Chapter Summary: A Spike is encountered. A Buffy joins them on a morning run.
Chapter Word Count: 5,146
Posted: 28-Sep-2020

"We lost some of our audience halfway through our first song," Yanzy said, during their first break, as they took a breather outside.

"That must be how long it took them to notice it wasn't just a song," Mika said. "I'm surprised it took them that long."

"It's a very energetic song," Yuki added. "But it has some clever wording buried in it."

"It was just a simple cleansing ritual set to music," Sita said, giving her an innocent look.

"And a mild one," Mika said. "No fireworks. Just a long bass passage."

"I didn't notice anything," Yanzy said, leaning over to grab her drink.

"You haven't been doing the forms for long," Sita said. "In another year you should be sensitive enough to feel the way the words in a ritual affect the atmosphere in a room."

"Any other expected reactions to the rest of our songs?" Yanzy said.

"A mild protection spell embedded in the last one," Sita said. "It'll give them a little extra protection from evil spirits on the way home."

"Time!" A voice shouted followed by some pounding.

"Let's finish this up," Yuki said. "Things to do before we sleep."

"Are you sure you want to visit this cemetery in the dark, on our first night in town?" Yuki said, staring out of the van at the tall iron gate.

"This one had the most activity on Yanzy's scanners," Sita said. "There's something here."

"It isn't likely to be that gem," Yanzy said. "Just a lot of energy being used."

"Could be an ambush," Yuki said.

"By who?" Mika said. "No one knows we are here."

"I think the reaction to our songs at the Bronze might have given someone an idea or two," Yuki said. "All we need is for one of them to have recognized us and told someone else."

"The town's mystical power structure was severely depleted last year when the mayor turned into a demon," Sita said. "We can handle a few vampires."

"Famous last words," Yuki said, grimacing. "Let's get this over with so we can get to bed."

"Yanzy, stay here and monitor the area," Sita said. "Yuki, Mika, make Sure you are armed." She picked up her bow and special arrows.

"I am always armed," Yuki said, carefully adjusting her pair of katanas. "Even unarmed I'm still armed."

"And you are all very noisy," Yanzy said. "Just because they won't understand what you are saying doesn't mean they won't hear you."

"Switching to full comm," Mika said. The others nodded and followed her example. "Happy, oh eye in the sky?" She said over the comms.

"Much better," Yanzy said, also over the comm. "Stay safe."

The three slipped out of the van, and quickly scaled the iron gate.

"Think this keeps anything out?" Mika asked, cautiously touching the iron once they were on the other side.

"Keeps things in," Sita said, holding a hand over the gate lock. "There are strong wards attached to this. Only living things can use it."

"Think it works?" Yanzy said. "It's not what is setting off my scanners here, though there's a faint line of power that almost completely encircles this place."

"Almost?" Yuki muttered.

"There are a few breaks in the line," Yanzy said. "One to the left of the gate and several on the other side."

"Something must have known it was there and arranged their own gates," Sita said. "Which direction should we go?"

"Straight ahead for two clicks and then right for another," Yanzy said. "That'll put you right next to whatever it is."

"Is it the gem?" Sita asked.

"It's mystical energy," Yanzy told them, "but not the kind the gem is reported to have."

"That would have been too simple," Mika said, shaking her head.

"We haven't run into anyone yet," Yuki said. "Aren't there government agents running around?"

"The scanner says there's some kind of high powered facility where the university is," Yanzy said. "That's likely them over there. They aren't likely to be wandering around here in the middle of the night."

"They're smart," Mika said. "Probably stay in at night."

"You're almost there," Yanzy said. "That large mausoleum to your right is a definite hot spot."

"Doesn't look like anything special," Yuki said, stepping up to it. "You sure this is the place?"

"It has a faint red glow," Mika said. "I don't think touching it would be a wise idea."

"Open the door so I can send a probe in," Yanzy said. "No reason to spring a trap."

