A/N If anyone questions Richie Ryan being a headhunter, in the show he did hunt heads for a time. It strained his relationship with Duncan. Richie didn't hunt because he believed in the Game, he hunted because he was a street thief who learned to do things for survival purposes. He hunted so he could get stronger, so he could survive longer.
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To take their minds off of Xander's test results, while they were waiting for Grace to complete the tests, Xander and Cordelia decided a distraction was necessary, so they went on a date. They decided on a concert and were just leaving when Xander detected the presence of another immortal.
"There's an immortal close by, Cordy. I think he's following us." Xander said softly, as they walked to their car.
"How do you know it's a he?"
"Odds are in favor of it. Most headhunters are male, female immortals tend to hunt an immortal for other reasons. Usually because the male pissed them off in some way. The only true female headhunter is a former student of Ceirdwyn's actually, Ximena, predates the Axtec and was sacrificed for her first death to a god, she has a religious belief in headhunting."
"Oh, not much I can say to any of that, because frankly taking your head had an appeal at one time and mocking someone's religious beliefs, no matter what I think of them, is crass. What are you going to do about the guy following us?"
"Wait until he decides to challenge me. Unless I'm pissed off myself, I have no reason to go after someone. Then try to talk to him and if that doesn't work, defend myself. Taking his head will be a last resort and only if I think he'll keep coming after me or I think he's a danger to you. You may be immortal because you're related to a god, but we don't know that for sure yet. And I won't take chances with your life. If he does decide to challenge me, get in the car. It'll provide protection in a quickening storm."
"Alright and if he's idiot enough to come after me, he'll find I can take care of myself these days. I like your head where it is, by the way, make sure it stays there."
"As my Queen commands."
"Damn right as I command."
Then the other immortal stepped out of the shadows. He looked about Xander's age and had light brown hair. Xander could feel his strength and knew the immortal was stronger then he was at present. At least in his current form. There was nothing in the rules that said he couldn't break out his were hyena self if necessary. The two young immortals eyed each other for a moment.
"What's your name?" He asked Xander
"Alexander Harris and you?"
"Richie Ryan."
"Duncan's student, he's worried about you."
"And how do you know that?"
"I'm his student too."
"He told me he'd taken a new student, he said his name is Xander, I guess that's short for Alexander."
"It is." Xander confirmed.
"Doesn't matter. I need heads so I can get stronger."
"You headhunted before, Duncan mentioned it. Why are you hunting again?"
"I nearly died during that Ahriman thing. I need to be stronger so it doesn't happen again."
"I understand your reasons, but I don't want to fight you. It would hurt Duncan and he's the closest thing to a real father I've ever had. Closest thing you've ever had as well."
"I need to be stronger."
"You're afraid and you're letting that drive you. We can help you deal with your fear. I won't lose another brother. The last one dusted on a stake I was holding."
"A vampire?" Richie questioned. "I've run into a few of them."
"I've hunted them since I was barely sixteen years old. We should be hunting them and not each other."
"Not hearing you. I'm challenging you."
"You do this and Duncan may never be able to forgive you. And if I take your head, he may never be able to forgive me. Rethink this, I will defend myself, but don't force me to disappoint a father who gives a damn."
"I have to." And Richie struck out with his rapier, Xander's ax was there to greet it.
"An ax?" Richie questioned. "That's different."
"I'm self taught with an ax against vampires. Nakano made this for me. There's a trick to it."
"And what's that?" Richie asked.
"It's two axes in one." And Xander separated it into two.
"Interesting, won't stop me." And Richie attacked again. Xander blocked or turned aside each strike, but didn't follow though with any attacks of his own.
"Fight back!" Richie ordered.
"Not unless I absolutely have to. Don't do this, Richie. Don't make me do this. The Game is a fraud. We should not be killing each other!"
"I need to be stronger!" Richie struck again and sliced the back of Xander's hand. The blood dripped to the ground and something neither of them expected happened. The ground began to shake.
"An earthquake?" Richie asked.
"It started when my blood hit the ground. Oh crap!"
"Oh crap what?"
"Nakano is a monk and he brought a mountain down on top of Kane when Kane attacked him. What if him being a monk made him the equivalent of holy ground?"
"Possible, but what does that have to do with you? Are you a monk too?"
"Hardly. If you put your rapier down and withdraw your challenge, we can go see Duncan and he can explain. I have a feeling, you'd believe him, before you'd believe me."
"Fine." Richie was never sure why he let himself be talked down. Maybe he really didn't want to disappoint Duncan.
