They returned to the edges of the forest and found a great place for a temporary base camp. Their final base camp, as Integra put it. While most of the group, save for Alucard, Inuyasha, Walter and Integra had departed to search for Wood, Alucard and Inuyasha had began a circle around the mountain, looking for any possible gap that the Dampening field may have. They returned to a fire going, and the others clustered around it, save for Kagome, who had been waiting quietly for Inuyasha's return. Integra stared at the mountain as the others began thinking formulas for attack.

"Why don't we send one guy in and lure any ghouls he has out," Sango asked," I can use Kirara there, and then with the more important opponents in view, we can go right after Towers?"

"Kirara is a demon," Kagome pointed out.

"And from what Towers told us, he can direct his undead easily. For all we know he would let us pick off what few we could reach, and only go after us when we were inside the mountain itself," Leon added as well, Sango sighing in disappointment and thinking again. "I don't know how much was brought," Leon stated, turning to Seras," but that cannon of yours looks strong enough to puncture enough holes in the side of the mountain for us to drop some high explosives inside… and demolish it to a few gopher holes."

"I have enough for that!" Seras started excitedly, about to reach for the Harkonnen.

"The last thing we need is to have the mountain demolished," Miroku started, Seras pausing in his thought," Edward Towers plans on spreading some sort of disease using this mountain as a starting point."

"Shit…" Zohall realized," we could be doing him a favor blowing it to hell."

"… I'll put it back," Seras said quietly, sad about not being able to blow up something with her prized weapon.

Integra finally turned, knowing it was time to inform them of her plan. "As of now, here is what we are facing," she was in for a speech," EdwardTowers has in that mountain, to our beliefs, samples of the deadly virus labeled only as "T-Virus". This mountain here, being placed off into the Ocean and being tall enough to reach various wind currents across the world, could be used as a highway for exposing the virus to the soon to be renaissance age of man."

Walter coughed slightly, drawing her attention. "Just Europe, ma'am."

"Of course," she continued," regardless where his target is, if he has been able to prepare to the extent of having a Dampening field here to hold back some of our best troops, I can wager he has other nasty surprises waiting for us inside Blackwind Mountain."

"House of Horrors," Leon mentioned, with Zohall's nod of agreement.

"So what is our plan of Action?" Miroku asked, impaling a caught fish from the shore on a long stick told hold over the fire. Integra paused, eyeing Walter for this. He sighed happily and got himself up. She had rehearsed this with him over and over.

"There will be three pairs," Walter began, standing next to Integra as the rest watched and listened as he held up six fingers," Zohall and Kagome, Leon and Miroku, and Miroku and myself. We are the first strike team."

"It will be your duty to enter the mountain and race to that damn machine as fast as humanly possible and de-activate it at any costs. Leon," Integra addressed the listening elite," has several devices that can allow us to keep in touch."

"He has walky-talkies?" Kagome asked in awe. He pulled one out of his bag and tossed it to her.

"They'll work as long as we don't get out of a mile from one another. Knowing the mountain though," Leon said," that may or may not be a problem."

"Why aren't I in the attack!?" Inuyasha demanded.

"I will remain here with Alucard, Seras, Inuyasha, and these two," she motioned to Shippo and Kirara," until I get a confirmation that the barrier is down. Once that is confirmed, Alucard and Seras will be sent in, and at that point I will join the fight along with Kirara and Inuyasha."

"So this all depends on smashing Towers' favorite toy, and then bum rushing him with the demon slash vampire payload we have waiting in the sidelines?" Zohall asked. "Sounds funner than our older plan."

"Now, since our group is mixed of humans… and others," Integra accommodated the mix of demons and vampire," we'll be attacking just before sunrise tomorrow morning."

"Wait… that early?" Zohall groaned, before having Leon slap him on the back of the head, "Ow…"

"We need to have enough time for us to get some sleep, all of us, and then have enough time so that we can rush our enemy when day arrives. If we can have this done in the early hours of the morning we have both advantages, human and vampire" Integra finished.

"Great plan," Leon nodded.

"Sure… jackass," Zohall grumbled from being smacked. "So what are we going to do until we rush in and hump their faces to death?"

"…Do whatever you wish, as long as you can get some rest tonight," Integra replied after a moment of pausing from his unusual imagery. "So take the rest of the day off I… suppose," she stated awkwardly as she turned and walked off into the opening to sit and do whatever it was she wanted. Zohall watched in confusion while Leon stood.