Sita pulled a small piece of rice paper out of a pocket and quickly slapped it against the mausoleum door. There was a brief puff of smoke and the door slowly opened. They all stepped back away from the opening.

"Ready," she said. A small black object buzzed by them into the opening.

"Empty," Yanzy said. "But there is a hole in the floor that is giving off energy the probe can detect."

"We aren't equipped for dungeon crawling," Yuki said. "We should come back tomorrow in the daylight."

"Agreed," Sita said. "We aren't here to get distracted. Dealing with this may be a wise idea but not tonight."

"Well, look what we have here," a male voice with an accent said behind them.

"Yanzy? How did we get surrounded?" Sita said, turning to find them facing a dozen human looking creatures.

"The scanner says you are alone," Yanzy said. "There are just dark spots on the scanner where the camera says they are."

"We aren't now," Yuki said. "Someone needs to adjust their scanners for the local nightlife."

"Someone needs to pay more attention," Mika said. "How did they sneak up on us?"

"I only turned around for a second," Yuki said, grumbling.

"No arguing," Sita said. "Next time we'll know better. Constant vigilance, as a paranoid fictional person once said."

"We are vigilant," Yuki said. "They're just better at sneaking up on us than we are at seeing them sneak up."

"Cute," the apparent leader said. "Must be a convention in town."

"Can we keep them?" Another voice said. "They look a little like that band at the Bronze tonight. They were cute, though some of their songs made my head hurt."

The leader sniffed. "No smell," he said. "Must be those fancy costumes. Grab them, boys."

Sita slipped her bow off of her back and loaded an arrow, aiming at the leader, in a quick, smooth motion.

Mika pulled out her chain and started swinging it back and forth in front of herself, while Yuki unsheathed her katanas.

"Surrender," the leader said. "We won't hurt you. Much."

Sita released an arrow, piercing the chest of the creature next to the leader, and reloaded her bow as quickly as possible.

"I like it when my food has a little bite to it," the leader said. "What are you waiting for," he said to his minions."

"They killed Freddy," one of the minions said.

"And I'll kill you if you don't grab them," he said.

"Having labor problems, Spike?" A new voice said.

"Stop her, Blondie Bear," a female creature on the other side of the leader said.

"Blondie Bear?" The voice said, laughing.

"I told you not to call me that," Spike said, growling at her.

"But you're my boyfriend," the creature said. "Nicknames are very important in a relationship."

"Survival is also an important trait," Buffy said, joining Sita, Mika, and Yuki in front of the mausoleum door. "Leave, and take Harmony with you. Or fight, I think you're outnumbered."

"We'll be back," Spike said. "You and your little costumed friends won't win."

"Same old story," Buffy said. "The Big Bad is just a Big Windbag."

"You won't be saying that when I kill you," Spike said, before turning and stalking away.

"The costumes are kind of cute," Buffy said, "but this isn't really a good place to be at night, even if you do look like cartoon ninjas. The local nightlife can be vicious."

"We aren't ninjas," Sita said. "But thank you for your assistance."

"Assistance?" Yuki grumbled over the comm. "We could have taken them. There were only a dozen of them."

"Hush," Mika said, "I think she can tell you are using the comm."

"She can't hear us over the comm," Yanzy said. "The comms don't use sound."

"Well she noticed something," Yuki said.

"I'll escort you back to your motel," Buffy said.

"We came in a vehicle, Buffy-San," Sita said. "We do not need an escort."

"Humor me," Buffy said. "I would feel much better if you didn't travel by yourselves."

"As you wish," Sita said, bowing slightly. "You may escort us to our vehicle."

"Looks like we're having company over," Yuki said over the comm. "Hide anything she shouldn't see."

"Hide it where?" Yanzy said. "It was already a tight fit."

"Whatever you can manage," Mika said.

"Why are you out here anyway?" Buffy asked. "Aren't you tonight's band at the Bronze?"

"We were curious about something we saw," Sita said.

