Chapter Nine: The Night Before The Attack

Ukyo and Wilheim were now back at Ukyo's restaurant. Ukyo was making herself an okonomiyaki, while Wilheim strolled nervously across the room. Ukyo noticed this and let out a sigh.

"It'll be tomorrow, Wilheim. Try to calm down..." she said, gently.

Wilheim listened, but didn't stop walking to and fro.

"I know... but it's just that I don't want anyone to get hurt..." he said, trying to hide his nervousness, but failing in the attempt.

Ukyo shook his head and smiled.

"Wilheim, no one will get hurt. Believe me, I've got powerful friends..." she said, trying to calm him down.

Wilheim didn't stop his strolling.

"I know, and you're the most powerful of them all... but it's just that I don't want anything to happen to anybody..." he said. His voice was now shaking.

Ukyo giggled.

"Will you just forget about it? No one will get hurt, I promise. Now, come and sit down." She said.

Wilheim finally stopped and let out a long sigh. Then he went and sat down in one of the chairs.

Ukyo smiled at him and said in a low and gentle voice:

"Finally. Don't you feel better now?"

Wilheim smiled at Ukyo. But his smiled faded almost immediately, and he said:

"A little..."

The okonomiyaki was now ready. Ukyo put it in a plate and then left it on the edge of the table were Wilheim was sitting. She sat next to him and held his hand with hers. His skin was very soft... however, his hand was bigger than hers, and reflected an immense power. Gentleness and strength... it was a combination that Ukyo liked very much.

"Wilheim, look at me." Ukyo said, insistently.

Wilheim turned his head and looked at Ukyo in her eyes. Her sights crossed. Their hearts started to beat as one. And all of Wilheim's fear suddenly stopped.

"I promise you... nothing will happen. Okay?" said Ukyo, in a gentle whisper.

Wilheim sighed and gave her a sweet smile.

"...Okay." he said.

Ukyo smiled back and let go of Wilheim's hand. Then she started eating her okonomiyaki. Wilheim then stretched his legs, and put his hands behind his head, as he looked at the ceiling.

"So..." Wilheim started, timidly. "What about you?" he asked, finally.

Ukyo opened her eyes widely and turned to look at Wilheim.

"What do you mean?" she said, puzzled.

"What about your life?" he asked.

"Oh!" said Ukyo. "Well, when I was little - hey, wait a minute..." she stopped and gave Wilheim a suspicious look. "You can read minds. You already know everything about me, don't you?"

Wilheim shook his head.

"I only read people's minds when my life's in jeopardy. I never do it just to find out about them." He said.

Ukyo smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, right." She said.

"I'm serious!" insisted Wilheim. "Come on, tell me about you." He said.

"How can you be so powerful, if you are so young?" asked Ukyo, trying to avoid Wilheim's question.

"I told you, because I seek the help of magicians. Now, if you don't want to tell me about you, just say it..." he said, trying to sound depressed.

"Okay, okay... I'll tell. It's fair, after all... you told me about you, so I'll talk..." said Ukyo, and began to tell Wilheim her story.

She told him about how she and Ranma were childhood friends, and the "engagement" they had... and how that old good - for - nothing Genma stole their cart... then she told him about her training... and how years later she found Ranma and forgave him. She omitted every detail that revealed that she had been in love with Ranma, because obviously she now loved Wilheim.

"Wow..." said Wilheim. "That's an amazing story..."

"Oh, please. Like if you were really interested." She said, timidly. She had now finished eating her okonomiyaki.

"Really... I find your life fascinating." Said Wilheim. And he meant it.

"...'Fascinating'?" said Ukyo, making a funny face.

Wilheim twisted his mouth in a funny way and looked away from Ukyo.

"Well..." he said, and then stopped talking.

Ukyo giggled.

"You are funny sometimes, you know?" she said.

Wilheim laughed.

"I know I talk strange, but I mean it." He said, as he turned around to face Ukyo again.

Ukyo chuckled. Her face turned bright red.

"Thank you..." she said in a sweet voice.

Wilheim smiled at her and nodded.

"We'd better get upstairs. We're gonna need all the rest we can get." He said, as he got up from his seat.

