The meeting officially started when Felipe, Rocio, and Consuelo were escorted into the main dining room where everyone was congregated. Feeling recovered and invigorated to contribute to the cause, Kaname decided to have Sara lead things tonight. Regal and exuding an aura of awe and inspiration, Sara welcomed everyone.

"It is an honor and a pleasure to have you here in this dwelling that proudly belongs to my family. I hope this can be both a place of salvation and progress." Reyes was the last to enter. She did her best to hide an apprehension or hesitation she may have possibly been feeling. If anything there was something about her that was radiating from within, which provided a touch of strength. When she sat down, in between Ichijo and Felipe, Ichijo reached for her hand under the table. Feeling his smooth, strong hand and the warmth that radiated from it, Reyes had to close her eyes and take in a deep breath. She could feel Ichijo's smile towards her even though she was not looking directly at him.

"Reyes" Sara began to address her. "We all cannot thank you enough. For strengthening our alliance and for all the work you have done. Not to mention the countless work you have volunteered to do." Reyes just smiled and nodded. She must have slightly spaced out because she did not notice that Felipe gestured to poke her.

"Oh come on now girl, after all this you have nothing to say?" This followed with a round of giggles, including Reyes.

"Well what else can I say? I believe in this cause too, and freedom and an end to bureaucratic and repressive nonsense."

"Yes indeed!" Felipe continued. "And speaking of, I believe you might have already heard some of this Kaname, but our sources have indicated some interesting liaisons, exchanges, and deals being made between the Council and the Hunter's Association. And it actually has been going on for years! Reyes, if you don't mind me sharing, I believe this is of particular significance to you." Reyes shook her head and spoke.

"No I don't mind sharing at all. Akatsuki, you know of this story" she added looking over at Kain, who nodded in agreement. "But for those of you who do not know, my father was mysteriously killed when I was very young, about 14. To this day it is still a mystery. As you know, the strange and unexplainable exterminations have been gradually increasing over the time periods. Evidently the sovereign system of the governing body cannot exactly be trusted one hundred percent."

"So, we are definitely going to take full advantage of the opportunity that will be presented to us." Reyes eyes seemed to darken a little.

"Yes, the opportunity I will have when I accompany Mr. Vladimir Bulgakov to The Summit." Everyone gazed at Reyes with minor concern, many hearing for the first time that this was part of the plan.

"Reyes, are you most certain you are comfortable carrying out this mission?" Kaname confirmed. Reyes smiled and sat up taller in her seat.

"Yes, I am well aware that it is dangerous but nothing will be gained if we sit back and be timid. Some sacrifices need to be made, yes?"

"This girl is impeccable when it comes to information gathering. Always has, always will be!" Felipe offered his encouraging words.

The rest of the evening was spent ironing out details and getting psyched up for the next wave of events. There was a mix of emotions in the air, from excitement to nervousness to caution to enthusiasm. Hearing Reyes burst of laugh and open hearted voice was an inspiration to all.

Later on as sunrise was approaching, Ichijo sat on his bed besides a small pile of manga, books, and loose pieces of paper. A sketch pad sat in his lap, filled with a multitude of drawings, sketches, scribbles, and doodles. He anticipated a quiet evening, so he was startled to hear a knock on his door. Quickly getting up to clear away and put the piles of books and sketch pad back on the nightstand, Ichijo was thankful he was relatively dressed, which was in flannel pajama pants and a white cotton tank top.

Opening the door Reyes stood before him. Her black kimono robe was wrapped tightly around her and she had this exasperated expression on her face. Without asking Ichijo invited her in. When he closed the door Reyes burst into tears. As if on cue, Ichijo just pulled Reyes into him and wrapped his arms as tightly as possible around her.

"Takuma, please don't let anyone know I really don't want them to worry. But I am scared," she sobbed. Ichijo said nothing, he just held her and let the tears gently flow and stroked her hair. Reyes buried her face into Ichijo's chest, her arms then draped around his waist, pulling the two of them closer together.

"Reyes, you know we are behind you one hundred and ten percent. And if I have anything to do with it, I will not let anything happen to you." Reyes looked up and felt her heart grow warm and strong. Ichijo had such reassurance and strength behind his voice. "I know everyone underestimates me. Its ok, I'm kind of used to it by now. My family always has, and I know my friends do in a way. But I swear on my life and dignity Reyes, let me protect you." Reyes hugged him.

"I cannot let you do that Takuma. Your words mean the world to me, and your support and presence too. This is definitely something I must do on my own. But I need to be honest, and that is that I am scared. You are the only one I feel I can trust and really talk to." Ichijo was not quite sure how to take that. Overall he was honored that Reyes treated him as such a confidant, but it still caused him a little worry. Why did Reyes have to be so gallant and brave? This wave of emotion was something new for Ichijo, and it was overwhelming, especially since he could not quite put his finger on it. He found himself wanting to really protect Reyes, make her whole world for her, single handedly bring about the peace that she and everyone else yearned for.

