Title: Daily Rituals
Author: Tonya
Rating: G
Disclaimer: My lawyer advises me to stop referring to myself as the Queen of these characters' souls. Stupid lawyer…
Distribution: SU, Acts of Fate. Just ask me and it’s yours.
Feedback: I am an addict. Please help feed my addiction.
Summary: A typical day at the Magic Box.

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Giles studied the month’s inventory list as he strolled through the Magic Box. As he passed the aisle containing jars of crystals, he caught a glimpse of Anya kneeling next to the shelves, a price gun in her hand. He paid her no mind, his thoughts still on why exactly they needed so many eyes of newts in their inventory, and continued to his desk. Only when he was within a few feet of his desk did the sight finally register within him. Without hesitation, he turned back to the aisle.

He stood at the end of the aisle, watching her for a moment. Anya knelt on the floor, not caring about the dust and dirt that could be gathering on her jeans and light pink blouse. She labeled a small glass jar and placed it carefully back onto the shelf. She then grabbed the next jar in line and labeled it as well.

“Anya, may I ask what you’re doing?”

“I’m changing the prices,” she stated matter-a-factly as she continued her task.

“And why exactly are you doing that?”

Anya finally turned her eyes up to him, pushing her hair behind her ear with her free hand. “Because, quite frankly, Giles, we’re being robbed blind.” She stood and approached him, holding a small jar of lavender crystals up to his face. “Purifying crystals for less than ten bucks? Are you insane?!”

Giles placed his hand on the jar and gently pushed it away from his face. “Anya, you can’t just change the prices. Especially without consulting me.”

“Why?” she frowned, returning the jar to its place on the shelf. “This is my shop too.”

Giles removed his glasses with a sigh. He gently pinched the bridge of his nose as he replied, “Technically, this is *my* shop, Anya. I hired *you*, remember?”

“Yes, and it’s a good thing you did because you obviously don’t know how to run a business in a capitalist society.”

Giles simply watched her as she began to check prices on the crystals on the higher shelves. When he finally found the words, Anya had already begun again.

“You know what we need,” she said, glancing towards him. “Advertising. Something to bring in more customers. Maybe we could pay a celebrity to endorse us on TV!” She smiled brightly at the idea as Giles simply groaned.

“We don’t need to advertise, Anya. Besides, we don’t have the extra money required for advertising.”

“Which is why I’m increasing the prices on these things,” she replied with a roll of her eyes. “Stay with me here, Giles.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “So, you’re increasing the prices on my merchandise so that you can *advertise* that you’re increasing the prices?”

“Exactly, and then people will be running in to buy our stuff. And then maybe I could get that raise I so rightfully deserve.”

Giles raised an eyebrow in response. “A raise.”

“Yes, a raise. A bonus. Something that says, ‘Thank you Anya for keeping me out of debt with your savvy business skills.’”

“I’m not in debt,” he scoffed in disbelief.

“Of course not because I’m here to mark up the prices when you won’t.”

“Anya….” he sighed.

“I hate when you do that,” she interrupted, crinkling up her nose.

“What?”

“Say my name like that. It’s very annoying.”

Giles could only roll his eyes. “Anya, we go through this every week.”

“Not every week,” she replied with a slight shrug. “Last week, I didn’t say a thing about a raise.”

“But as I recall, every sheet of paper that passed my desk had ‘Anya deserves a raise’ scrawled across it.”

“Is it my fault that the subtlety was lost on you? You know, Giles, for being British, you sure are dense sometimes.”

“Anya,” he frowned, “would you like to keep your job long enough to harass me about a raise next week?”

Anya smiled innocently in response, and Giles felt a smile twitch upon his lips despite his best efforts to contain it. He sighed and uncrossed his arms.

“Next time, just please consult me before you begin raising prices.”

“Can do…” She paused, her smile brightening. “Boss.”

Giles chuckled quietly. “Flattery will not get you closer to a raise, Anya.”

The smile dropped instantly, and an exasperated sigh passed by Anya’s lips. “Do you hate me?” she asked bluntly.

Giles could only stare at her, taken aback by her question. How could she think he hated her? Yes, they clashed on many occasions, but it had almost become part of their daily ritual. Part of their relationship. Never could he actually *hate* her.

“Anya, you can be highly unorthodox and overwhelming at times, but I… I don’t hate you. Why would you think that?”

“I feel very unappreciated around here. I don’t get a raise, and do you ever thank me for the stuff I do? I mean, this shop would not be the same without me. You’d still be selling items for half of what they’re worth and trembling at the sight of your horrible revenue.”

Giles opened his mouth to argue, but then thought against it. As much as he hated to admit it, Anya was right. Not once had he thought to thank her for everything that she did around the shop. He had always assumed that she worked simply for the joy of making money, and it had never occurred to him that on some level, she would seek his approval, his appreciation.

“I am dense,” he mumbled to himself.

“Yes, I think I established that earlier.” Anya frowned at him, her arms crossed over her chest.

“Anya, I’m sorry. I should have told you a long time ago that I appreciate all the hard work you put into the Magic Box.”

The smile slowly returned to Anya’s face. “Yes, you should have.”

Giles glanced at his watch, making note that the shop would be open for business soon. His gaze returned to Anya, and he smiled gently at her. “No matter what I say you’re still going to increase the prices, aren’t you?”

“More than likely.”

Giles simply nodded.

Anya clasped her hands together and grinned happily at him. “So does this newfound appreciation for me and my skills mean that there’ll be a raise in my future?”

Giles laughed quietly to himself and turned to make his way back to his desk.

“Is that a yes?” he heard her say over his shoulder.

He stopped and turned back to the aisle. Anya peeked her head around the corner, waiting patiently for his response. “Maybe next month,” he replied. “Would a thank you for everything do for now?”

“You’re welcome,” she said, her perky smile never fading. With that, she disappeared back into the aisle.

Giles sighed, glancing down at his watch again. He strolled to his desk and sat down, the inventory list still in his hands. He flipped to the second page, and when his eyes scanned across the bottom, he had to stop himself from laughing aloud.

Scrawled across the bottom in perfect cursive was a message—“Hi Giles! Feel like giving out any raises this month?”

“And the ritual starts again,” he chuckled to himself and flipped to the next page of the list.

End.