Spike wakes up again, and is suddenly disoriented. He stumbles out of bed, not sure where he is. Or who is is for that matter. He stumbles through the house, and eventually finds his way outside. Unsure where to go, he leans against the brick wall of the house. People are moving around on the street, looking at him suspiciously.
With a groan, he straightens, trying to blend in. He heads off in a random direction, hoping something will feel familiar to him. For a while, he wanders. Eventually, he becomes dizzy and stops again, in an alleyway. He slumps against the wall again.
He loses track of time, and has no idea how much time has passed before two girls find him. One of them is carrying a wooden stick in her hand. Something about that is faintly reminiscent to him. It makes him angry. With what little strength he has remaining, he attacks the girl, but she quickly disarms him.
"Whoa! What the heck?" The girl studies his face as she holds him pinned to the ground. "Since when do random homeless dudes have so much power? He's practically got vampire speed and strength, even though he looks like he can barely stand up." The girl's companion says something but he misses it.
"Let me go." He tries to knock her off him, but suddenly his limbs feel heavy again. Exhaustion overcomes him. He slumps against the pavement.
"We should take him back to headquarters. Maybe Mr. Giles or Mr. Russel will know what to do." His eyes fall closed, and he missed the rest of the conversation as darkness overcame him.
Willow wasn't aware of having fallen asleep. But the next thing she knew, she was in London again. The small house was dark and absolutely silent. Spike was gone. Her heart sank. The woman from earlier was sound asleep in the chair again. Willow moved over to her, but was unable to wake the woman.
There were suddenly footsteps and Willow darted towards the shadows, so she wouldn't be seen. Moments later, a man Willow had never seen before walked into the room. Something about him made her feel very cold. Willow watched, helplessly as the man shook the woman who had been helping Spike roughly. The woman jerked awake.
"What are you doing here, Katashi?" The tone of voice the woman spoke in was full of fear and anger. "How did you find me?" The man grinned menacingly.
"I told you I would always come for you Makoto. It took me longer than expected, but I finally tracked you here. I have to say, I am surprised to find you here. As royalty, I expected you to be living like the princess you were." The man tsks at her, and shakes his head. "Anyway, I am here to take you home. Back where you belong." Makoto stood up then.
"I belong here. Earth is my home. If you had never taken me to that...that Hell, I would have lived my life. Happily, with my family. That place? That's not my home. It could never be my home." She spat at him. The man, Katashi, raised his hand, and slapped Makoto across the face. Willow surged forward, but something in Makoto's eyes froze her in place. "Leave. Now. And never return to this place. I banish you." Power filled the air, nearly a tangible thing. Katashi howled, but it was hard to tell if it was from rage or pain. Suddenly, he spun, saw Willow and took a step towards her. But before he made it very far, there was a sound very much like a clap of thunder and he disappeared.
Makoto slumped against the chair, growing more and more pale by the minute. Willow moved to her. "Are you all right?" Makoto shook her head.
"No. I used my power. All of it. In order to banish a man who could have ended the world." She closed her eyes and shook her head. Willow knelt down.
"Here. I may not actually be here in my body, but I can still help." Willow reached out and touched Makoto. "Take some of my energy. Heal yourself." Makoto looked up at Willow, shocked.
"You...you'd do that for me?" Willow nodded. "But why? You barely know me. You just heard that I've been in a Hell dimension. Why would you help me?" Willow sighed.
"See, here's the thing. A few years back, I went evil. My girlfriend, Tara, was killed by this guy named Warren. I ended up abusing magic and flaying him alive. I ended up having to come to London to get help. It took me a while to get over it. I'm still not entirely over it. But I guess what I am trying to say is that nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes but that doesn't mean we don't deserve forgiveness." Willow closed her eyes and focused on healing Makoto.
It took a few minutes, but eventually Makoto sat upright. Her color returned to her face. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Thank you. I can never repay you." Willow smiled.
"Yes you can. You have to find Spike." Makoto shook her head.
"I wish I could, but I cannot leave the house. I am bound to it." She looked at Willow sadly. "I think it may be time for the Slayer to know. Even though she isn't quite ready." Willow shook her head adamantly.
"Not yet. Not until we're sure he isn't going to die right away from the poison. I'll find him. Even if I have to return to London myself." Willow suddenly felt a tugging sensation. She had time to say goodbye to Makoto an promise to help before she was pulled back into her own body.