Author's Note: This update has been a while in coming to say the least. I honestly had forgotten about it until I received a feedback on it just the other day from a person who greatly enjoyed the fic and wondered when it would be continued. So you know where the authors will say that feedback helps get a story going? Well that is very true, especially in this case. :) So if you like this fic then please leave a review when you're done reading so that I know that I'm doing right in continuing this fic. And if you don't like it then leave constructive criticism. Enjoy!

Chapter 5: OldFriends

Sabastian weaved his way in and out of all the people gathered at the dojo in search of Tsi. It took a few minutes with the mass of people, or hoard of water carriers as Anya would have said, but he finally found the person he was looking for.

Sabastian made his was over and tapped the older man on the shoulder.

"Buffy and I are gonna go get some lunch and then meet up with a couple of old friends," Sabastian told him. "We should be back in a couple of hours or so."

"I believe I can manage until then," Tsi told the taller man, turning away when he was done speaking.

"Wait," Sabastian. "Buffy's talked a lot about you since she came here. Yet I don't know a thing about you myself."

"Or my intentions," Tsi said with a raised eyebrow.

Sabastian looked a little taken back before he regained his composure. "I never said that."

"No, but you wanted to," Tsi told him. "I'm not that daft. And as for your question, Miss Elizabeth is foremost my employer and my friend. If anything she is like a younger sister to me. You have no need to worry... Good day."

With that Tsi turned on his heel and made his exit. Though he was the smaller of the two men and highly more respectable, he was not going to get into a fight with that insolent young man, even though he could easily wipe the floor with him as Buffy would say. And that did have it's merrit. Tsi grinned.

Having taken care of that Sabastian decided to wonder around while waiting for his sister. He did have to wonder long because before he knew it Buffy had appeared before him, fully changed and ready. And what a change it was. Her current outfit was definitely not something she would have ever worn before when she went by Catherine and it was also a change from the white and innocent look she had portrayed earlier when he first arrived.

Buffy stood in front of him with smoky eye shadow makeup and eyeliner, a pinstripe halter vest that showed just a hint of cleavage and tied in the back with a satin sash attached to the halter, leaving her back nearly bare. If you looked closely you could make out a scar peaking out from where the satin sach tied at her back. She completed the outfit with dark wash low rise jeans, black strappy heels, and her hair was lightly curled and pushed back from her face by a pair of black sunglasses which currently rested on her head. In her hand she held a small black purse.

"Ready?" Buffy asked her brother, doing a little spin to show off her outfit.

"I've been ready, Sis," Sabastian told her. "Nice outfit."

"Thanks, Sab." Buffy said while they made their way out of Angeli Selvaggi. "Dawnie helped me pick it out when I visted her a few months ago in England."

"How is the little brat?" Angeli Selvaggi inquired.

"She's doing good. I'll tell her you say hi," Buffy told him while climbing into his car that was parked at the curb. "So...food? Where are we going?"

"That's a surprise," Sabastian told her while getting in as well and starting up his car.

"But I wanna know," Buffy playfully whinned and pouted for full effect. "Pleeeaaassseee!"

"No," Sabastian told her while pulling out into the ongoing lunch hour traffic. "And that pout's not gonna work either. I know that innocent act is nothing but an act."

Buffy just slumped in her seat while Sabastian laughed.

Meanwhile on the other side of town things weren't getting on so great. Cecile and Annette were sitting in the back seat of a taxi cab on their way to find Sabastian. They knew he was going to be practicing with the band today so they decided that would be a good place to wait for him. But at the rate they were going they would be lucky if they'd be able to catch him before he leaves. Annette was fuming and alternating glaring daggars at the traffic for holding them up and at her friend sitting along side of her for talking her into hailing the damn cab in the first place. Cecile on the other hand was wondering just why the earth never does open and swallow you up when you need it to the most.

Yeah, Cecile thought wistfully. Like that would ever happen.

Sabastian and Buffy however made it to their destination before the traffic ever made it's way to them. They were lucky in that respect but unlucky as well because that gave the other blonde more time to fume and become further angered. The latter part however they did not know... yet that is.

Sabastian and Buffy climed out of his car once Sabastian found a sutible place to park.

"What are we doing here?" Buffy asked, looking around. "This looks like an old factory."

"You'll see," Sabastian said with a grin on his face, sauntering towards the enterence to said factory. "Follow me."

Since she had nothing better to do and since curiositry killed the cat Buffy decided to become a dead cat and follow her brother.

But satisfaction brought it back, Buffy thought which added a smile of her own to her face and an extra sway to her hips. Bring it on!

The two entered the building which was surprisingly well lit to Buffy and surpeisingly loud as well. Buffy took in her surroundings and noticed a table with some pizza boxes, a few people she'd never met, and one person who she thought she'd never see again.

"Ronald?"

"Katherine?!"

The two recgonized each other at the same time. Sure it had been a while and they had both grown up and changed but underneeth it all they were still the same people. The two stared in silence for a moment, both of them shocked beyond belief.

"Actually I go by Buffy now," she told him, having recovered first and staying calm.

Ronald however was not taking everything in stride as he turned from the now blonde to the taller one standing next to her.

"What the hell is this bitch doing here?!" Ronald yelled to Sabastian, pointing in her direction.

Buffy responded before brother dearest could form a reply. "You know what? You sort this out; I'll be outside if any of you need me."

With that she left just as quickly as she came in and found her way to the alley way on the side of the building. Finding a couple of crates to lean against she reached in her purse and pulled out a cigarette and Spike's lighter, the only material thing she still had from her bleached wonder. A habit she'd picked up from Spike himself. She let the cigarette hang from her full red lips as she lit the lighter and dragged in a puff of smoke before slowly letting it out. She was so enthralled in her thoughts that she almost didn't hear the footsteps coming up beside her.

"Those'll kill you, you know," Ronald told her, hands in his pockets as he leaned up against the wall across from her.

"You don't know the half of it," Buffy told him and silently laughed, thinking about Spike's final gift to her before he... She couldn't even finish the thought. She missed him so much and it must have showed because Ronald picked up on it. He didn't know exactly what had caused the blonde's mood change but he knew that she had changed. He knew now that she wasn't the same cold heartless bitch he had first met all those years ago and that was good enough for him, at least for the time being. He figured he'd learn the rest as time went on. But then again only time can tell.

Buffy had long since finished her cigarette. The two just stood facing and reading each other. Neither said a word. But even though words were not spoken Buffy could read the appology and new acceptence in Ronald's eyes. An acceptence that had never been there before was there now.

"Ready to go inside?" Rolald finally asked, breaking the silence. "Food's getting cold."

Buffy smiled and followed. "I'm starved. Lead the way."

T.B.C.