~ A few days later ~

Buffy is in her room gathering everything she needs to go on a hunt. She grabbed her jacket and put it on. Then she dug through her chest, until she found her stakes and concealed about a half a dozen in all of her hiding places on her body. < Just another night spent slaying. The story of my *inevitably* short life. Yeah, well, not if I can help it. >

Buffy went down stairs and left a note telling her absent mother she was going to the Bronze. It wasn't a complete lie. Buffy fully intended to go, if she finished patrolling early enough. < Great I can spend another night watching Cordy and Xander alternate between arguing and groping. It's just my idea of *good*, *clean* fun. > Buffy snickered to herself.

< I wonder if mother will ever find out the truth. > Mrs. Summers finding out about the whole slaying thing was something Buffy both dreaded and wished would happen at the same time. < It would make my life easier, but it would put my mother in even more danger. > Buffy sighed.

< I wonder if Kendra would be willing to take over my duties... Probably not. Somehow, I don't blame her. >

Buffy stopped her inner musings. < I've been thinking entirely too much lately. > Buffy stuck the note on the fridge and headed towards the door. She locked the door and started her walk to the cemetery. < I wonder if there are shrinks for slayers...

Buffy had been patrolling 'The Ol' Cemetery' for awhile and hadn't staked a vampire. Of course this was not unusual after one of the master vampires schemes... But it has been awhile now. They should have regrouped and started hunting.

< I wonder what they're up to. Whatever it is it can't be good. I'll go do a sweep of the park and then head to the Bronze to see if they are trying to hunt in my territory. I mean they can go kill at the cemetery and the park for that matter. But nobody messes with my Bronze. >

It was a quick walk from the cemetery to the park. Of course in a one Starbucks town, it was a quick walk from any one place to another.

Once in the park, she got the feeling that she was surrounded by vampires. That she was being watched by many pairs of eyes.

"Come out, come out wherever you are," Buffy taunted the unseen demons.

"Calling for me?" Angelus asked. He stepped out of the shadows.

"Coming back for more?" Buffy asked referring to how bad she had whipped him a few days earlier.

"Do you honestly think you coulda beat me if I hadn't been holding back?" he asked. Vampires started stepping out of the shadows. There were about a dozen, including the she - devil herself: Drusilla.

"I must be able. Why else would you bring reinforcements?"

"Reinforcements. Please. They are only here for the show."

"Let's get it on then."

Buffy circled Angelus. She withdrew a stake. < It's time to end this. > She attacked, kicking him in the stomach. Then she spun around to kick him in the head. But he had anticipated this. Angelus ducked, then used his leg to sweep her legs out from underneath her.

"Do it again! Do it again!" Drusilla called from the sidelines.

Angelus stood up and watched as Buffy quickly scrambled to her feet. As soon as she made it up, he backhanded her across the face, somehow scratching her with the claddagh ring he still wore.

< Pull yourself together girl! > Buffy gathered herself then attacked. Kick, kick, punch. She managed to get him back for the earlier damage he had done, but he anticipated a lot of her moves and blocked them. They fought for awhile, but Angelus was clearly winning.

"Having an off night?" Angelus taunted.

Buffy growled and launched herself at him. He stepped into her punch and picked the petite slayer up and threw her into a bench. She wasn't knocked unconscious but was in pretty bad shape. She tried to get up but couldn't.

The other vampires left, leaving him to his kill. As they walked off you could hear Drusilla babbling. "Everything in my head is singing! Spike will be so happy. Maybe he will give me a present..."

Angelus laughed. "I told you I could win. I bested the Slayer. You know this is going to be my first Slayer."

He started stalking towards the beaten Slayer. Suddenly from above, a woman dropped out of one of the many trees in the park. She quickly positioned herself between Angelus and Buffy.

"Hello Angel," the woman purred.

"Raksha!" he returned with a mixture of surprise and fear.

"Surprised? I told you I would be back for you if you ever reverted," Raksha taunted. She glanced over at Buffy. "Playing with your food again?"

"What's it to you?"

"She's a slayer. I have sworn to protect all of my fellow slayers and hunters. You know that. You should have learned not to cross me."

"Spike's here. On the Hellmouth, I mean."

"You think I don't know that. It wouldn't stop me from killing you anyway. Leave. It is not your time yet. But soon, very soon." He left at a very fast pace.

Raksha turned to inspect the Slayer. She was very badly beaten and had loss consciousness. "I guess I need to get you to your watcher." She easily picked Buffy up and started carrying her to the library.