The council tent was a hub of activity. Clerks, secretaries, and scouts moved around in the background. The big table showing a map of the area was surrounded by the commanders and their lieutenants. It was the start of the home stretch going into the coming fight, and nobody seemed to be at ease with the situation.

"I know that many of us have misgivings, and aren't sure of our ability to fight at this scale. I don't think that a battle like this has been waged since the end of the Napoleonic era. The odds have been tipped in our favor somewhat though. Two nights ago, Tekeshi and two others were able to infiltrate Fairy Tale's camp, and destroy their ammunition supply. Most likely it wasn't a complete elimination, but the fewer bullets they have to send our way, is fewer deaths that we can look forward to.

I won't lie to you though, that doesn't make much difference. While it does appear that the mass detonation, and the spray of shrapnel from said detonation, devastated over four thousand of their soldiers, that was less than two percent of their total forces. We only have about thirty five percent of their total numbers right now," Tsukune paused his speech there to let that sink in.

He took the time to observe everyone's face. Tusrara was unreadable, which wasn't a surprise. Kurumu looked, Tsukune wasn't quite sure how to describe that look. Moka and Tekeshi both had their faces set in calm, but telling, frowns. He looked at Mizore as she stood next to her mother, and he could read her a little easier, and knew how troubled she was. He didn't know the woman standing next to Kurumu. Akua stood next to Moka, and had the same expression as the rest of her family. Tomoe, looked excited, as she stood next to Tekeshi.

"Our greatest advantage, is that per person, we are stronger. Most of them are monstrels, while our forces are mostly pure blood. We don't have much more than that. Fairy Tale isn't known for being the best as far as fighting, but they are using guns, which can be an equalizer."

Tsurara spoke up, "The Yuki-onna, and several others of our forces will be as well, and our supplies have not become fireworks. The more human types of yokai have had to adapt and advance alongside the humans, at least the ones that live outside the barriers. I already have a plan for how to deploy them for the best effect as harriers to whittle away at their flanks."

"Good, any kind of a plan right now, is a net positive. Tekeshi, you said something about them possibly trying to use psychological warfare against us," Tsukune turned to his son.

The younger vampire nodded, "Their apparent leader, I believe he said his name was Kaneshiro Hokuto, tried to get us to consider some kind of proposal where we let them do their thing, and you and Mom would rule the world. I guess they were thinking it would sow doubt in the moral position you hold, but, I think he has been smoking something that would be a gold mine in Colorado."

Tsukune looked at his son, confused at the last part of that statement, "Right, Hokuto has not been the same since he woke up from a coma a few years after the last time I encountered him. I have started to doubt that he is really in charge, rather that he is a, functional figurehead. Kurumu, have your people had much luck in locating a good location to begin our attack?"

"Possibly," the succubus started as she pointed at a spot that was noted as an ancient village, "This village is about halfway between the camps. From what we can tell, Fairy Tale will still take several days to reorganize to where they could start any kind of an offensive. They are making patrols near this village, so it has some importance to them. Why? I can't figure it out, nor can anyone else who has surveyed it."

Tekeshi looked at the map, "Vampiris."

"What was that," Tsukune asked his son.

"I don't know how, but I know the name of that village. Vampiris. Mom, I think me and you should go survey it ourselves," the young vampire looked hard at the map.

"If it is, I agree. Tsukune, I will explain after, but this may have some, I can't really explain it. Just trust us," Moka agreed with her son.

"Granted. Moka, what are we looking at as far as the Vampire forces we have available?"

Moka took a deep breath, "Not as great as I would have liked. Aside from Shuzen forces, we have maybe seven hundred from other houses. With, seven hundred and fifty. Potent, but I worry about how many they may have been able to gather together. I know that there are several European houses that support their ideas. I think the strongest all supported us, but I don't know all the families, so I can't guarantee it."

"That isn't as reassuring as I would have liked it to be. I know it won't be the most popular role for them, but I want your forces to be mobile reserves. Where the fighting gets heaviest, I want them to intervene to turn the tides," Tsukune sighed as he turned his attention to his son.

