Confusion filled the halls of the base. Fires were everywhere, blanketing the walls and creating their own cutting off other passages. Kiria was not happy with this situation, and wanted to know what had caused this, and for his underlings to bring it under control.

Grabbing a woman by the shoulder he demanded, "What is going on here? Fires do not start on their own, and I want to know what caused them. Did someone attack us, or has there been a maintenance issue?"

The woman didn't bother answering, she just managed to break free and run in the direction that had the least amount of smoke. Kiria wasn't concerned about her at this point. The worst of the flames were in that direction, the heat making the air so dry that the ash and dust that made up smoke couldn't bind together.

He continued walking forward. Anger surged as hot as the flames around him. The only positive of this was the fact that the fire was only present in the residential areas, so nothing very important would be lost. It was going to be expensive to repair everything and prepare it for the replacements that would be needed, however. Regardless, he wanted to know what the cause was.

He reached a line of men that had pulled fire hoses over to battle the flames. Others had extinguishers dealing with smaller fires and were also pulling people free of the debris to get them to first aid.

"Could anyone tell me just what is going on. Are we under attack? Is this sabotage? What is happening," he asked out loud.

He saw the banshee break lose from where she was giving orders and came over to him, "It appears that my commanding officer that was supposed to be mentally fixed, just literally went supernova."

Kiria looked at the girl for a second as this processed, "He went supernova?"

"He went supernova," she repeated.

"He went, supernova? Like, he exploded," this was more confusing than he had expected.

"Yes, Mr. Yoshii. I went to go take him some reports, and his door shot off the hinges. There was a jet of fire. Then he walked out all foxy, and on fire. He has just been walking around, everything dangling out, and setting the walls on fire," she was starting to feel annoyed with the questions, and not just a little concerned at how little progress they were making putting the fires out.

"Ms. Cauley, did you happen to count his tails?"

Lizzie just looked at him like he had grown a second head, "Count his tails? I don't know, eight with the one out front. Why does that matter, I am more worried about becoming crème bru le right now. If I get out of this alive, I am going to need therapy because of a flaming dick. What the hell are your priorities?"

"Has anyone signaled for the fire mains to have the purge valves opened to flood the floors," he asked as he got on the radio to ask the control to do just that, leaving the girl with an incredulous look on her face.

He continued walking, much less angry than before. This had become much more interesting now. Kuyo had become reclusive since he had been healed, and had given nobody but Ms. Cauly leave to enter his rooms, and only if necessary. Something quite interesting must have happened for him to suddenly burst into flames like that, something quite interesting.

As he finally found him, he called out, "Kuyo, is there a reason you have turned my base into a hellscape."

"I finally realized why, I couldn't gain more power. Age isn't the issue, it is understanding. Wisdom is said to be gained with age, and with age and wisdom we gain more tails. Why though? If wisdom is the trigger, couldn't study and meditation break through to find the truth? I have done that now," the formerly hunched form of the yoko stood.

Kiria raised an eye at what he was seeing. Kuyo had always been extremely attractive, but now, he looked like he was truly perfect. Nine, well ten if you went by the girl's standards, tails flared out behind him. This was, incredible. The amount of power that he held now, was so overpowering, that there was a distinct amount of danger posed to everyone there. The question that remained, was whether he was still loyal to Fairy Tale.

"Kuyo, I have to know, are you still with us? Or have you decided that you no longer need us," Kiria was trying to be his most diplomatic.

"I gave my word, ascension does not override that. Until we have achieved our goals, I remain subservient to you. However, after that, I no longer owe you anything, and I will take my proper place among the gods," the fox said as his tails began to recede, and he took on human form once again.

Kiria nodded, and looking slightly down spoke again, "Now, while this isn't the most displeasing sight, it would be appreciated if you would put on some pants. Ms. Cauley is already claiming that she is traumatized by, what you have to work with."

Tekeshi looked at all the people that were in the room. His family, the Witches of War, Utsuki and Deesseedra, and many representatives from the other groups that had agreed to stand against Fairy Tale. He found all of this concerning. Armies, battles, and the potential for widescale death.