"Who wants a game of War?" Leon stated as he pulled out his deck of cards. "Zohall?"

"Fuck that, I'm not letting you steam roll my ass again until I learn all the cards!" Zohall stated as he got up and left the campfire for the woods.

"Okay… Kagome? Walter?"

"I'm getting some Sleep," Alucard announced as he started for the Coffins. "I suggest you do the same, Police Girl. No staying up late," he ordered her as he slid open the coffin.

"I'll get some sleep!" she scolded him. "I know how to play," she told Leon as he began to shuffle the deck.

"Well alright. Kagome? Walter? In, or out?"

"I'll play in this. You may have to refresh my memories a little… It has been years since I had a decent card game," the elder gave in to the temptation of game and joined.

"I don't know… I'm okay with card games-"

"Oh come on!" Seras said," It can be girls versus boys!"

"Have fun with the children, Butler," Alucard mentioned as he closed the lid to his obsidian colored coffin. Walter laughed chuckled and took his section of the deck from Leon.

"I recall you playing this with Zohall," Miroku said as he decided to sit next to the group near the fire, watching with Sango in curiosity," how does it work exactly?"

"Well there are numbers on cards that determine their importance and power…" Leon started as he showed the two watchers several different cards. Shippo was playing with a twig in the fire, all while keeping a watch on the cooking fish. Tiny Kirara finally found a warn spot to take a nap on, happening to be Sera's crossed legs. After a moment of staring at the tiny demon, Seras began to scratch the back of her ears.

"I don't understand," she stated, drawing Leon away momentarily from his explaining of the rules of War," how something so small can turn into something so large and fierce… it just addles my brains thinking about it!" Leon stared at her for a moment, blinking several times as she stared back, confused. "What?"

"…Nothing," he said as he mentally chuckled and turned back to explaining rules with Miroku.

"What about that one?" Sango pointed to the queen.

"Third strongest card," Leon stated.

"So then there is the king, and then god?" Miroku tried. Leon laughed at the idea of 'god card'.

"No, there isn't a god card. The strongest card is known as the ace. It beats even the king," Leon pulled out from the deck the magical card, with a proud 'A' at both corners. "This card rules the deck."

"Why is it just an 'A'?" Miroku paused as Leon shuffled the exampled cards into the deck and began to deal them out.

"It's the first letter of the English Alphabet. It comes before all the other letters," Leon continued to the explanation," it takes priority."

"The dreaded Ace of Spades," Walter mumbled as he received his hand. Leon paused as he heard it, until Walter noticed. "Oh, just remembering the cards, that's all."

Leon shook his head and addressed the two women. "So, guys versus girls?" Inuyasha suddenly leapt into a tree, knocking off several leaves, many falling into the fire. "Watch it, Inuyasha. Could start a fire!"

"Shut up! I'm bored!" the sounds of his movement were soon to disappear.

Zohall was running about in the forest. Almost two weeks ago he was fantasizing about the idea of being able to fly about through the woods, free and un-restrained. It was nothing like what he picture. The trees were thick and imposing, devoid of color or life. He enjoyed the rush of wind as he soared through branches and past trunks but it all seemed stale and stagnant. He checked himself, glanced to his left. He could still see the mountain and across from it, the fire. He didn't want to play cards, and he didn't want to wait. He wanted this all over now.

His mind was thinking back to the night before. Not only did his actions speak for themselves, he was sure that they were supported with Tower's own words. His energy wasn't demonic. It could pass through the Dampening field and he was positive that he would be able to act a strong member in the initial assault. This was then first time in a very long time since he felt this way. He wanted to end a conflict that had started. It had been nearly eight years since he was feeling like this, but now he had others with him. He was doing this with others and he could depend on them as much as they could him.

He was in a team. A family.

Integra stood, watching the mountain for any signs of activity. It seemed as dead as those inside it, only growing in mist and cloud. The thought came to her that the potion she had created was only temporary, but it didn't matter now. Even if she was stranded on this island, she had become so fighting for the safety of the world from her enemy, noble as it could get. Yet she worried for the world she had left behind. So much time had passed since she had slept in her massive queen-sized bed to herself, or had a wonderful, sweet smoke of one of her cigars. She missed so much from home- the cold air, or the rain, even the mass cemetery nearby the airstrip. Integra had become homesick.

