do if that demon skin stayed on."

Xander smiled walking up to her mansion; it's as big as he remembers. "And just like that she's back."

Cordelia looked at him. "Oh please, don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for you. But you're still a member of the dweeb patrol."

Xander shook his head and got into her face. "Unfreakin believable, you know, you are the most shallow woman I have ever met."

"Excuse me?" Cordelia shouted not backing down.

"You heard me." Xander shouted. "I just helped you, and you still tear me down." Xander looked at her getting angrier with each passing moment. He saved her. He wasted an hour and that's what he gets. "That's it, twelve years is my quota of you I'm throwing down."

Cordelia pointed at him. "I watched you fight Harris I still think I can take you… you brainless packmule."

"Empty headed bimbo" Xander countered.

Cordelia poked him in the chest. "I hate you!"

"I hate you!" Xander shouted. They look at each other for another second before grabbing each other and engaging in a mad, passionate kiss. It goes on for several seconds before they suddenly release each other and look at each other in surprise. Xander and Cordy looked at each other in shock but quickly broke off as each bolted in opposite directions.

Xander practically bolted down the block wiping at his mouth. "I just kissed Cordelia Chase. This has to be a side effect of dying."

Cordelia ran inside and quickly locked the door big surprise mom and dad aren't home. She wiped at her mouth. "I just kissed Xander Harris. This has to be a side effect of the possession."

"What the hell is wrong with me!" Xander and Cordy shouted.

Cordy listened and heard the familiar song from earlier today. "What is it with that damn flute?"

Xander sat back in the lapse less room and just laid down on the bed letting his back rest after the Cordy demon slammed him into the shelf. He held up the Zyusouken and studied it. He has to practice with this and the new sword. If he could use the more complicated attacks the Cordy demon would have never gotten close. Then he kissed her. What the hell was he thinking? He kissed Cordelia Chase. He looked at the candle and saw more had burned away. He looked down at the watch. '35:02:09' He can focus on Cordy later he doesn't have the time and he has research to do. "Zyuranger dragon ranger arrival." Maybe there's something he missed if not he can learn to use the dagger properly.

Next week Xander watched from the lapse less room. Cordy seemed to be in complete denial about what happened which works for him. He saw Buffy sound asleep in class after the long patrol she had last night, and Willow studying hard likely for the two of them. He can see the outside world he just can't touch it without losing time. He needs a pick me up. Does he dare check in on Giles after last time? He watches as the picture shows the Sunnydale Library book guy at it again.

He hears a noise but the weird thing is he's pretty sure it's Ethan. "What the?"

"Ripper, you have done some vile things to me but this so far beyond is the worst." Ethan replied in the bookshelves in a wheelchair.

Giles took down his glasses and looked at his former friend. Xander broke his ankle in three different places so he's going to be stuck with him for a good long while. "Well, consider it community service for past transgressions… unless of course you'd like me to communicate with the council about your actions… I'm sure they can find a more fitting punishment."

Ethan looked at him almost pale with his injuries he wouldn't last an hour. "So do you list alphabetically Rupert?"

"Yes" Giles replied. "And do hurry, nothing good can come out of the book Spike's minion stole so we must know what it is."

Xander smiled good to know he's being forced to help the Scoobies after all this. Well at least something's happening to him.

Author's Notes

Thanks for the reviews and those whom followed and favorited.

After all the crap they went through I wanted a way to give Giles and Jenny a somewhat good night, and move Cordy and Xander along a bit faster. I honestly think if Willow had kept her mouth shut for ten more seconds I think those two would have gotten started in the library in the dark age to the horror of Willow.

Ethan was shown to be more of a wild card if anything. And reformed in season 8 at least from what I read before I quit. I wanted to try a story that kept him around.