Chapter 1 - The Gathering

She was bored. No way to deny it, no way to hide it, it was plain to see as she was trying to balance her chair on the back two feet while staring at the ceiling. Giles was at a faculty meeting. Xander was off avoiding her and sulking about being rescued by her from getting beat up by the popular Jocks, and Willow was covering for Ms Calendar in the computer lab. This left her alone, and bored, with nothing to do, and bored. Did we mention she was board? Great good that we got that across.

'Well, guess I could look to see if Giles has any nifty books that aren't dull and boring.' She thought to herself sarcastically as she got up and started looking through Giles' collection. 'Hmm, book in Greek, Greek, Italian, Spanish, French, French, I think this one is Sumerian, hmm, Holy Grail, more Greek. Wait Holy Grail?' Her interest piqued at the mention of the Holy Grail she pulled the book out. "Heroic Spirits and the Holy Grail War" She whispered. "Well, this sounds interesting, I'm sure Giles won't mind me borrowing it. He does keeps complaining that I don't do much research. She sits quietly reading the book for the next hour.

She is so immersed in reading the book she doesn't notice Willow entering the Library, and freezing in shock at seeing Buffy reading a book of her own choosing. 'Oh wow, she is actually reading a book without being force kicking and screaming.' Willow thought amazed.

As Buffy finished the book she realized she could go as one of these Heroic Spirits for Halloween and Snyder couldn't complain as she would be a Hero from Legend. As she was putting the book into her bag she noticed will sanding in the doorway staring. "Oh, hey Wills all done in the Computer lab?" She asked the Redhead.

Willows response was a confused "Umm you…book…reading…umm were you really reading by choice?"

Buffy laughed "Willow, just because I don't like researching doesn't mean there aren't any books I find interesting. Take Cosmo for example."

"Buffy." Willow says exasperated "Cosmo isn't a book, it's a Magazine."

Buffy just pouts cutely "It's a collection of pages giving information. Just because it's about fashion and not History or something and has a large number of pictures doesn't mean it's not a book."

"Ok Buffy fine, have it your way." Willow decided it wasn't worth arguing and decided to change the subject. "So have you decided what you were going to go as for Halloween, seeing as we are now required to go?"

Buffy got a glimmer in her eyes "Yep."

After a few moments of silence Willow asks "Ok so what are you going as?"

Buffy gets a thoughtful look on her face, while still having the glimmer in her eyes. "Hmm." Willow leans onto the table waiting. "That…Is a secret."

Willow's head falls to the table. 'I walked right into that one, although I didn't think Buffy would know of Xellos, Xander would gleefully pull that one.'

Later that night while at the new shop Ethan's Buffy was looking for something specific. "Can I help you find anything?" asked a voice with an accent similar to Giles.

She was so engrossed in looking for an outfit that would fit the character she wanted that she jumped from being startled. "Don't DO that."

He seems amused by her reaction. "Sorry, was only offering to help you find something, after all this IS my shop." He said smiling.

"Oh, umm, I'm looking for a costume. Well obviously I'm looking for a costume, but I have a specific one I am looking for. Joan of Arc. You see I have to escort some kids tonight and I don't want something the Principal could possibly deny is at least reasonable, and I don't think he could complain about someone who was canonized as a Saint."

'Drat, she is so focused on being Joan of Arc I won't be able to steer her towards one of the more helpless costumes' Ethan Rayne thought annoyed, although he didn't show this on his face.

Buffy Continued "So do you have any…." She trailed off as she apparently saw something passed his shoulder. She walked passed him to a costume in the corner, it was mostly a silvery plastic armor with dark purplish-blue clothing underneath with a white tabard drape bordered in the same purplish-blue. She recognized this costume. It was Joan of Arc's from the Bladestorm game. It wasn't the same style as the one in the book she borrowed from Giles, but it was still Joan of Arc's. She decided it would do. "I'll take this one." She said.

Ethan was internally grumpy. "Are you sure? Most young women would prefer a Princess or Queen to a suit of armor." He had to at least try to…

"I'll take this one." Buffy reiterated, not willing to be denied.

"Very well, let's bring it to the register."

After she purchased the costume she found Xander looking around somewhat aimlessly. "Hey Xander, find anything you like?" She asked as she drew close.

"Nah, can't afford anything good, just going to go as a soldier as I got some army fatigues from a surplus store."

Buffy thought for a few moments. 'Maybe I can make it up to him for earlier by helping him get a good costume.' Thinking back to the book she borrowed she thought of who was in it that Xander might like. Then a thought hit her in the face. Alexander the Great, or Iksander. She grinned. "Hey Xander, would you trust me to get you a really good costume as an apology?" She asked.

Xander was a little nervous at her grin. "Maybe…what did you have in mind?"

Her grin morphed into one full of glee. "Alexander the Great, also known as Iksander, the King of Conquerors."

Xander was speechless, she suggested someone who was awesome. "Uh, sure, if you can make it look good." He was still slightly astonished.

Buffy Looked around and found most of the things she needed for Xanders outfit. She would need to do some modification to add in some accents required but it was extremely close to what was in the book. She purchased the outfit for Xander. She would have to explain this to her mother but she felt it was worth it.

Xander had a flash of disappointment. "Too bad we can't get Willow into a costume as unique as this."

Buffy was confused "Why not?"

Xander just looked at her. "She is extremely shy, she always goes as the same thing every year, a ghost, using a sheet that hides her entirely."

Buffy got thoughtful. 'Hmm, maybe, I could possibly convince her.' "Hey Xander, would you be willing to help me help Willow? I have the perfect idea of a costume for her, and it will mostly conceal her so hopefully she will agree."

Xander just blinked at her.

So Buffy explained. "Tamamo-no-Mae, she was a courtesan in Japan."

Xander was fully befuddled and asks "HOW do you KNOW all this?" Buffy just pouts. He pushes his confusion aside "Ok fine, let's go and convince the ghost to be a lady."

Willow was nervous "But…"

Buffy and Xander both tried for a Resolve Face. "Come on Willow, you need something that will show character. Besides, this costume will still cover almost all of you, so you don't need to worry." Buffy prodded.

Willow just looked at the purple Japanese style dress and dark purple hooded cloak with it. She was still uncertain but apparently both Buffy and Xander were in agreement. "Ok…."