Integra shook her head. It was not the time to dream of home. She had to think as hard as possible to prepare. Each troop at her disposal was worth untold numbers of demons or ghouls. Their survival and continuous push forward told her so. No normal human soldier would have survived the many encounters with the enemy, nor the stress that came along constantly traveling, or the pressure to keep pace with each other, or their leaders' demands. Each had served miraculously.

Footsteps in the forest were growing louder. She knew who would be leaping and tossing themselves all around the forest without anything to do, but admired his energy. She wondered if she had that same level of excitement if she could manage to stay still as she was.

"Heya boss," Zohall gasped as he landed feet behind her.

"Integra," she reprimanded him.

"Right. Integra," he said and laughed slightly. "Why aren't you with the others?"

"I don't like the idea of sitting down as much as you may think," Integra said as he walked up beside her and sat down, breathing heavily. "I allowed them this final break before we charge into death's open arms. I think that for one day's afternoon we should be allowed to do as we wish."

Zohall finally sighed. "You aren't doing a very good job at your own orders," he noticed.

"Those… orders were not for me," she replied as she finally spotted him sitting down comfortably. "I can't stand waiting for a fight when we are right at its doorstep. To be perfectly frank I was hoping he would bring out all he had in an attempt to kill us now, rather than cowarding up in his mountain."

"Cowarding?" Zohall asked. She glared at him for a moment, but returned her stares to the mountain. "Integra, 'cmon you're going to get sore standing there all day. Sit down." She waited for a moment before following through with his suggestion. "We all can't be scarecrows, you know."

"Scarecrows?"

"…something a friend of mine would say," he said during a thoughtful pause. "He was my best friend before raccoon city fell."

"I'm sorry," Integra quickly stated.

"Doesn't matter," he added quickly," he didn't at least have to become a zombie… for long." She stared at him, at those green eyes. Since she had met this man, they had changed. The color themselves were not at all different, but it seemed like a new light had come to replaced the old one. Where innocence and ignorance mixed with confidence had stood fixed in the man from two weeks ago, now a man of untold complexity sat next to her, with history incredibly similar to her own. His ability to be boyish and happy one minute and a born hero the next shocked her to no end. With him she could only logically say it was the trauma from his childhood that caused this strange behavior. His lost childhood and forced adulthood of witnessing death so soon mixed into a multi-focused individual. "You okay?" he asked when her eyes had lingered at his a little too long.

"Y-yes!" she muttered, turning to avoid a blush in her cheeks.

"Integra, are you sick?" he asked worriedly, getting closer to inspect her sudden behavior.

"I'm fine!" she stated loudly. "I was simply contemplating the situation that may be evolving back in England."

Zohall stared and burst out laughing. "Holy crap! I keep forgetting what kind of situation we're in! Five hundred years in the past, in Japan!" she turned her head slowly as he laughed hard. "Who knows how bad that guy we left behind is- we were supposed be back by now, weren't we?"

"We won't be gone much longer," she reminded him. "This ends tomorrow. If we can get on the boat by tomorrow, we'll be back through the Well in a matter of days, and in London before the weeks end."

"Still… almost a week off schedule," Zohall sighed as he calmed down. "I bet he thinks we all died." He held back the want to say 'Which will be true if this all fucks over'.

"As long as we return, whatever damage has been done in our absence will be rectified," Integra told herself out loud. Zohall had nothing to say to this. Coming to this island alone had been a challenged, but once he had arrived, things started getting weird. In truth, his entire job was weird- hunting vampires and other such things. Then it was weirder with being five hundred years in the past, and to top it all, dreams were people who were dead spoke with him. But it was weirdest when the dreams themselves started to come alive. He struggled to loose what sanity he had just from thinking about the beaches. Those exact same beaches that had been on in the dream.

It was Integra's turn to notice him acting different.

"What bothers you, Zohall?" she asked. His eyes flickered in focused and he returned her stares.

"That noticeable, hu?" he asked. A nod later he continued. "Since a day or two ago… I've been having dreams again."

"With Alcuard's familiar?"

"No… there is someone else who can talk to me when I'm asleep," he pushed the hair out of his face absentmindedly," but this person isn't here to help me, or any one of us. When I met her… this person, she was on the exact beaches that we landed on. The very same."

"That explains why you seemed so spooked," Integra reflected.

"I'm really that much of an open book?" he asked.