"I thank everyone for attending. I know that the purpose, is not the most pleasant, but it is necessary. All of us here know the threat that Fairy Tale poses. Many of us here were even among those responsible for hiding us again after the year following the first defeat we handed them. We remember the death and hatred that followed. Many of us have devoted our lives to coexistance. To ending the need to hide what we are, to ending the conflicts that arise from that. I know that there has not been a full army of so many races ever before. Now is the time though," Tsukune stood on the stage before them, his voice projecting better than a microphone could have done.

'So, I guess since you are here, you are expected to fight. So, why is the girl and the demon here,' Jakkasu asked him.

'She refused to be left out. I am hoping that I can convince her to stay out of the actual battle. That said, I don't think they would leave her alone if they win, not with her being attached to my family like she is now, so she has as much right to be here as anyone,' he replied to the blade.

'I suppose you are right. Is it really right for them to put children on the frontlines of this war? I mean, I know that history is full of child soldiers, but I was never a big fan of that,' the blade almost sounded, sad.

'Things are different with yokai. I know that some don't have their children fight, but vampires for sure expect it. All the girls are going to be on the lines. I don't look forward to this. It isn't up to me though. I am really surprised that Aunt Kurumu isn't refusing to let Harumi fight,' he tightened his grip on the saya as he thought to the weapon.

"Tekeshi, could you hold my hand. I, don't feel as confident about this as I did earlier," he looked over to Utsuki and took her hand without any questions.

His father continued, "We found the Valley of the Dragons in the Caucus Mountains. As of yet, we don't know what to expect. In three days we will convene there in camp, I think that is how that works. We will form our battle plan there when we know what is going on. I will say who is going to be acting in command. First, I will be in overall command. Leading the vampire forces will be my wife, Aono Moka," he gestured to her.

He gestured to Kurumu, "Kurono Kurumu will be in charge of the aerial forces."

Then to Mizore' mother, "Shirayuki Tsurara will be in charge of the infantry forces."

Then the most unexpected, "My son Aono Tekeshi will be in charge of special groups."

Tekeshi stood, "What?"

"You have experience attacking with small numbers of individuals. As of right now, you and Harumi are the only ones to have cleared out a Fairy Tale base in years. You have earned this. We will talk about further after we convene here," Tsukune left no room for argument then.

As he sat back down, Utsuki turned back to him, "Are you ok?"

"No, I am not. I am no commander. I am a living wrecking ball that is best pointed at something, and then the path cleared. I never even ordered the Mongrels around, we just all knew what to do, when we had something that needed to be done. I don't want this, but I don't think there is a way I can get out of it," the look on his face was one of, well there was a lot of emotions that were flashing on his face.

"I will be there with you. I have no clue what I am going to do, but if recent history is anything to go by, I will do something," in spite of himself, he couldn't help but join the girl as she smiled at the statement.

"I guess you will. I wish I could convince you to stay off the front lines," he reached over and took her hand again.

"I don't know yet. I want to be right next to you, but I don't know if I am going to have it in me to be in the thick of things. There may be something that I can do in the background. I know they aren't going to be able to stop you though. With you, and your parents, I don't think they have a chance," he could tell that Utsuki was just trying her best to stay positive.

He took a deep breath. Even being a vampire, he didn't want to be involved in this fight. If it wasn't that he was the only son of the most powerful vampire house, he wouldn't have to.

The meeting continued, and eventually it was only him, Utsuki, and his parents left in the room. He didn't have much to say as they walked up to them and sat down in front of him.

"Tekeshi, I know that you may be having misgivings about this, but I wouldn't have given you this responsibility if I didn't think you could handle it. You have proven yourself time and time again," his father said after a few moments.

"You couldn't have said anything to me about it before dropping it on me like a bomb," he couldn't even look at the man in the face.

"Kodomo, we, talked about whether we should talk to you about it. There isn't anyone better suited, and we knew that if you were given any kind of a chance, you wouldn't take it," his mother replied to him.