"And you came armed," Buffy said. "Smart. Though it helps if you know what you are doing with the pointy objects. That vampire you shot with your bow must have been surprised."

"It has served me well in the past against such creatures," Sita said.

"So, not amateurs?" Buffy asked.

"Hey, Buffy, who are your new friends," a petite redhead, waiting at the gate, said.

"We haven't actually been introduced," Buffy said. "They were facing Spike's minions at the old Parkay tomb."

"We are Kitsune," Sita said. "Our clan has pledged itself to the struggle against all evil."

"What does that mean?" Buffy asked.

"Maybe they're one of those roving demon hunting clans?" the redhead said. "Not sure what would bring them to Sunnydale."

"They were the band at the Bronze tonight," Buffy said. "Loud music. Made my spider senses tingle."

"Our words have a little extra bite to them," Mika said. "They have protective qualities for the worthy."

"So, a magical song?" The redhead said. "Think of the possibilities. Get some large speakers, and we could clean out Sunnydale."

"Neither of us can carry a tune," Buffy said.

"We'll think of something," Willow said. "Maybe Giles knows about that kind of music."

"It must be live," Mika said. "Recorded and played back, it's just music."

"Good music," Yuki said, poking her. "We are good at what we do."

"What exactly do you do?" Buffy asked. "Besides playing anti-evil music in small towns and wandering around cemeteries late at night with pointy objects."

"You do the same thing, Buffy," Willow said, falling step with her.

"We've established that I can't sing," Buffy said.

"But you do the other part," Willow said.

"Wasn't my idea," Buffy said. "Chosen One, comma The. That's me."

"You fight these creatures?" Sita said as they reached the van.

"Vampires," Buffy said. "Those were vampires."

"Like Dracula?" Yuki said. "None of them turned into bats. They just moved very quickly."

"And that one Sita shot turndown to dust," Mika added.

"Stake, and I guess arrow, through the heart, chop their head off, sunlight," Buffy said, ticking them off with her fingers. "Makes them turn to dust. Are all signs you've dusted a vampire."

"Ah," Sita said. "Mika usually sets them on fire with her fire darts."

"There's that too," Willow said. "Though it's dry out so we try to avoid anything that would start a forest fire."

"You can come out," Buffy said loudly, banging on the side of the band's van.

The side door slid open and Yanzy cautiously peeked out. "You've found someone else who likes wandering around in cemeteries in the dark?"

""Buffy-San helped us with a small problem," Mika said. "She and her friend..."

"Willow. Is me," Willow said, "Hi." She waved awkwardly.

"Buffy-San offered to escort us back to our motel," Mika continued. "Is there room for them in the van so they don't have to walk home?"

"It will be crowded," Yanzy said. "We have our instruments in the back."

"Most of us are normal size," Buffy said. "We should all fit."

"Laps are a thing," Yuki said, shrugging. "I'll share with Mika."

"No groping," Mika said, frowning at her.

"The thought never crossed my mind," Yuki said. "It's Sita you have to watch out for."

"And that was in English," Sita said, frowning at them.

"Oops?" Yuki said. "Apologies," she said to Buffy and Willow. "We were just playing."

"We've been on the road for the last year in the van," Yanzy said, shaking her head. "And things are a little crazy. We're getting a little box fever."

"Cabin fever," Mika said, sighing as she climbed into the van. "It's cabin fever."

"Small confined spaces," Yanzy said. "Same thing."

"Cozy," Buffy said, climbing in last. "Not a huge fan of small spaces myself. Not much room to maneuver."

"Oz said all of your instruments are electric?" Willow said, looking around the van.

"Oz?" Sita said.

"Normal sized guy we met at the club while we were unloading," Yuki said. "You know him? Did they find their instruments?"

"He's my boyfriend," Willow said. "No, no instruments."

"Probably some demon took offense and buried them somewhere," Buffy said. "The Dingos aren't bad but they could use more practice."

"We're apparently known for having actual experience using our instruments," Yuki said.