"I already sent out recon parties. Their supply situation isn't as great as ours. They have a larger logistics corps, around the size of our total forces, but it appears they don't have as good a handle on what is needed to supply a fighting force. Weapons seemed to be their biggest focus, followed by food. Very little in the way of medical supply. They seem to be less mechanized as well, which I have to wonder how they were able to bring in that volume of munitions under those conditions. I already gave the order to some of the more, disruptive, of my forces to, help limit their abilities to operate their logistics train," Tekeshi didn't have to be told to give his report.

"If your people can bring down their numbers even more, I won't cry. In my considerations on how to use your division, recon and sabotages seems like the best. I want you to be so much of a pain in their side, that every time one of them goes to the bathroom, they have to check to make sure they aren't going to join any space programs. Do not get engaged in any kind of prolonged fight, if possible, I don't even want them to know you passed them a tissue when they sneeze. Otherwise, your people are given free reign to destroy, steal, abduct, and whatever else you can think of to weaken them," Tsukune knew that he was likely to come to regret this.

"Dad, my birthday was months ago. Trust me, I think my people are going to make the rest of the army look like a cub scout troop," Tekeshi started smiling.

"What is a cub scout," the older vampire took the wind out of his child's sails with that question.

"It's... you know what, nevermind. I'm just going to go be an asshole," Tekeshi really didn't see the explanation as worth it given the circumstances.

Tsukune looked down at the map again, "I want to say this now, in case we don't get to see each other again, after the fight starts. This may spell the end of one of our groups, and if it is us, then maybe the world. No matter how strong yokai are, we will never match humans. We cannot, absolutely cannot, afford to lose here. We can't take time to mourn those who fall, until we know victory is assured, but we cannot afford to lose what little bit of, ironically, humanity we possess. I wish all of you the best, and pray to all deities, that all of you return."

Utsuki was nervous as the maids helped her pick out, and dress for what she was planning to do. She wanted to do it though, and hoped that Tekeshi would accept it. It terrified her a little, both on what it would mean, and how she would take it if he rejected her.

The kimono she wore now, wasn't stunning, or flashy. It was really, subdued. She liked it though, thinking that the light gray color suited her skin very well. She hoped that Tekeshi would, she hoped that there was a lot that he would like that night.

She could feel him out past the bounds of the camp. It didn't surprise her. It wasn't uncommon for him to disappear when he had something on his mind. An impending battle definitely would give a person a lot to have on their mind. Given her plans, this also meant they would have more privacy.

"Are you sure about this, it is something that you can't come back from, once done," Deesseedra formed next to her as she passed a truck that had been unloaded and left in place.

"I am. I am surprised you are acting like you aren't in favor of this," Utsuki replied, butterflies threatening to make her change her mind.

The demon looked at the ground, "Lovely Mistress, you are like a sister to me now, as well as I can understand that. There isn't anyone that means as much to me as you do, and I am still coming to terms with all of that. I don't want you to be hurt, and I don't want you to hate yourself for your own decisions. I don't want you to do anything rash, because you are scared of what you might miss, because of what is coming. Are you absolutely sure, that you want to do this?"

Utsuki looked up at the night sky. It was different to the sky she had lived under in Tokyo, and at Yokai Academy. It was, more beautiful. There weren't any lights to hide the stars, so she could see all of the constellations that were visible.

"Deesseedra, I have been thinking about this since we got back to our camp a few days ago. I love him so much. He has given me more to live for, than I ever thought I would ever have. Yes, this is what I really want."

"Then I won't try to stop you," she said as she stepped over and took Utsuki in a firm hug, "I... I... You can do this Deeddeors, you can do this. Lovely Mistress, I love you, and I will support your decision. As long as it is truly what you want, I will not stop you. I wish you nothing but happiness," she let go and stepped back, tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

"Thank you. I love you too, and I can't tell you how much it means to me for you to say that. I will see you later, find something to have fun with for tonight. You deserve it," Utsuki smiled at the other woman.

Deesseedra reached up to wipe her eyes, "I will see what I can do. Go get him."

