Strange Place to Live:
Demon Hunter
by Cynamin

"Celebrate we will
Because life is hort but sweet for certain
We’re climbing two by two
To be sure these days continue"
~Two Step
Dave Matthews Band

Friday night, one month later

Willow focused intently on the bowl of herbs in front of her. She felt uncomfortable being the center of attention, but it was necessary. This time she was going to cast the demon-locator spell without any help from Kenneth. Everyone agreed that it was a good idea that she do this, so no one spoke as she reached the end of the spell.

A small flame burned low at the center of the bowl. At a last couple of words from Willow, the flame disappeared in a burst of blood red smoke. The smoke hovered over the bowl for a moment, then quickly dispersed.

For a moment everyone was silent. Slowly, they turned to look at Kenneth. It was Buffy who finally spoke. "What was that?" she exclaimed. "I thought it was supposed to turn green and show us where the demons are!"

Willow spoke hesitantly. "I guess . . . I did it wrong."

"No, you did it right," Kenneth assured. "It can’t find what isn’t there to find." While everyone looked dumbfounded at the Hunter, he smiled. "Green is for demons. Red is for vampires. The way it dispersed shows that there is none particularly close or strong in the area."

There was another long moment of silence. It was Buffy who spoke again. "You mean . . . we’ve gotten rid of all the summoned demons?"

Kenneth nodded, then looked troubled. "Actually, they could have finally left town. This spell only has a limited range."

"Well, that’s good enough for me," Xander exclaimed. "Let’s go, people. Tonight, we party."

Willow smiled. "We’re going to the Bronze?"

Buffy grinned. "We Bronze."

True to his calling, Giles stood on the upper level of the Bronze and watched the group of young people he felt responsible for. Considering the events of the past month, they had come through everything amazingly well. He might even argue they were better off.

The morning after the battle with the demon summoner, Buffy had been devastated to discover the number of people who had been killed. Kenneth had broken his ankle, it turned out, and the cast effectively took him out of the fighting. Buffy had been determined to kill every one of the demons herself. She did alright at first, and no one else seemed to notice that it was anything more than a normal week in Sunnydale, but the death toll continued to mount. It took a toll on Buffy’s emotional state, too, as she convinced herself that she could best protect her friends by fighting the demons alone.

It was Angel who had finally broken through to her that she needed her friends. As Giles watched the two of them dancing below, he had to admit that Buffy was happier, and in turn, better at her duty when Angel was around. And he was definitely around to stay. The crisis had proven how useful he was to all of them. Being accepted back as part of the group had done Angel a world of good as well. Giles had helped him get a job at the natural history museum, and it was hard to believe now that he hadn’t always been a true member of their little troupe.

Once Buffy had accepted everyone’s help, Kenneth was able to make a non-physical contribution that didn’t involve him actively fighting the demons. Under his teaching, Willow’s magical gifts flourished. The demon-locator spell was one of several that she had learned, along with some principles of magic. Her previously small gift had become something very useful. It was she who tracked down the demons for them, and against the group of them the demons didn’t stand a chance.

That was the amazing development of the last month. Faced with a crisis they had to defeat together, the whole group of them had truly bonded in a way that surprised Giles. They’d already been close, but now old tensions were dropped with barely a qualm. Last night’s fight had been truly amazing. The demon which could have been difficult for them not that long ago stood no chance against a group of people not only used to fighting together, but who supported each other as friends.

Glancing up from the five young folk below him, Giles noticed Kenneth standing to the side nearby. He’d gotten his cast off today, and though he said nothing Giles knew he was planning on leaving Sunnydale.

Giles approached him quietly. Kenneth looked at him and smile very slightly. "Looks like everyone’s happy," he said.

Giles nodded. "I suppose you plan on leaving now," he said.

"Yeah," Kenneth acknowledged. "Someone has to track down the demons that escaped. And there’ll always be more demons, another demon summoner."

Giles knew that there was nothing that would dissuade Kenneth. Unlike the Slayer, a Hunter was always mobile, following the demons and those who worked with them. "Good luck, whatever you find," he said simply.

"Thank you," replied Kenneth, "and thank you all for helping me. You didn’t have to, but I could never have defeated Orin without your support." They were both silent for a minute, then Kenneth reached into his pocket and handed Giles a slip of paper with a phone number written on it. "If you ever need my help, just call and I will come."

"You don’t owe us anything," Giles was quick to protest. "Look at them," he said, gesturing to their friends below. "You gave Angel back his humanity, gave Buffy back her boyfriend, taught Willow how to use her magic. You even helped Oz understand his lycanthropy better. I’d say the scales are even."

Kenneth smiled. "Don’t say that," he said with a slight laugh. "I’d miss you guys too much. Call me if you have trouble. It’ll give me an excuse to visit." Kenneth drew away from Giles then. "Good luck to you all," he said by way of farewell. "And you, Hunter," replied Giles.

Kenneth smiled, and disappeared into the crowd.

The End

Yup, the series continues. Next is Holy Matrimony...

Go here for more of Cynamin's stories.

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