"Not terribly," she said, confusing Zohall.

"Then… how did you notice-"

"I expected someone," she quickly continued," who had seen as much death in his lifetime as you had wouldn't have been bothered by the beaches," she admitted.

"I wasn't! But I had climbed on that boat before. That chick wanted something, the one I'm talking about," Zohall continued," she told me she wanted my power. She wanted to use my body for her own purposes, to kill someone, and in return she would lend her own… something about her told me she was bad news."

"I agree on your instinct," Integra said," this person, if they want something from you without a reason desire power. Those who desire power without cause are dangerous."

He smiled for a moment, shocked that she wasn't scared off by this bizarre conversation, but at the same time not sure about his next token in the conversation. "Before I woke up, she told me she would take me over… regardless how hard I try to resist her, or something like that. And since then, I've seen reflections of myself using her voice… telling me that I'm a killing machine." This finally got to Integra. What sounded at first like sub-conscious fear of corruption turned out to be possible insanity, or a ghost of sorts haunting him. Either would make sense. Zohall Mercer could be very well disturbed enough to loose his sanity in certain situations, but he had strength. This new power that he seemed to be growing was impressive to say the least. His attacks could slice through buildings and cut trees down with ease. If a spirit with the ability to possess him noticed his power… it wasn't beyond reason that it sought to control his body.

"Just… be careful," she stated after another gap of silence. He looked to her. "Don't let your guard down until we're out of this, not for one second. But we're here, along side you, so… no hero work."

"That's what Leon said," Zohall stated after a moment. In silence they sat next to one another, watching the mountain as the sky slowly grew more in color. As night fell, the mist around the mountain grew stronger and stronger, turning it into a masked entity of earth towering above them. Zohall finally stood. "Wanna head back to the others?"

"I don't see why not," Integra gave in and stood up, brushing dust off her pants. At the now glowing campfire, Walter had began to sleep along with Seras, while the youngest and Leon exchanged stories. Mostly of which came from Leon about RaccoonCity.

"Me and Claire are walking in the department, and-" he slams his fist into the ground, causing Shippo to gasp out loud and Miroku to chuckle," this huge man comes flying through the ceiling. The ceiling! Like it was nothing- and this guy was big as a bear! He reached the ceiling with that bald head of his-"

"Oh man," Zohall pauses and Integra walks past, going to check on the coffins," not trenchy."

"What?" Inuyasha asked, looking up to him. He at some point had decided to come down from the trees and join the conversation.

"I hated that guy," Zohall said as he sat down across from Leon.

"Anyway, me and Claire are shooting at this thing with everything we have. Nothing seemed to hurt it- I'm talking nothing. I know I shot it in the forehead and it shrugged it off like it had been a pebble. A shotgun made it keel over or take a few steps back for just enough time for us to retreat a little."

"Why didn't you attack at it?" Sango questioned Zohall.

"They wouldn't let me," he answered bitterly at Leon, "But even if I had, it was an enclosed space, and we needed to back up, not go after it. I bet if I had charged him, he would have just thrown me out of a window or something."

"It just wouldn't stop. It was pummeling zombies out of the way with its bare fists for crying out loud," Leon continued," but we got enough distance eventually that we made our escape and go after Sherry."

"Yeah, and you know that little girl he's talking about?" Zohall added," Her parents had an elevator installed in the police station for access; to an underground-freaking-lab." Miroku raised his eyebrows at the term Elevator, while Sango squinted at the idea of one of these elevators that Kagome had described in a Law enforcement building, while Inuyasha blinked.

"A what?" the half demon asked.

"That's unbelievable," Kagome said. "I had read in class that the survivors escaped on a-"

"Shh!" Zohall hissed at her. "Don't ruin a good story!"

"I hate to say it, but pause your story for now," Integra ordered as she stood by the fire, looking at the mountain. "Zohall, Leon, with me. The rest of you, wait here."

"What's going on?" Kagome asked as Inuyasha leapt up and drew out his massive sword instinctively.

"Integra?" Zohall added.

"Sit down!" Integra hissed at Inuyasha. "I only need these two. Any more and this could escalate."

"Yeah? And who said you could boss me around-"

"SIT."

Integra began walking away as he face planted the ground with a thud from Kagomes order. Zohall glanced back and gave a reassuring thumbs up, but continued on with the other two.

"So, what is going on?" Leon asked as she led the two.