As Ukyo was getting ready for bed, Wilheim was filling a glass with water for her. When Ukyo got out of the bathroom, Wilheim offered her the glass filled with water.

"Thanks..." she said sweetly as she reached for the glass of water, without looking at him.

"You're most welcome." Answered Wilheim.

Ukyo giggled and quickly got on her bed and under her covers.

"Sleep tight, Ukyo..." said Wilheim, gently.

"You'll stay with me, won't you?" asked Ukyo, and by the way she asked, Wilheim knew she wanted to hear a 'yes'.

"Of course." He said happily.

"Ok..." she said as she turned to face Wilheim. "Good nigh - Oh my God!" she screamed, horrified.

Wilheim immediately jumped to his feet and assumed a guard stance.

"What is it?" he asked quickly, without loosing his cool.

Ukyo got on her knees and raised both hands, signaling Wilheim to calm down.

"No, no, it's just that..." said Ukyo, trying to calm Wilheim down, and then added: "Your face..."

Wilheim raised a hand to touch his face. He didn't feel anything. Then it hit him. He knew what Ukyo meant.

"Oh... that..." he said, in a low voice.

Wilheim's face was paler than usual. The color that his face usually had had now faded into a deep white. Every vein that ran under his skin could be seen clearly. His fangs had doubled their size. And his eyes were shining in a bright, spectral, violet.

Ukyo put both of her hands on her mouth and tried not to gasp. She was a little scared. She had never seen Wilheim in this state.

"...What is it?" she asked, nervously.

Wilheim sighed and turned around, facing away from her.

"It's nothing..." he said, and then added: "I'm fine, don't worry about me."

Ukyo was still not convinced that Wilheim was indeed fine. She was still sitting on her knees and with both hands on her mouth.

"...Was it because you got up so early?" she asked.

"No... I'm fine, go to sleep." Said Wilheim, calmly, but without turning around.

"Is it because of the hour, or something?" she asked, but then she remembered that he had spent most of the night with her, and had never acquired that state. "No... it can't be." She assured herself.

"It's nothing, I'm ok, go to sleep." Insisted Wilheim.

Ukyo's tension dropped and so did her hands, that were know on top of her legs. What could it be? She was very worried, even though Wilheim said it had been nothing. Then she remembered that Wilheim had been with her all evening, and she didn't remember that he had any...

"...Did you feed?" she asked.

Wilheim didn't answer.

"Did you feed? Please answer me." Insisted Ukyo.

Wilheim sighed. Then he shook his head, without saying a word.

That was it. Wilheim hadn't fed, and that's why he looked like that.

"Why didn't you feed?" asked Ukyo. She was now feeling better.

Wilheim took a deep breath and said:

"Because I was with you all the time." He didn't say it like he was blaming Ukyo. He just gave his reason.

"But you must feed..." said Ukyo.

Wilheim shrugged.

"Just because I don't feed on one night, doesn't mean I'll die..." he said, calmly.

"But you're weak... and you need to be strong." Ukyo said.

"I know, but the attack will be tomorrow night. I'll feed tomorrow, I promise." He assured.

"But what if he comes in here?" she asked.

Wilheim began to got worried. He knew he had left the crucifix in the front door, but what if Magnus came in anyway? He sighed and said nothing.

"You need to be strong..." said Ukyo, in a low voice.

Wilheim sat down in the couch he had sat the night before and covered his face with both hands.

"I know, but what can I do?" he said.

Ukyo said nothing for a while. She knew Wilheim couldn't go out, because if he did, Magnus would attack him. And even if Wilheim wasn't attacked, Ukyo would be defenseless if Magnus came for her... there was only one thing that could be done. Ukyo closed her eyes and took a deep breath. And then she said, almost in a whisper:

"...Feed on me..."

Wilheim raised his sight from his hands. The only thing that could be seen of his face were his bright, violet eyes. His hands covered the rest of his face. However, his eyes alone reflected an immense surprise and confusion.

"...What?" he whispered.