"You are damn right I wouldn't have. I am not a commander. I am teenager with a sword. If you think the fact I have killed people hasn't bothered me, then you would be wrong. I wasn't raised like you, or your sisters mom. You raised me to respect life, and I have done my best. I don't like the killing, and I know that not only will the blood of enemies be on me, but anyone I am leading that dies," he had to close his eyes as he spoke.

"Tekeshi, I am going to be honest. I am scared beyond anything I have ever been in my life. Even attending this school as a human, I was never this afraid. I had your mother, and your aunts. They never let any harm to me go unpunished, but I couldn't do anything to help them. I couldn't fight then. Then things changed. I first became a ghoul, I underwent a procedure that gave me the ability to use magic, that should have killed me. I refused to let myself be afraid when I could do something to help them. We don't talk about it, but I awoke as what I am. A full shinso, saving your mother. We awoke at the same time. We wore Alucard, one of the oldest shinso alive, down until your grandmother was able to unleash herself enough that she was able to end everything peacefully. At that point, I refused to ever stand aside and let anyone fight for me. Only to fight with me. You aren't going to be out there alone. I plan for your cousins, a few of the outliers, and the witches of war to all be under your command. I am not going to throw you to the wolves," Tsukune reached over to put his hand on his son's shoulder.

The gesture, though simple, seemed to help the boy relax. It was still intimidating though. As soon as it fully processed he lost all that relaxation. He had the lives of some of the most precious people to him in his hands.

"You have to be joking. You are putting the girls under my command? What does the special groups even mean? What are we even going to be doing," He suddenly barked, his breathing winding up.

"Tekeshi, calm down. You aren't going to be on the front lines. We will hash it out in more detail later, but for the most part you will be doing reconnaissance and precision strikes. You aren't going to be fully committed unless things go horribly wrong. I am not that cruel, I am not that heartless. I don't want to lose you more than anyone out there. Utsuki is going right there with you, so you know I am not going to throw any of you away," Tsukune was starting to realize just how much he had put on his son right then.

"'Ey, if the Boss is going into something like that, he is going to need us," a deep, accented voice said from the doorway.

"Yeah, man. Tek-man needs the Mongrels if he is about to hand out a major beatdown," the next voice was less accented.

"Let us at whitevur he is aff tae be pointed at," two Scottish voices rang out in tandem.

"We are ready and willing for any fight as long as we are standing at your side," a well spoken boy said.

"Heads to roll, heads to roll, so many heads to roll," that ruined it.

Tsukune and Moka turned to look at the six humans, "What?"

Heavy stepped forward, "You said this Fairy Tale thing wants to put humans in chains and on the menu, so we sure as hell want to stand next to the Boss if something is going down. We don't care what he is, never have. If he is going to be fighting, we are sure as hell not going to let him go into this without us. Our hands aren't clean, so don't worry about that."

"This isn't a game. This isn't some skirmish against some two bit punk who can't hold a gun straight. This is a full on battle to the death. We have some of our dearest friends who will be fighting, and we are scared to death they won't come back. Do you want him to have to feel the same," Moka wasn't that impressed with the words.

"Look lady, if you think we was dealing with the punks, then you have something wrong with you. They sent the real deals after us, they just weren't prepared for how out there we did things. Tek there, he the real deal. He lead us right, and he kept us all alive when we shouldn't have been. So man, stop acting like a baby, and start acting like the damned Hammer of Phoenix. Sounds like there are some assholes that need the fear of god put in up their ass," three people just looked at Akoni, not really believing what they had just heard.

"Tis true Tek. You need tae mind whit ye hae dane, 'n' whit we are willing tae dae next tae ye. If this is a war, then thare is na better tae hae next tae ye than scots," Lorelei walked up to him, and knelt down to look him in the eyes.

Tekeshi didn't speak for several minutes, "Damn all of you. Damn you having to be right. I guess it would be stupid to go to war without my most trusted followers at my side. Dad, they do have a right to be here. Like they pointed out, they would either end up livestock, or with livestock's fate if Fairy Tale wins. I want them with me, if I have to do this. May god have mercy on my soul."