"Look ahead," she directed. The two fixed their eyes forward and found two figures waiting up ahead, exactly where the border of the Dampening field was. Standing expectantly, watching the skyline with mild entertainment was Towers, humming loudly a Spanish salsa. Naraku stood behind him, ready to act if he needed to. It wasn't until they clearly left the forest that he paused in his star-searching, and laughed bitterly.

"I see you noticed our arrival with crisp timing," EdwardTowers nodded to Integra, who only glared at him as she halted, twenty yards from the border. "Ah… come closer? I don't want to shout to you all-"

"If I get any closer, Integra began loudly," this could become… messy."

"Oh, you have nothing to fear from me. I came out here to talk-"

"I meant myself. It's hard enough resisting the urge to run and slash you into a thousand pieces right as it is. Any closer and I would probably order an attack as it is!" EdwardTowers growled softly, but corrected his angered stance and coughed, fixing his harmed ego and smiling again.

"Like I said, I came to talk with you. Diplomatic? Are you familiar with this term?" Towers taunted happily from the distance.

"Not at all," Integra said. "What do you want? Have you come to surrender and beg for a quick death? Because I assure you," she continued before the vampire could reply," knowing my forces the least you will be getting is anything short."

"No, no. You see I have come to realize that there is a gathering of spectacular talent here," Towers waved his hand about, batting away invisible flies pestering his head," and I know the value of talent. Look at the first individuals who I asked to join me?" he motioned to Naraku. "I prefer not to waste such power and skill."

Integra felt sick knowing what he was offering. "No way in hell."

"Ah-bu-bu-bu!" Towers quickly interrupted. "Hear me out, at least." She bit her tongue, quite literally and calmed herself. "There are those who, through life's experience has taught them to succeed and become the worlds greatest. The top performers know the beat, the steps, and the rhythm to out dance all the rest. And what we have is a conflict… two teams, each wanting to be the best here. I suggest we stop this and come to a common ground."

"Think about it," Towers began to pace, excitement getting the better of him as he spoke," you and your groups abilities with my knowledge and plans could re-design a world with flaws into a perfect world… one ruled by immortals who cannot be killed! Immortals who will learn the power and knowledge to create a world worthy of a thousand years! Ruled by us!" he paused, licking his lips in his love for the ideas. Integra was stony faced. "No one need to die now, no one needs to get hurt, and I can aid all of those around you… just join with me!"

Integra finally could not handle it. Sucking in air, she spat a large wad of collected spit feet from Towers foot, who eyed it in revulsion.

"I thought I had made it clear to you; you are going to be dead within the next twenty-four hours. And pleading for you life will not change this," Integra said, wiping her mouth slowly, not letting her eyes off the stunned vampire.

"I- you… fine," he stuttered. "Then let me inform you with something you probably should add in to account with your 'attack plans'. Have you, perhaps, visited the many various villages along the coast?" Integra stared, but Leon and Zohall exchanged a worried look. "No? Oh that's right… visiting the old man… looking for those ridiculous ingredients and then of course to the Chishiki village, you never had time to, did you?" Integra swallowed the information easily. She was sure that with the reactions to their movements they had been watching the entire time. "Well, it would be pointless now."

"What would be pointless?" Leon quickly asked. Edward blinked in mock surprise.

"Why, visiting those villages now. The only thing left are bamboo huts and derelict fishing boats," he stated, evil pleasure flooding his eyes.

"You fucking bastard!" Zohall shouted, spit flying from his mouth. "They didn't have anything involved with us!"

"Like I needed a reason to slay a few hundred villagers for a cause that will re-shape the world," Towers defended himself with poison. "But let me ask you… how many villages are there within fifty miles?" when no answer came, he laughed manically. "You don't get it do you!"

"What are you so happy about!" Integra shouted.

"You stand against a man who has THOUSANDS OF GHOULS AT HIS BACK!" he shouted screaming a terrible, derisive laughter that awoke even Alucard.

"Bullshit!" Zohall shouted as Leon gasped with Integra.

"IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, TAKE A LOOK YOURSELFS!" Towers screamed and stepped aside, holding his hand out behind him to reveal masses of glowing purple eyes, shrouded in the mist. EdwardTowers mocked them with each exhale of breath that cracked through the air, his back arcing as he laughed at the sky. He half a minute passed before those glowing eyes disappeared and he collected himself. "You thought it was hard enough with demons? A hundred ghouls? Naraku? You face them all at once… and my personal army of undead. Tell me… is it worth throwing your life away when you can support a great cause?"