Ukyo opened her eyes and looked at Wilheim. She gasped and put a hand on her chest. She didn't expect to see his eyes. They were terrifying. Wilheim didn't change his expression, though. He didn't move at all. She gulped and took another deep breath.

"...Feed on me..." she repeated, raising her voice.

Wilheim raised his whole face from his hands. His mouth was opened in awe, revealing his huge fangs. His face was covered with blue and purple lines. Those lines where his veins, and they pumped again and again as blood quickly ran through them. His eyes shined even more than before.

"...What?" he said again, raising his voice.

Ukyo looked away from Wilheim. His aspect was beginning to scare her. Then she said, trying to calm Wilheim down:

"That way, you'll have some strength, and if--"

"Are you out of your mind?" interrupted Wilheim.

Ukyo closed her eyes as she turned around to face Wilheim then she opened her eyes. Wilheim was now standing up. His hands were turned into tight fists. And his face looked horrible now. His eyes... they reflected the whole room. Ukyo could see herself in his eyes. He was very angry. Ukyo could tell.

"Please, Wilheim..." she began. "You need to feed..." she left her mouth open, waiting for a sound to come out... but silence filled her thoughts. She looked away again and sighed.

Wilheim stood still. He was still mad. How could she ask him this?

"You're asking me to drink your blood. Do you have any idea what that means?" he said harshly.

"That you'll gain some strength..." answered Ukyo, in a low voice, without turning around.

Wilheim tightened his fists and gritted his teeth. His fangs cut through his lips, and blood began to come out of his mouth. He raised a hand and wiped the trail of red liquid. His wound was restored almost immediately. He opened his mouth, ready to scold Ukyo, but no sound came out. He saw that she was very scared. He closed his mouth and his eyes, and let out a long sigh. He was still furious, though.

"No, no, no!" he said, raising his voice even more. He was very close to screaming, but he didn't yell.

Ukyo didn't turn around. Instead, she reached for her covers and began to hold them tightly.

"You have to be strong..." she whispered.

Wilheim shook his head.

"No! I'm not gonna do it!" he said angrily.

"Why not?" asked Ukyo, without raising her voice.

"My God, because it is obvious, Ukyo!" he said.

Ukyo said nothing for a while. Wilheim tried to calm himself down. He took a deep breath and sat on the couch. Ukyo held the covers tightly and raised them to her face.

"You need to be strong. If Magnus comes in, you'll need to fight him." She whispered.

Wilheim said nothing. He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling. He shook his head.

"I'm not gonna do it." He said. This time, he said it calmly.

Ukyo held firmly to her covers.

"You're afraid you might hurt... or kill me?" she asked without raising her voice.

Wilheim sighed again and put his hand on his forehead.

"No." He answered.

"Then, what are you afraid of?" asked Ukyo, without letting go of the covers. She closed her eyes, waiting for an answer.

Wilheim stood silent, thinking of what to answer.

"I just can't do it." He said. His fury was beginning to fade away.

"Why not?" insisted Ukyo. "If you won't hurt me, and you won't kill me... you'll be strong... and besides, I'll be as good as new by tomorrow night." She said.

*She's right...* Wilheim thought.

He took a deep breath and leaned back. His anger had completely disappeared. He was actually thinking about it. He had his doubts, but deep inside he knew it would be for the best... and in his heart, he knew he wanted to do it. And Ukyo wished for it too.

"I don't know..." he said, doubtfully. He was beginning to yield.

Ukyo noticed this and she turned around to face Wilheim. She let go of the covers and clasped her hands together.

"Please..." she said.

Wilheim said nothing for a moment.

"No..." he said finally. However, he didn't convince Ukyo. He didn't even convince himself.

Ukyo got up from the bed and went to Wilheim's side and grabbed his hand. Wilheim turned around to face Ukyo. Her eyes were shinning with fear, concern, and excitement at the same time.

"Please..." she begged.

Wilheim turned around, and stood still for a minute. Then, he bit his lip and turned around to cross sights with Ukyo. He saw her beautiful eyes and sighed. A little smile was formed upon Ukyo's lips. Wilheim smiled as well. He closed his eyes, and did nothing for a few moments. And then, he slowly nodded without saying a word.