Rumor and conversations with some of the strangest people he had ever come across in his 480 odd years had finally led him here. The Magic Box, in Sunnydale California. It seemed a strange place for Ramirez's sword to end up but the information he had traced the ancient Egyptian sword to this place. It hadn't been the sword that Ramirez had been using when he had trained Connor, but it had been with the ancient Immortal and had been one the Spanish Peacock had prized.

~*~

The bell over the door sounded. Anya perked up. The morning had been very slow. The cash register was very markedly low on money, which meant low profit, which could very well mean she didn't get her paycheck. And not even orgasms with Xander could make up for lost money.

She put on her best helpful smile.."Hello, valued customer and welcome to the magic box. What can I assist you with that you will spend lots of money on?"

~*~

Connor stared in disbelief at the girl. Was she trying to get fired? Or was she simply that bored that she was amusing herself at the expense of the sole person to walk into the shop on what looked to be a very quiet Wednesday morning.

"Aye lass"

"Oh, you're Scottish. I've been there. It's damp, and sheep really stink when they're all damp and mucky."

Connor nodded. The girl was insane.

"So what do you wish to purchase?"

"Ye are to the point, aren't ye?" Connor shook his head. "A sword. I'm looking for a sword..."

The girl frowned. "You're not planning to decapitate any humans with it are you? The shop's owner is kind of fussy about selling weapons to people who are going to kill human types with it. Or use things in rituals to open hell on earth, that sort of thing"

"Nay, lass, I do not plan to kill human types" Connor managed. "The sword I'm looking for I want solely for sentimental value."

"Okay," she said perkily. "Swords are expensive. That means a good commision for me. Any sword in particular? Does it have a name? Cause the ones with the names mean I get an even bigger commision because they're usually very old and rare and powerful and very expensive"

"It belonged to an Egyptian Sorcerer named Tak-Ne, who was the sorcerer of Ramses the First's court."

"Oh, that one. Tak's sword is right over here. I almost kept it for myself. My Xander is a Viking in the sack but Tak, he was a demon."

Connor's jaw dropped.

"Ohhhh, you're like Tak right? Were you one of his students?"

Connor could only stare.

"You look familiar--did I ever disembowel you?"

Connor wasn't sure if he should run or not.

"Here it is. Tak-Ne's sword."

Connor stared at the girl a long time before he shook his head to try to clear his focus and looked at the sword. It was the right one. A ruby on the hilt, marked with heiroglyphs. It was Ramirez's first sword.

"We take platinum cards"

Connor dutifully pulled out his wallet and handed over his credit card.

She carefully packed up the sword, nattering all the while about something "Tak" would do with his tongue and lightning and how it might have killed her if she hadn't been a demon at the time. By the time she had the paperwork in order he knew "Tak" went crazy when she would bite on the scar on his inner thigh. But Xander didn't like biting. Gentle little nips were okay, but not rough and biting. Tak had been a lot of fun. She missed him. But she loved Xander and was she a bad girlfriend?

Connor assured her she wasn't a bad girlfriend.

"Being human is very confusing. Have a nice day and come back and spend even more money next time."

Connor left as quickly as he could, once assured all the paperwork for the swords history and authenticity and purchase were in order.

~*~

"GILES I"M TAKING A LONG LUNCH! I'M IN THE MOOD TO HAVE ORGASMS WITH XANDER!" Anya bellowed.

In his office Giles muttered, "I'm sure all of Sunnydale is glad to be informed of that" and returned to trying to research Glory.