Zohall was about to give him a piece of his mind, when the unexpected happened. He heard a little chirp from Integra. Almost like a hiccup. Leon heard it too, turning from a glare at EdwardTowers to a confused look at Integra. She was holding her mouth and stomach casually, her eyes closed. Again that same curious chirp from her escaped her lips. Even EdwardTowers and Naraku raised an identical eyebrow to her sudden strange behavior. And without warning, Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing broke out laughing; a completely amused, one hundred percent genuine laughter. Leon had thought she cracked, while Zohall was finding her amusement infectious, smiling widely at Leon while shrugging at the same time. Even those back at base camp, all peering out from behind a single tree poked their heads out as Integra nearly fell to her knees, laughing so hard she was crying.

"H-hey, boss," Leon checked after a moment, putting a hand on her back.

"I- hic- I am fine, Mister Kennedy," she announced as she straightened herself up. She caught Zohall's stares. He couldn't believe it, but when she laughed, she looked her own age. "Are you feeling alright yourself, Zohall?"

"Hu?" he took a second to register the question. "Oh- yeah! Hell yeah… I'm- I'm good!" giving a smile for good measure to her, which was returned. He felt his insides bubble a little. Finally she turned back to Towers, who was looking a little sour.

"EdwardTowers," She again started, straightening her glasses and finally dropping her lovely smile," you must be joking me."

Silence hit the two parties. EdwardTowers' mouth dropped from sheer disbelief, and Naraku grinned for some reason. Leon glanced from Integra to Zohall, sure he had an answer. Zohall too was shocked, returning the same stare to Leon.

"Surely you mock me? Which, I will grant you, I understand the tactic," Towers bumbled in reply. He was shaken, she had been laughing in amusement at his gesture of ultimate power.

"Let me ask you a question now, Towers," Integra stated, starting to walk forward, catching her two bodyguards unaware; they jumped and hurried to catch up. "Have you visited London recently?" the man in question remained silent. "My home, two years ago, was under siege by an organization of Nazi survivors, ready to start an 'endless war', starting with England. In one night, they assaulted London with over one thousand vampires such as yourself," Integra took a moment, pausing feet from the Dampening field border. "London was practically demolished… but tell me if you can, who do you think fought off that assault?"

Towers was forced to step back and pull out his blade as she drew her own, pointing it at his face from a distance.

"HELLSING DID! MYSELF, SERAS, AND ALUCARD WERE ABLE TO DEFEAT A FORCE OF OVER A THOUSAND WELL ARMED AND TRAINED VAMPIRE SOLDIERS! YOU HONESTLY EXPECT ME TO TREMBLE THE SLIGHTEST AT THE SIGHT OF A THOUSAND GHOULS! THEY ARE RUBBISH COMPARED TO WHAT YOU FACE!" she sliced at the air, air which was inside the barrier. "I give you twenty four hours to prepare to die, Towers!" she turned again and left him shaking.

"None of you will be making it off this island!" he shouted hurriedly back as Zohall and Leon nodded to one another, high fived each other, and offered the same to Integra, who after looking at each of them, also high fived. "I'll burn that ship of yours by tomorrow morning and you will be trapped here until you all starve to death, or until the vampires decide to feast on you! DO YOU HEAR ME!"

"Integra," Zohall leaned in close to her, wrapping his arm around her neck," that was fucking tight."

"No kidding," Leon added, smiling the entire walk back," I wouldn't be surprised if he lost some hair from the wind you blew at him."

"Like," Zohall continued, pulling her close accidentally as he thought to himself," if there was a one to ten 'burn-o-meter', that was a fucking thirteen!"

"Zohall," Integra asked wheezing.

"Yeah?" he turned, spotting her pointing to his arm, restricting her breath. "Shit! Sorry!" he let go quickly and rubbed the back of his head. "Got excited… yeah."

"So I can see," she said lightly, still with traces of that former smile. "However I did lie a little there… the Iscariot did finish off a lot of the Nazi forces-"

"I wouldn't be surprised of there was a man on the main land, or in modern times, that woke up from that speech of yours," Alucard stated, shocking those behind the tree by suddenly being the only one leaning out in the open.

"Alucard, you and Seras should be getting some sleep," Integra stated, her formality returning.

