Chapter Three: Unexpected Encounter

Sorry for the wait. Chappie 3 of the epic story.

Disclaimer: Do not own anything (unfortunately).

"Spike!" Buffy called into the crypt.

"What do you want Slayer? I was about to watch the telly." Spike cringed in annoyance. He hated her so much. Yet, there was something there he lusted for in her besides her blood. He wondered why he loved her...

"Spike, what do you know about Nobodies?" Buffy asked. The vampire rolled his eyes, always there to ask him for information.

"Bastards, the lot of them. They mock us vampires because we can't drink they're blood due to the fact that they have no hearts... why?"

"There's one walking around in Sunnydale who threatened to make me one of them yesterday. How do you kill them?" She replied, folding her arms.

Spike chuckled a little, "Was it one of those upper-class Nobodies? I've only seen a Dusk before, so I don't really know," Buffy nodded. Spike's smirk faded quickly. "Give this one up, Slayer. It's said that there are only 15 upper-class Nobodies in the universe, and none of them have faded into darkness yet."

She shrugged, "Hey, he was the one that threatened me." Spike's smirk returned, "I would like to meet this bugger before he leaves." He chugged down a bottle of blood as she closed the door to his crypt.

--

"Okay, see you Monday, Janice!" Dawn waved goodbye to her friend who she asked to walk her home.

She climbed up the steps of her house and took out her key. Suddenly she heard a growl from behind her. She turned slowly to see a vampire bearing its teeth at her from the sidewalk. Fear struck her hard as the vampire stepped closer and closer to the house. She couldn't move, she was unarmed.

The vampire made a low growl and moved to pounce on her, she closed her eyes tight, waiting for death.

Nothing. She opened an eye to see why she was not dead. A redheaded man stood in front of her he was shoving a stake through the vampire's heart, having it turn to dust. He muttered a "damn bloodsucker." She stared at the man, as he turned to her.

"You okay, little Missy?" he asked. Dawn gawked at the stranger. He was beautiful! Fiery red hair, entrancing green eyes, and a smooth smile to clinch it. She didn't realize she was blushing., "Y..yeah... I'm fine. Thanks..."

The man turned to go and said, "Well then, later-"

Not even thinking Dawn blurted, "Wait! May I treat you to a cup of tea for thanks?" The beautiful man turned to her and said shaky, "Oh, I couldn't.."

"Please" Dawn quickly made a plan of this. Okay, as long as I don't say "come in" then if he's a vampire himself, then he can't come in. After all, how else could he know how to kill a vampire? And how would a nobody know how either? Come on, take my bait!

"Okay," the man smiled sweetly. Dawn blushed again. Oh please just be a nice man who happened to know how to kill a vampire!

The man stepped up to the porch. Dawn opened the door and stepped inside. The man followed right after. The teen grinned Yes! He's not a vampire!

It was a warm night so neither of them were wearing coats. Dawn led him into the kitchen. She put up water for tea. "Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier, Miss. My name is Axel, you got it memorized?" She smiled and nodded. Axel, huh? That name sounds so familiar, where have I heard it? Oh well, it's a beautiful name for a beautiful man. Probably one of those people who doesn't have a last name.

"I'm Dawn Summers. Nice to meet you" they shook hands. "A pleasure I'm sure," Axel kissed her hand, making her blush... again.

Axel sat down in the dining room. "So uh, how do you know how to kill a vampire?" Dawn asked, nervous. He nodded, "I was wondering when you would ask me that, Dawny." The teen's face turned dark red when he called her that.

"Haven't you ever seen Dracula?" he raised an eyebrow, cocking a smile. Dawn fidgeted with the edge of her shirt.

"I mean, how did you know that was a vampire?" she asked.

"My boss showed me a picture of what they look like. And you would ask if I was hunting them? No, I was just in the neighborhood, saw that monster approaching you, and I wanted to help. After all, only a heartless bastard would let that creature kill you." No pun intended,he added mentally. The whistle for the tea sounded.

--

"Well, I must be going. Thank you, Dawn, for the tea." Axel stood up and headed for the door. "Wait, Axel," Dawn followed after him. Axel opened the door.

"Axel, will I see you again?" she asked, looking into his eyes as if looking for a reason for him to stay.

He smiled, "Most likely. It's said that if you meet a person once, you're bound to meet them a second time" he put his hand on her shoulder.

"But what if..." the teen was cut off by Axel's finger on her lips. "If we don't see each other again, it would hurt my heart badly, as well as yours. If that does happen, then I won't regret doing this."

The redhead's finger was replaced by his own lips. Dawn quickly melted into the kiss, wishing it would never end. "...Axel..." she whispered as their lips parted and connected again. Finally, what seemed like an eternity, the kiss ended. Axel turned and walked through the door.

Buffy just happened to be coming down the street when she saw her little sister kissing her newest enemy. Her eyes went wide. She watched Axel walk down the steps of her house. He caught her eye as he looked up. He grinned smugly, making sure Dawn didn't see his evil smile.

Buffy's hands balled into fists, her teeth clenched. What did he do to her sister? Why was he in her house? Why was he kissing her sister at the door of her house!? Questions reeled in her head. Just as she was getting ready to throw a punch at the Nobody, swirling darkness surrounded him, and as soon as it disappeared, so did he.

The Slayer ran up to the house. "Dawn, are you alright?! What did he do to you!?" Buffy closed the door behind herself, and they walked into the living room.

"Buffy, he didn't hurt me. He saved me from a vampire. He's not a bad person!" Dawn exclaimed.

"Dawny, you don't understand what he is! He's a Nobody!"

Suddenly, like lightning, the reason why the name "Axel" sounded so familiar struck the teenager. Buffy had said his name the other day. Axel was the one that threatened her sister. The man that Dawn now loved had no emotions... no feelings... no heart...

"Dawn, you need to stay away from him. Don't let him into the house again. Do you understand?" Buffy asked.

Dawn's face crinkled and she snapped, "It's not fair!"

"I know, Dawn-"

"No you don't! Being in love with someone who everyone, even your own sister, tells you they're dangerous! But I know he'd never hurt me!!" Her eyes welled with tears.

"Dawn, he can't love you. He probably would like to, but he can't. And he won't feel guilty if he hurts you. He can't feel guilt."

Dawn's eyes burned, "I love him though..."

"Dawn, it can't be more than a crush. You just met the guy."

"But-"

"You seriously like him, don't you?"

Dawn turned away and stomped up the stairs.

--

Axel stroked his chin, impressed by his own plan. "Now that I have mini-slayer infatuated with me, it's time to hit Buffy were it will hurt later." He chuckled.

"Oh really, what might that be, Eight?" came a familiar voice of the Organization's eldest member. Axel gave an annoyed groan as he turned around. "May I help you, Vexen?"

Number Four smiled, "Xemnas just sent me to see how you're doing. Be grateful I took time out of my own schedule to come check up on you."

"Everything is going fine." Axel replied. Vexen inquired, "You have to get the heart of a girl named Bunny?"

"Buffy"

Vexen shrugged and turned to go, "Well at least I can go back to The World That Never Was..."

"Will I be seeing you again soon Vexen?"

"I hope not. Probably not, considering how you're mission is going well."

"Bye, Vexen" Axel waved. The scientist gave him a quick glare then teleported out of Axel's hotel room.

The redhead smiled and shook his head. He turned back to his plan, Step 3, he thought, slowly break friends away from Slayer. He smiled smugly as he planned out his next dastardly step to his dastardly plan.

And so, it begins to get interesting. Yay, Vexen made a cameo! Please review! The more reviews, the faster the next chpater will be up. Thanks!!