"We aren't opening large venues yet but music requires a certain amount of ability," Yanzy said. "Hopefully we'll get to hear your Oz's band play."

"If you stay local it's inevitable," Buffy said. "Not a lot of local bands."

"Where do you want us to take you?" Yanzy said, starting up the van.

"Downtown would be good," Buffy said. "Need to check a few things out before heading back to campus."

"Coffee," Willow said. "The Espresso Pump is much better than anything we can get on campus."

"Someday I will defeat our coffee maker," Buffy said, "but not tonight."

"I believe that is on the way to our motel," Yanzy said.

"Where are you staying?" Willow asked.

"The Sunnydale Arms," Mika said.

"Ugh! It's too late to find something else this late at night, but I wouldn't recommend it for a long term stay," Buffy said.

"There's not a lot of choice for cheap rooms in Sunnydale," Willow said. "Most visitors stay in one of the nearby towns."

"We will remember that if we come back," Sita said. "But we've already paid for several nights."

"Don't invite anyone in," Willow said.

"I'm not sure that'll matter in a motel," Buffy said. "It isn't really a home."

"We've taken care of that," Mika said. "We have ways of protecting a dwelling from evil."

"Really? How?" Willow said. "Is it something you can show us? That could be really useful."

"It's an old Kitsune ritual," Sita said. "It only works for clan."

"Oh," Willow said. "That's too bad. But at least you're safe for the night."

Yanzy pulled up in front of the Espresso Pump. "Is this the place?" She asked.

"Perfect," Buffy said, opening the door and hopping out, followed by Willow. "Stay safe."

"Domo arigatou," Sita said. "May the Fox God bless your hunting."

"Um... thanks," Buffy said. "The same for you." Closing the van door, she walked to the Espresso Pump with Willow, giving them a brief look over her shoulder before entering the shop.

"Well, that was an interesting experience," Mika said. "Are we sure this is a sim? They seemed a bit lively for simulated people."

"It's a good sim," Sita said. "It uses technology we don't understand to make things seem real."

"Hopefully not real enough that we die," Yuki said.

"Back to the cemetery or our motel?" Yanzy asked.

"Motel," Sita said. "No point in going back to that cemetery until daylight, when we aren't likely to be interrupted."

"Okay, Boss," Yanzy said.

"No visitors while we were out," Yanzy said, checking her scanner.

"So, next sim we go someplace where we can use real phones," Yuki said. "Pretending we don't have advanced tech is a pain."

"It's a sim. No one would notice anachronisms," Mika said.

"Broken record, is the term, I believe," Yuki said. "I haven't forgotten this is a sim. None of this, even us, is real here. Though, if it is a sim, why am I still short?"

"Because it would invalidate the experience if we were different," Sita said. "It's confusing enough that we keep slipping into different languages."

"Who here is actually Japanese?" Yuki said.

Yanzy raised a hand. "I believe that would be me. I'm not sure Fox Clan counts, even if you look like you and your last thousand generations are natives."

"So, only Yanzy should be accidentally speaking Japanese," Yuki said. "The rest of us should be using English or Clan language."

"The sim has Yanzy speaking Clan language," Mika said.

"Will I remember it afterward?" Yanzy said. "It would be useful to have a private band language. Just need to teach it to everyone else."

"Don't know," Yuki said. "I'm not sure how the pods even know it. Or how it is teaching you."

"The same way the pods taught us the Serpent Clan's private language," Sita said. "It didn't. It's just part of the simulation."

"When did that happen?" Yuki said. "I hadn't noticed."

"We absorbed it during the training," Sita said. "Our conversation with Lady Shadow, Joy, Janice, and Harriet before this sim was all in their language."

"Oh," Mika said. "Will it stick? That would be useful. Though keeping it all straight is going to be confusing."

"Unlikely," Sita said.

"It doesn't matter on the comms," Yanzy said. "The comms are language neutral. We all 'hear' the comms in our native language."