Utsuki watched the demon walk into the sea of tents. She hadn't known how much hearing Deesseedra say what she had, would make her feel so happy. It made her feel even more justified in her decision of what she was doing that night. She took a deep breath of the night air and continued to walk toward her destination.

She marveled at how many people were active at this time of night. She could hear sounds of arguing, merry making, and other less publicly acceptable activities. She could see people standing guard at checkpoints leading to more sensitive areas, and scouts leaving on assignments in the direction of Fairy Tale's lines. She never would have imagined that she would ever be in such a place in her life.

Soon the tents began to thin out. The desolate environment was more like the grounds of the school than she would have expected. As she walked it amazed her how little vegetation there was, and what did appear was short and scrubby. It had it's own beauty in a way. Almost like it was a survivor of some former war, and it had refused to die.

Rocks jutted out from the ground, and occasionally she saw something that seemed to have been made by ancient peoples. It made her wonder why there wasn't anyone that lived in that valley. It hadn't been that difficult to get into it, and with a little work the soil could have been made productive for crops. Maybe there had been something that happened, and the memories of the land kept people away.

The air was cool enough to make her question her decision to do this again. If she looked she could notice a small amount of mist coming from her breath. She was committed to this now, and she would not change her mind, and turn back.

Soon she came to the shore of a lake. She felt Tekeshi off to one side of her, still not in sight. It was beautiful to look out over the water, but there weren't any birds or other animals drinking or fishing. The stillness bothered her, made her feel as if they really shouldn't have been there. But they were there, and she hoped they would still be there at the end of things.

She turned and walked in the direction she could feel her boyfriend. It still didn't fully feel real, but she wouldn't change anything. He was the most important man in her life, and she wanted him to remain that, until she no longer lived.

When she came upon him, it was with his back to her. Even with the cooler temperature, he was sitting there without a shirt on doing something. She could see his sword rested against the fallen tree he had chosen as a seat. As she watched she saw him set a small box like thing off to one side.

"Tekeshi," she called his name as she approached him.

He looked over his shoulder at her, "Hey 'Suki, what are you doing out here?"

"I wanted to see you, and you weren't in camp," she wasn't fully ready for what she wanted to do.

"Is my face that addictive? I should go into show business. How are you holding up, knowing what is coming," he turned back to what he was doing as she walked around and sat next to him.

She looked down at what he was doing. He was loading magazines for a pistol. It seemed like it was mechanical for him, something that he was just doing. She didn't have to have any special connection to him, to know that he was really troubled.

"I'm, ok. I'm scared, but, I guess if I wasn't, it would mean I didn't know what was coming."

"I'm scared too. I really wish you would reconsider being on the field. I know you made your mind up, but I still don't want to think of losing you," he pushed another cartridge in the magazine he had in his hand.

"I know. I know that you wouldn't be afraid if it wasn't for me, I wish I could help you not feel like that," Utsuki replied.

"'Suki, I would still be afraid. Yusa, Asusa, and Harumi will all be there with us. The Mongrels. My aunts. My parents. I have so many people that I am worried about losing. I know that I seem unbeatable at times, but just because my body will last under anything, doesn't meant my mind and my heart will. 'Suki, I have never been as terrified as this, even when I thought that Aunt Ruby wouldn't survive when me and Harumi rescued her," he had to stop as he went to press another cartridge into place.

"Do you think everything will be over, at the end," she asked, playing with the sleeve of her garment.

Tekeshi looked up at the sky, "I don't know. I doubt that all of their forces are here. They have always had a larger number of personnel according to my old man. Hell, this is the first time that there has ever been any kind of unified force against them. We don't even have half of what they do. I'm not a soldier, never have been, never really wanted to be. I was punk, a thug, and who knows what else I might qualify as. I lead a street gang against humans, to protect people. I did bad things, and I regret them. Things that terrify people when they find out about them. Things that other vampires would look at, and just say, sounds like a Wednesday night."

"So, vampires are that bad?"