"Well, just know that I am here for you no matter what. And if there is anything I can do, please let me know." Reyes gently pulled herself away and gazed at Ichijo.

"Of course." Stroking Ichijo's cheek, both of their eyes sparkled. Just having this young man so close to her and behind her was the greatest source of support she could ever ask for. Feeling calmer and more collected, both of them exchanged a strong, passionate kiss. Reyes removed her kimono. All she was wearing were a black tank top and matching boy-short underwear. Wrapping her body around Ichijo again she kissed him with all her heart.

Ichijo lifted her up as if carrying Reyes over a threshold and just held her for a moment. Reyes was startled and moved by the gesture. Carrying her to the bed, Ichijo comfortable let her down and gently kissed her lips and all down her neck. When his lips reached the mid point between her collar and breast bones, Reyes let out a deep and loud breath. Weaving her fingers into his hair and looking at in right in the eye, Reyes lifted herself up to whisper into his ear.

"I need you to touch me," she said as she leaned back, crossed her arms and removed her tank top. Ichijo found himself skipping a breath and a heartbeat. This was a definitive moment. He was both extremely excited and absolutely frightened at the same time. Could he do this and to her complete satisfaction? And why him? Where would he start? Would he know what to do? His mind was going a million miles a second, which came to a grinding halt when he looked down at Reyes. She pulled off his shirt as well and drew him down to her for another kiss. Ichijo wrapped his arms around her, stroking her back, pressing his chest against hers. When he closed his eyes and let his lips slide down her neck, he was amazed how small she felt underneath him, so different from the glamorous Amazon she often appeared to be from his perspective.

Lifting himself up to look at her again, Ichijo could not believe the beautiful vision that lay before him. Her curvy torso sprawled out completely at his mercy, those infamously buxom breasts he only dared to see in some of her suggestive clothes perched upon her chest, nipples swelling just from the proximity of Ichijo's own skin. Sighing Ichijo found his own body just falling and surrendering into Reyes'. Next thing he knew, he was in a flow. His mind shut off and the only thing in control was their bodies. When he entered her, listening to her gasp and the quivering of her pelvis from the pleasure he was providing sent a chill down his spine.

Her hips were soft and welcoming, and as if lead by instinct everywhere his lips found themselves on her body triggered ecstatic responses. Reyes felt light and free. It had been a long time since she felt so cared for in such an intimate situation. A breakthrough had occurred. Reyes had released her fear of reaching out to someone she felt profound love for, and it strengthened her heart and her will. Ichijo had to laugh at himself, because apparently it was not only his friends and family who underestimated him.

When the sun had fully risen, only one of the two curtains was drawn, so a warm golden light tinted the room in a romantic glow. Ichijo spooned Reyes as he closed his eyes and buried his face into her hair. Her curves made finding the right nooks to wrap his arms around easy, the breasts an ideal place to rest the hands. Something on the nightstand caught Reyes' eye. The distance was perfect for her to reach and strategically slip it out from underneath the pile of books it lay under. Ichijo woke up in time to see Reyes looking at his sketch book. He sat up slightly panicked as she started to leaf through it.

"I had no idea you were so talented Takuma!" she complimented his various sketches, ranging from actual still life and portrait drawings to fun manga characters. "Look how beautiful everything is, and so detailed. You are more of an enigma than I realized." She looked up at him with a beaming smile. Ichijo blushed, not sure what to say since no one ever complimented him like that, especially about his drawings, most likely due to the fact that he had shown no one his sketch book.

Ichijo's hand slid up and down Reyes' hip and thigh as they looked through the rest of the pages. Grabbing his pajama pants, Ichijo rolled off the bed, walked in front of Reyes and gently took the sketch book. He had an idea.

"Reyes, if you don't mind, can I draw you?" Reyes face lit up.

"Really? You want to do that?" Ichijo nodded. "Well, um, how do you want me to pose?" Ichijo smiled.

"Just lie on the bed like you were doing earlier. I think your arms were up over like this, and, yes…" Reyes sprawled on the bed and rotated her hips towards Ichijo, perfectly displayed. Ichijo created long, swift strokes at first, but then softer, shorter, stronger scribbling could be heard. Reyes found herself in her own flow, just watching him, not averting her gaze to anywhere else, never wanting to look anywhere else. Ichijo looked up at her again, taking in a deep breath and not believing how amazingly beautiful this creature was who lay before him. He prayed that he could capture this image in a manner that would justify the reality.

After about an hour passed, he put the sketch pad down, came over and kissed the vampire girl, and allowed his hands to caress and travel all over her body, as if checking once more to make sure she was real. Once more before nightfall was upon them again, they broke through their barriers to find one another, and a new part of themselves.