"At least we were able to bring the comms and your equipment with us. Did we get any extra features since this is a sim?"

"No," Yanzy said. "Less, actually. We don't have a connection to the terrestrial comm network."

"How about the cell phone network or regular phone system?" Yuki asked.

"Who are you going to call?" Mika asked.

"No one, but it'd be useful to have the option." Yuki said.

"The answer is yes," Yanzy said. "Sort of. All of our comms are connected to the sim phone system through the scanner."

"Can we snoop on the government goons?" Yuki said. "Find out what they are up to?"

"With some of that advanced Shadow tech we don't have with us? sure." Yanzy said. "But we're demon hunters, not aliens with advanced tech, so no."

"The comms are advanced tech," Yuki said. "Why that and not advanced spy tech?"

"Too easy?" Mika said. "It wouldn't be a challenge like the real world."

"The comm tech is simulated," Yanzy said. "The sim gave us the sim version of the kind used by the Shadows."

"I'd noticed," Yuki said. "No earpieces."

"And nothing to be seen by the sim-residents," Mika said, flopping onto her bed. "When are we getting up?"

"What's the plan for the day?" Yuki added.

"Breakfast after our morning run," Sita said, closing her suitcase.

"Just a run? Or is there somewhere we can train?" Yuki said.

"No Fox Clan dojo in town, of course," Mika said. "So where?"

"There's a small dojo near the campus," Sita said. "We have one of their private rooms reserved for several hours. We'll run there, train, then run back."

"Breakfast?" Yuki said. "I didn't hear you mention that in our morning itinerary."

"We can pick up something at the Espresso Pump on our way to the dojo," Sita said.

"So, we'll have to carry everything?" Mika said.

"Just breakfast," Sita said. "Yanzy is going to take our training outfits and necessary equipment to the dojo before our run."

"And then drive back here and run with us?" Yuki said.

"I'd stop for breakfast on the way, but would you trust any food that we left unsupervised at the dojo?" Yanzy said.

"No," Mika said, sighing. "I guess that would be a foolish idea."

"The dojo is trustworthy," Sita said. "It's run by the T'vok demon clan."

"Ah," Mika said, nodding. "Still, they're demons, no matter how neutral they claim to be."

"The local demon hunter leaves them alone," Sita said.

"Buffy?" Mika said. "Does she even know they exist?"

"We can ask," Sita said.

"Might not be a good idea," Yanzy said. "The organization that supports her may not have friendly relations with them."

"I'm going to bed," Mika said, grabbing her bag.

"Good idea," Yanzy said. "Give me as minute to set the scanner for the night and I'll join you."

"Why are we sweating?" Yuki said, stopping to wait for the light to change. "This is a sim, the exercise isn't real."

"Because it's a realistic sim?" Mika said. "It feels real and we feel real."

"Fortunately, we can't gain weight in the sim," Sita said. "We don't have the correct genetics for that feature to work for us."

"What happens in the sim, stays in the sim," Yuki said, crossing the street at a run. "How much further?"

"To the dojo? Six miles," Sita said.

"No, to breakfast," Yuki said.

"Almost there," Yanzy said. "Two more blocks."

"Good," Yuki said. "I need a muffin."

"We need to stop for a couple minutes," Mika said. "Can't run carrying a coffee cup."

"Can't run after drinking a cup of coffee," Yanzy said.

"They probably sell bottles of cold coffee," Mika said, stopping in front of the Espresso Pump. "You can take it with you."

"Doesn't look too busy," Yuki said, opening the door.

"Busy enough," Yanzy said. "There's a line."

"Good coffee," Mika said, sipping from her travel mug as they stood outside the Espresso Pump finishing their drinks and Yuki stuffed her second muffin into her face.

"You're up early," a cheerful voice said.

Turning, they were confronted with the sight of Buffy looking like she was out for a run. "Morning run," Mika said. "We need to keep in shape to play like we do."

"And Yuki needs the exercise so she doesn't get fat," Yanzy said.