"I guess. I wasn't necessarily raised by a vampire, or to really be vampiric. My parents taught me that humans are our equals, and should never be looked at as anything else. Aunt Yukari never treated me like I was above her, even though I have always been more powerful than her. I, don't really know if I am more powerful than Uncle Fang-fang. My friends have always been humans. Yet, at times, I get these flashes of just, arrogance I think is the best way to describe it. Utsuki, I, told Aunt Ruby about this, but I don't want to tell my parents. I think that you should hear it, so you know who I am," Tekeshi turned to look her in the eyes.

Utsuki nodded, "Whenever you are ready."

"About a year before we met, a couple of girls in my class back in the states were kidnapped. They were, both Yavapai Indians. The guy who did it was the head of some kind of human trafficking ring. They were going to sell them to a cartel to ship them somewhere as prostitutes. Chunie saw them get snatched, and we did what we do. We intervened. We killed everyone that was working under the bastard. He was some Chinese dude, maybe not even in the states legally. We didn't kill him. We took him out into the Sonoran Desert, and dug a eight foot hole. We forced him into a wooden crate and gave him two items. A flashlight, and a M67 fragmentation grenade. We buried him alive in the desert, and I don't know how he died. That is who I am. I never lost sleep because of him, but I have because I, was cruel enough to do that, for my own satisfaction."

It took a second for what he told her to sink in. In a way, it made her scared of him, of the fact that he was capable of doing such. It also made her realize that he would go to any length to protect others. Maybe the act hadn't been right, or even deserved to that degree, but that man would never abduct anyone else.

"Tekeshi, it was cruel, and undeserved. It doesn't change how I feel about you. You didn't just go hunting for a person to do it to. He had hurt people, and how many would he have hurt if you hadn't of done that? I know that vampires aren't, the best of people. Aunt Akua, talked with me on that at one point, and I was there when Aunt Yukari first told everyone about what you did. Maybe I wasn't fully prepared for hearing this, but I still love you despite it," she never let her eyes leave his.

Tekeshi took a deep breath, but never blinked, "I love you 'Suki, and, I don't deserve to have someone as good as you. I will always treasure you, more than I treasure my own life."

"Tekeshi, I...," she stood up and walked a few steps, "I, want to give you something, that I can never give anyone else. That can only be given once."

"'Suki?"

She took a deep breath. This was now or never, and there would never come a better time, or place for it. Butterflies continued, well actually it was starting to feel like a swarm of hornets in her stomach. She either had to do this now, or she might never have the courage to do it.

With shaking hands she took hold of the obi holding her kimono, "I want to give you myself. My body, and my soul. The most precious and secret parts of myself," she pulled, and let the garment slide off her body.

She turned back to Tekeshi. He was awestruck by the sight before him, and he couldn't speak. The cool air made goose bumps rise on her skin, and a slight breeze tickled parts that were typically hidden from view by her clothes. She almost couldn't believe that she now stood bare before him, on the shore of a still lake in moonlight.

For minutes neither moved, nor spoke. This wasn't the kind of situation that teenagers typically enjoyed each other for the time. This was the eve of death and suffering. Yet in that moment, none of that mattered to them. Only each other existed.

Tekeshi finally stood and walked over to her, "'Suki, are you absolutely sure about this?"

"I am. Now that I am here, I have never been as sure about anything in my life," her voice only wavered with the cold air.

"I don't, really know what to do."

"Neither do I. I guess we both are just going to have to learn as we go."

"You can't go back once we start, neither of us can. I want you to be so sure, that if you didn't do this, the world would simply cease to exist."

Utsuki put her hands on his cheeks, and stood on tip toes to kiss him, "How do you know, that this isn't what keeps the world alive for another night?"

Their lips met, and nothing more could be argued. There wasn't anything else to be said. There were no other actions to take. They simply belonged to each other, and shared their most valued treasures, with the person they most loved.

Not too far away, Deesseedra lay in the y of a dead tree. She could feel what was happening to the other half of her soul. It made her feel split. She was happy for her Lovely Mistress, but at the same time, there was something else. Something that felt like it was tearing her heart in two. She couldn't explain it, she didn't know how. All she knew, is that one face was coming to mind as this feeling overcame her.

"Delicious Bloodsucker, what is this feeling that you are making me feel?"