"You expect any vampire or human to be able to miss that?" he replied. "And beside, I had to be sure once you advanced on him I would be in range to react if Towers ordered Naraku to attack."

"I can handle the demon," she argued, shoving past him to noticed the collection of heads, still pocking out from behind the tree. She took the time to notice everyone was awake, and spun about, turning to sit by the fire. "Everyone get sleep, now. That is an order."

"Sir?" Walter asked as he left the protection of the tree. "It's only half past seven I'm sure-"

"There will be a change of plans," Integra interrupted, smelling the burning wood of the fire," starting now. Before the moon gets past that mountain," she pointed to the skyline, indicating the coming moon," we move. And I want this all done with before the moon gets past the very top. Understood?"

"So… we're moving out in like… three hours instead of half a day?" Zohall asked, feeling very sleepy suddenly.

"If he was serious about what he said before we left him standing there-"

"Before you left him standing there looking like an idiot," Seras complimented quickly.

"…standing there," Integra sighed and continued," he will be after our transportation back to the mainland. I won't risk it, even if this is a bluff. I gave him a one day warning before we move out, so we're going in three hours. Get whatever rest you can, because we're getting up half-past ten. And then… we finish this."

The others gave a nod of approval and headed for their chosen sleeping spots. Only Zohall stalled, looking at his boss.

"What is it?" Integra asked cautiously. He suddenly seemed tense.

"Look… I know a thousand vampires… are a lot damn tougher than what we're up against now… but thousands of ghouls isn't any kind of push over either. Especially for those who aren't vampires," he stated as Alucard joined the conversation.

"Worried about the coming battle, are we?" he asked snidely to Zohall, who turned, shoulder to shoulder to Alucard.

"Raccoon city had inhabitants of thousands, tens of thousands, and every one of them were turned into zombies, or worse; but we're not talking about a city, we're talking about a single, lonely mountain stuffed to the brim with undead," Zohall turned to Integra, trying to project his worry. "It doesn't sound like a lot, but not all of us," he stared to Alucard," have seemingly limitless ammunition."

"Swords don't need to reload," Alucard pointed out to Zohall, who scoffed at him.

"Zohall," Integra started before he could start an argument. "Get some sleep. Kagome will need you in the coming battle as much as you will need her."

"…Okay, fine." He gave in, glaring at Alucard for a moment, and retreating up into a tree branch for a nap.

"You too… count," she added with a smile to the vampire lord. He grinned and bowed, and headed for his coffin. She waited for Alucard to get into the coffin before heading back to Zohall, sitting angrily on the tree.

"Fucking vampire hates me," Zohall guessed as he heard her slide against the tree beneath him.

"Like myself, he has never had to work with others. Only Walter has been alongside him enough to have them understand one another," Integra defended," in time this will become normal to you."

"Like I want to," Zohall spat," psycho tried killing me on our first meeting. What makes you think he's changed his views of me since then?"

"For someone who is hundreds of years old," Integra said," this can be harder said than done. Imagine living at the top for so long."

"Sounds shitty," Zohall admitted. "Shouldn't you be sleeping, or do you have something you want me to know?" he sat up, wrapped his legs around the branch, and flipped himself upside to talk to her face to face.

"Are you this worried about the confined spaces of the mountain?" Integra asked with intent. "You said yourself Raccoon city was filled with even more than we face now-"

"Look, if you spread out whole bucket of water in a front yard," Zohall began," it makes the ground soggy. If you pour that water into a glass, it freaking DROWNS the cup," Zohall pulled himself up and dropped down. "This will have to happen at record speeds. Full advance on undead over a thousand strong, and then the endless demons that Naraku has."

"That is correct," Integra nodded, her smile gone. Zohall scoffed and decided that the lights of the campfire needed to die down a little, stomping it all down. "Zohall… once the dampening field is down, we've won this."

"Why? Because Alucard can get it?" he demanded. Integra blinked. This man seemed appalled at Alucard more than he had ever been before.

"Yes. Because we have one weapon that I can use on this island that I could not on the mainland," she told him. "And you should also understand that once Towers is defeated… those ghouls all die, and Naraku and his children all loose the power they gained with him. He is their king on this chessboard. Once he's done, the game is over."

"Unless he really isn't the king," Zohall suggested. Integra held up a hand to him.

"Sleep. That's-"

"An order, yeah, yeah, I know."