Vampires burned easily, especially if you used the right methods. The team had trapped the vampires in the wrecked building, made sure anyone innocent was clear, then proceeded to torch the place. Only a few attempted to break out, and the rising sun did them in as efficiently as the fire would have. "I love it when a plan comes together," Buffy Summers noted, her short blonde hair falling around her face. "Don't start quoting the 'A-team' please." Faith said dryly, holding her crossbow at the ready in case any more vamps ran out, "or I may have to kill you." She paused, "Or start in the quotes myself." "Besides," Tara noted calmly, a bit of a amused twinkle in her eyes as the slightly heavy-set witch put away the spell casting materials that she used to start the fire, "wouldn't that line be more suited to Giles?" Rupert Giles pushed up his glasses, a frown on his face as he said, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Staying in the shade of a nearby building Willow chuckled as she said, "You're probably better off not knowing." "I pity the fool," Faith added, chuckling. "Oooh, you with a mohawk?" Buffy winced, "Bad mental image." "Could we maybe keep our minds on business?" Giles rolled his eyes discreetly. "Yes, sir," Willow chuckled softly. A few moments later there was a sudden crash as a desperate vamp burst out of the flames, his body wreathed in fire. "You won't get Trick that easy," he started before being cut off by a hail of crossbow bolts and a quickly chanted spell. "Wanna bet?" Tara noted, feeling a certain amount of... regret. What they were doing out here this morning was, in essence, sending a warning to Amy and her girlfriend, Drusilla, a warning they weren't even sure was going to work. However, since they still had very little idea of the two vampire's ultimate intentions, this was the best move they could make so far. "We'll find them," Faith said quietly as she squeezed Tara's shoulder comfortingly, "it'll just take some time." Tara smiled back as she gently kissed Faith, "I know." "Well," Buffy said briskly, "are we finished, you think?" Giles pushed up his glasses as the flames began to die down without much of anything to burn. "Only a exceptional vampire could survive this long," he noted, "and there's no sign of movement. Do you sense anything, Willow?" Willow stood in the shadows, her eyes closed a moment as she let her vampiric senses and other mental gifts sweep outward. Finally she looked up, "I'm not picking up anything Giles. I think they're done." "Good," Buffy sighed, "they're reopening the high school today, and I want to walk there with Dawn on her first day." "Aww," Faith teased, "isn't that special." "Faith," Tara gave her lover a gently scolding look, seeing the actual worry in Buffy's eyes. Sending your little sister to school was hard enough, sending her off in a hellmouth haunted city like this would be more so. "Sorry, B," Faith sighed. "It's all right," Buffy flashed a slight smile as she said, "at least I know someone will be watching over her." "Oh?" Tara blinked. "Miss Calendar is starting as their computer studies teacher," Buffy said with some amusement, "though how a witch got into computers is beyond me." "Jenny is a techno-pagan, I believe," Giles said just a bit stiffly. He sighed, "I suppose I had best go get ready, too." "You're working too, G-man?" Faith asked with a grin. "I suppose you've heard," Giles agreed, "I've been rehired as the Librarian, now that the building has mostly been rebuilt." "So, are we going to have problems getting a hold of you during school hours?" Buffy had to ask him. "I don't think so," Giles noted, "I think you and Faith could pass as students." He paused, "A bit scruffy students, but passable." "Hey!" both Faith and Buffy protested. "Come on love," Willow called with a soft chuckle, "we'd better get going back to the mansion. I bet Dawn's having kittens at this point." "Good luck," Tara called as both girls headed out. Traveling the tunnels beneath the city wasn't terribly pleasant, but in fact it was faster than the roads and safer... at least, safer for a vampire slayer and her vampire companion. The few unaffiliated vamps knew not to bother them, and the ones connected to the two Queens had learned the hard way not to cross them. "Here we go," Willow casually moved aside the massive stone block in their basement that connected to the tunnels. Buffy hopped up gracefully, "Thanks, love." As both hurried upstairs they found Dawn pacing the living room, her long brown hair swishing around her. "Giles keep you late again?" she asked. "Sorry," Willow said as Buffy hurried off to shower and change into something not smelling of fire, ash and blood. She sat in the dimly lit room as she gently asked Dawn, "Are you ready for this?" "Yeah, I think so," Dawn agreed, "you guys and Giles help me get school supplies, and I'm bringing a wooden stake just in case." "Wearing a cross too?" Willow asked. Dawn pulled it out from under her t-shirt, "Yeah, though I worry the locals will think I'm a holy roller or something." "Trust me," Willow said dryly, "considering this town's reputation, I bet almost everyone will be wearing them." "She's got that right," Buffy said as she trotted in dressed in a simple blouse and shirt, her hair still damp from the shower. "Nice," Dawn conceded, "toning down the butch image a bit?" "Dawn!" Buffy frowned. "What, you don't think jeans and t-shirts all day isn't butch?" Dawn asked pointedly. "I wouldn't get into that argument, love," Willow said before Buffy could start. She smiled, "Besides, you two can fight it out on your way there." "Right," Buffy admitted as she and Dawn headed to the door. "I'll be back in a few hours, tops," she called as they left. "I'll be waiting," Willow answered as she yawned slightly. Getting up she made her way back to her and Buffy's bedroom, laying down in the dark for a nap. 'Hope those two don't get into too much trouble,' she smiled as she lay down. The street was bright and the sun shown down, the city looking oddly innocent in the summer daylight. Of course the years long rampage of the Master had left scars if you knew where to look, one of the biggest being the vampire attacks that had closed the highschool shortly before Buffy arrived. Now, in a brave move the city was reopening the school for the decidedly nervous population. "Nice looking building," Dawn finally murmured as they reached the school itself. Buffy studied it, thinking a moment about her years hunting vampires without home or roots. "It's a school," she smiled slightly, "but yeah, it's not too bad." Dawn hesitated a moment, "Do you think it's going to be safe?" "With Miss Calendar and Giles there?" Buffy smiled, trying to project confidence. "From what I understand Miss Calendar's also fixed up a kind of defense around the school to keep vampires out, too," she added. "Which just leaves all the other critters out there," Dawn noted wryly. Buffy squeezed her shoulder, "You've got a cellphone and my number. You spot anything odd, call me." Dawn smiled up at her, "Thanks." "All right folks," the tall black skinned man smiled as he guided students to the doors, "no loitering please. Classes start soon." "I'll pick you up after class," Buffy murmured as she hugged Dawn. Dawn chuckled, "Thanks mom."
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