"I have a fast metabolism," Yuki said. "I won't get fat."

"Where are you headed?" Buffy asked.

"Towards the university campus and then back to our motel," Mika said.

"I'm headed that way," Buffy said. "Mind if I tag along?"

"You're welcome to come with us," Sita said.

"Done," Yuki said, tossing her muffin wrapper in a nearby trash can.

"Full?" Mika said.

"For now," Yuki said. "Shall we?"

"Regular pace?" Yanzy said.

"Of course," Sita said, taking off. "We have a fairly brisk pace, Buffy-San, if you don't mind."

"I'm good," Buffy said, keeping up with them with no effort.

They ran at a steady pace for the next hour, reaching the campus with energy to spare.

"That was fun," Buffy said. "We should do this tomorrow if you're still in town. What's your plan for the day?"

"We have a room reserved at the Chang dojo," Sita said, "and then back to our motel."

"Exploring the town after lunch," Yanzy said. "We should know if we have a gig tonight or tomorrow."

"Right. The missing instruments are still missing," Buffy said. "I've never been in the Chang dojo. Didn't realize they rented it out."

"We try to stay in shape while on the road. Running and some basic exercises," Yanzy said.

"What kind of exercises?" Buffy said.

"Kitsune school," Sita said. "It has multiple forms, what you might call kata."

"A friend of a friend arranged the space for us," Mika said. "You can join us if you want to."

"You don't mind if I watch?" Buffy asked.

"As long as you aren't going to steal our style and claim it as your own," Mika said. "You can watch."

Buffy nodded. "No stealing of your style," she said. "Got it."

Sita walked up to the door, which had a sign on it saying 'Closed for private function', and knocked.

The door opened a crack and a small person peered out. "Good morning, ladies."

"We are Kitsune," Sita said. "We have reservations."

"Four, and a friend?" The person said, frowning.

"Yes," Sita said.

"Can you vouch for her?" the small person said.

"Vouch for me?" Buffy asked Mika quietly, when Sita turned and looked at them.

"The dojo belongs to a clan of neutral demons," Mika said. "The T'Vok have dojo's in a number of cities. They let us use one of their rooms, as long as we agree to honor their peace."

"Their peace?" Buffy said.

"No killing or violence while in the dojo," Mika said

"So, they're neutral? Good people?" Buffy said. "I give my word that I will behave myself in their dojo."

"Excellent," Mika said. "She said yes. She'll honor their peace."

"You may enter," the small person said. "You have the training room at the end of the hall for the week. Your clothes are there."

"We are honored," Sita said, bowing, before gesturing the others in. They also bowed as they passed the T'Vok demon, Buffy following their example.

"Looks like a normal dojo," Buffy whispered.

"They're one of the neutral demon-human hybrids," Mika said in a low voice. "They emigrated from China when the Communists took over. Communists don't tolerate any of the neutral demon clans."

"As long as they don't kill or eat people I'm fine with them in Sunnydale," Buffy said.

"What of your mentor?" Sita asked.

"Giles? My Watcher? He doesn't tell me what to do," Buffy said. "And his tweedy Council? They aren't allowed in Sunnydale. I fired them. They were pretty much 'See demon - kill demon.' Which doesn't work in Sunnydale. Too many neutral or peace loving demons attracted to the Hellmouthy atmosphere just trying to get by."

"Ah," Sita said. "We cannot fire our Clan, they are family."

"But we mostly ignore them," Yuki said. "They don't really understand the music thing."

Buffy watched them quietly for half an hour before she stood up.

"How well does that form work against an actual opponent?" Buffy asked. "It looks very ritualized."

"Learning the forms is very ritualized," Mika said. "But they do have practical uses."

"We can demonstrate," Sita said. "Mika, Yuki, would you demonstrate the third sky form against the fourth earth form?"

"I'll be sky," Yuki said. Mika nodded in agreement. They moved into the center of the room while Yanzy and Sita joined Buffy along the wall.

