“The.. the, pillock.” The expletive falling from Giles mouth without thought.
“You found him?” Willow asked.
“Here.” Giles showed her a map. “He’s been here in Sunnydale the entire time.”
“So, why are we still here, we find him, hit him and make him bring Buffy back.” Xander said, grabbing a jacket.
“Well, we should… I mean, Buffy… back here. We need her.” Willow said.
“Yes, yes, well, let’s not rush off too quickly.” Giles said. “Ethan is a very powerful sorcerer, one simply does not just walk in and say…”
“Ripper?” A surprised voice came from the Summers’ door. “I thought you would have gone back to England by now… I mean..”
“Get him.” Xander said, they raced to the door as he turned to run, he tripped over several of his demon minions who scattered, leaving him sprawled on the grass.
“Ripper, Rupert old pal, maybe we should think this through… Ow!” He yelled as Xander maliciously tightened the ropes.
“I mean this kind of spell could go horribly wrong, you don’t want the young lass trapped in a demon dimension for eternity.”
“You listen to me you bloody git, you’re going to bring her back and you’re going to do it now!”
“Alright, alright, you couldn’t.. loosen the ropes, could you?”
Giles glowered at him and he flinched, beginning to intone. “I call Arkhon..”
…………
Buffy and spike stood near the pier, not far from the Blitzball stadium in the large and colourful city of Luca. The entire town was done up with ribbons, balloons and entertainers, all of Spira was celebrating.
Buffy smiled at Spike, he was dressed in loose fitting, black pants similar to those Auron wore, a heavy black silk top, shot through with silver threads like pyreflies against the night sky. It was fitted to his shape, with a high collar and buttons down the front, stopping half way down the shirt. His coat was safe aboard the airship, he had locked it in small box to protect it from any unfortunate mishaps. He was guarding it closely, he wasn’t going to be the one spending eternity in this place without his coat.
Far off, at the edge of the pier stood Yuna. As they watched she put her fingers in her mouth again, letting out a piercing whistle over the empty sea, her only answer was the cry of gulls. Buffy watched the girl, she had asked Lulu before about the whistling. Was it a Spiran tradition? Lulu had been as clueless as Buffy and they could only watch as she stood, whistling over the sea.
Lulu walked up to them. “She is still..?”
Buffy nodded. “I wish… I wish we could give her more time. Do you want me to..?”
“No, I shall do this.” Lulu walked up the pier to where the summoner stood.
“Yuna, it’s time…”
Yuna turned, giving one last glance at the sea as if it were to suddenly deliver to her the one thing she wanted most. She then turned, resigned, and followed Lulu back to where Buffy and Spike waited.
The walk to the Blitzball stadium was conducted in silence. The streets were surprisingly empty, whereas earlier they had been impossible to walk through, as full as they were with people.
They emerged high up in a balcony seat, near the top of the stadium. Kimahri stood far to the right, with Rikku next to him then Wakka, Lulu, Buffy and Spike.
Buffy looked like a native. Her white dress was halter necked, coming down the front like Yuna’s shirt, it crossed over in the front and the skirt hung underneath that, long, white and flowing with a slit up to her hip. Around her waist she wore a thick, electric blue belt and in her right ear was a long earring like Yuna’s, blue stone beads and a tassel. The earring was surprisingly light. She wore a necklace of blue and silver beads and attached to the back of her dress, from the neck were flowing pieces of gauzy white material which attached to small, silver bangles around her wrists, hanging down and looking like butterfly wings when she moved. Rikku had told her she looked like an angel and Spike had been all too ready to agree.
Yuna stood, alone, near the edge of the balcony while thousands of people looked expectantly at her. Buffy couldn’t imagine being in that position, the whole world was literally watching her.
“Everyone.” The crowd silenced as Yuna spoke. “Everyone here has lost something precious. Everyone here has lost homes, dreams and friends. Everybody, now Sin is finally dead, now Spira is ours again.”
This statement was met by wild cheering and applause, when it died down Yuna continued.
“Now, working together we can make new homes for ourselves, and new dreams. Although I know the journey will be hard we have lots of time, together we will rebuild Spira. The road is ahead of us, let us start out today.”
The crowd, touched by her words and inspired by her strength gave a quiet applause. Buffy squeezed Spike’s hand and he smiled gently down at her.
“Just one more thing; the people and friends we have lost…”
She lowered her head for a moment before saying quietly; “and the dreams that have faded.” She blinked, memories flooding back to her.
“Never forget them.”
The crowd cheered again, some threw confetti, some embraced each other. Buffy looked up at Spike, whether she was caught up in the moment or the sapphire depths of his eyes drew her in she found herself drawn to him. They kissed, long and hard, their eyes closed and they became aware of only each other as everything else melted into insignificance.
They finally broke from the kiss, looking up at where Giles, Willow, Anya, Xander, Tara and Dawn stared at them, their shocked faces, chalk white.
THE END
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