What followed was ten minutes of brutal action as Yuki and Mika applied the different forms trying to get the upper hand.

"In our graduation exercises before we were allowed to go on the road, they defeated almost everyone they faced," Sita said. "Hold!" she shouted. They immediately stopped and came over.

"Who weren't they able to defeat?" Buffy asked, curious.

"Sita isn't just a pretty voice," Yuki said. "She has mastered all of the Clan forms and remains undefeated against all comers."

"I am still working on all of the Thirteen forms," Sita said.

"What are the Thirteen forms," Buffy asked.

"There once were thirteen clans, among which the Kitsune were numbered," Sita said. "Each clan has a distinctive style, though they all derive from the same original source. Achieving mastery of all Thirteen styles is a challenge."

"Sita is the first to attempt this in a number of years," Mika said.

"Can I try?" Buffy said. "Your preferred style against mine?"

Sita looked at Yanzy, eyebrow raised.

"Your decision," Yanzy said, over the comm. "She has that whole magical girl thing going for her. I think it includes very fast learning of fighting styles. She probably already knows the styles Yuki and Mika used, just from watching them."

"This is a sim," Sita reminded her.

"So, she definitely has a magical girl thing going on," Yuki said. "So you can't win."

"Telepaths?" Buffy asked, tilting her head as if trying to listen to something.

"No," Sita said. "Humans cannot normally use that mind art. Best of three?"

"Sure," Buffy said. "Rules?"

"No maiming or anything fatal," Sita said.

"And no breaking the furniture or walls," Mika said. Sita and Buffy nodded in agreement.

They started slow, just feeling each other out. Sita tested her with one of the forms Mika had used against Yuki, to see if Yanzy's theory was correct, and that the sim had made Buffy a magical girl with instant martial arts skills.

Buffy easily countered all of Sita's moves.

"You are holding back," Sita said.

"No maiming," Buffy reminded her.

"No holding back," Sita said. "A true test of skill."

"Okay," Buffy said. She immediately sped up, combining moves from both styles Yuki and Mika had demonstrated, mixed together to form a new style.

Sita increased her own speed, calling on one of the chi forms to give her the speed and endurance she needed.

Sita flopped down onto the floor, breathing heavily. Even pulling out all of the stops, using every form she knew to counter the speed and flexible styles used by Buffy, she was exhausted. She'd won the first bout, but just barely. The second had been close, but she'd still lost. By the thirst she was barely keeping up and lost quickly.

"You did well," Buffy said, gracefully sitting down next to her, breathing steadily, not a hair out of place.

"You beat me," Sita said. "I used all of my knowledge, and years of training, and you beat me. Using the earth and sky forms you saw Yuki and Mika use. And the forms I used against you."

"It's a gift," Buffy said. "Can't explain it, not really. Just seems to happen."

"Magical girl," Yuki said, sitting down next to them. "Such things can't be explained, they just are."

"I'm not using anything magical," Buffy said, frowning. "Not a bit."

"It's not a use, it's a state of being," Yuki said, shaking her head. "One of the gods blessed you with the ability to learn and use unfamiliar forms of the art."

"Huh," Buffy said. "Just thought I was a bit stronger than most. Doesn't seem to be a blessing. I still break door knobs if I'm not careful."

"Magical girl is an Asian concept," Yanzy said, joining them. "Your mentor probably calls it something else. Something with a destiny."

"Sure," Buffy said. "Chosen One. Vampire Slayer. She who has a short lifespan."

"Fighting monsters, or demons, is not a very forgiving occupation," Sita said. "What is that phrase I've heard the old hunters use?"

"Sometimes you get the bear and sometimes it gets you?" Mika said.

"Yes," Sita said, nodding.

"Are we done for the morning?" Yuki said. "Some of us would like a shower."

"You're just going to get sweaty on the run back," Mika said. "No point."

"I call dibs on the motel showers then," Yuki said, standing up.