Flashing blades struck each other with a heavy ring. They then disappeared as their wielders moved again. Over and over this occurred, faster than any of the observers could could follow. The sight was one of beauty, and not just because of the natural beauty of the women that were engaged.

Utsuki backed off from the fight momentarily to assess her opponent. She wasn't even breathing heavily, barely even seemed like she was concerned. Her carmine eyes were sharp as she examined the stance of the woman before her.

Tomoe Gozen, the most famous of all onna-musha. Typically she was the perfect vision of a Japanese lady. She was beautiful, polite, and elegant. Right now, she was stripped half naked to the waist, bandages covering her breasts, and had a bloodthirsty expression ensconced on her face.

Utsuki watched the woman's tachi, paying attention to where it was held. She watched how the older woman stood, looking for any opening that she could exploit. One strike was all she needed to end this, she just needed the chance. Then it came.

Tomoe charged, trying to bring her sword in an upward sweep. Utsuki dropped to a knee, and fell back, bringing the long blade of Jakkasu up like a spear, plunging through the woman's chest. Halfway down, the tachi disappeared, and blood poured from Tomoe's mouth as a look of shock was plastered on her face.

Utsuki was completely unconcerned as she pushed the body back with her foot. As it collapsed to the ground she got to her feet. She looked down for a moment before reaching down to cover Tomoe with the top of her kimono.

"'SUKI, YOU ARE AWESOME," a young Korean girl was jumping up and down as she screamed.

"Chun-hee, please. Your voice is such a high pitch that it is very painful when you yell right next to someone's ear," Moka had a grimace on her face as she had been sitting next to the girl.

The Korean girl shrunk a little, "Sorry. I don't think that much."

"Yeah, that's apparent. She is right though, you are awesome. You always have been, but since you woke up, you...," a pale skin girl started speaking, but trailed off.

Utsuki went over and hugged the girl, "It's ok Susu, it's ok."

Moka reached over and put her hand on the girl's shoulder, "Asusa, Tekeshi will come back, and Yusa will wake up."

"I know, it's, just not... I don't know how I have been making it without her. We were always together, and we never even gave thought to being separated. Anyways, it doesn't help to dwell on it. I know Dad is trying to find someway to help her, so I need to stay positive. So, should we just wait for Tomoe to get up, or should we leave her here and go find something to eat. Would you mind Yltoun?"

A man in a kimono was sitting in a tree, "Mistress of Tachi sadly takes a good while to wake up from death. I would suggest leaving her to me, I must congratulate you Lovely Doll. That was a beautiful exploitation of her bloodlust. Though I would not recommend making it a common move in your repertoire. Now, I will take her to her room," he said as he rolled off the branch to land on her feet.

"Have a good day Yltoun. Oh, would you remember to tell Dibea that Mr. Kanonaki would like her to give a presentation to his class talking about life in early 1900's central Africa," Moka said as she stood up, slightly unsteady.

"I will do so. I am sure that Awkward Girl would be pleased to," with that he picked up the still form of his mistress and walked into the trees.

Chun-hee screwed her face up, "The whole demon thing is icky. No offense to Dess... uh, Karasu. She is nice, I like her feathers. Where is she by the way?"

Asusa and Utsuki giggled for a moment before the vampire answered, "She, hasn't quite gotten used to being a real woman yet."

"I don't get it. I thought she was a woman," the girl asked confused.

Moka shook her head, "Apparently, she is having a hard time adjusting to menstruation. The last few months of it have been very hard on her. So she has somehow gotten Mizore to literally freeze her bed solid, to try to dull the pain it is causing her. Were she not what she is, I would be afraid that she would freeze to death."

"Yeah, dealing with being on the rag isn't fun. Being a woman is better than being a man in my opinion, but I am jealous they don't have to deal with it. I always end up missing a day of school due to cramps. Damn those Scottish tramps, they act like it isn't any big deal, but I will find out how they do it," the girl frowned as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Drugs. Heating pads. Miso soup. Those are the three things that always help me. Though the heating pad can only be room temperature, otherwise I actually feel worse than the cramps make me feel," Asusa answered.

Utsuki chuckled, "Harumi would say that is what you get for being an ice bitch, Susu."

Laughter filled the clearing as they started walking back to the school. Moka kept touching her stomach as she walked, looking a little like she might throw up at any second.

"Mother, is the baby upsetting your stomach again," Utsuki asked as they walked.

Moka did her best to put on a smile, "Unfortunately. Girls, this is a good reason to put off getting pregnant for as long as you can. It's worth it in the end, but it can be brutal going into it."

"GOD, 'Suki. I know that we have figured out that you and Onii-san are getting married after you graduate, but do you really have to start calling her mother now? It sounds weird. That is coming from a me, who still can't call her that, and she is sort of my mom," Asusa pushed Utsuki in a playful nature.

"I don't mind Asusa. I called Tsukune's mother that from the first time I met her. I hope Tekeshi comes back before the baby comes. I would like him to be there to welcome them."

They chatted idly the rest of the way. When they reached the campus they separated. Utsuki headed to the room she and Karasu shared in the girl's dorm. Reaching the door she was surprised to find it locked.

"Hey, Kari, let me in," she said knocking on the door.

"OOOOOOOHHHHH, just let me die in peace," was the reply.

"Kari, you can't die. Just let me in, I didn't bring my key with me. Why do you have the door locked anyway," Utsuki knocked on the door louder.

Groans came from the room, "The pirate was hiding from her minions, and tried to hide in here. I threw her out, and locked it to keep her out. Plus I have it completely dark in here, and my vision is messed up right now."

Utsuki shook her head as she put her will into unlocking the door. As she opened it she gave a slightly satisfied smile at the screams of pain it elicited from the room's occupant.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH. DAMN YOU. JUST DAMN YOU STRAGHT TO WHEREVER YOU VAMPIRES GO WHEN YOU DIE. WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE LOST THE WITCH OF WAR POWER WHEN WE CHANGED," Karasu screamed from where she was laying naked on her bed, which had fog surrounding it at the feet.

Utsuki closed the door, "I didn't choose to keep it, I just did. Plus it got more powerful with you being whatever this Nephilim thing is. Has Rougar ever said any more on what that is?"

The stricken girl seemed to relax as the room plunged into total darkness, "Rouseals finally said some. Apparently I am, ascended, or something like that. He always thought that it was some kind of demonic legend. I am somewhere between a demon and a human, oooohhhooooohhh, way too close to a human if you ask me. Please tell me this gets less severe as you get used to it."

"Kari, you have known me for almost a year. You know I don't suffer that much from it, I just tend to get crabby. So, I can't tell you that it does, or does not. If Aunt Yukari hadn't gone back to the US to have her baby, I would say that you could ask her for some help."

"'Sukes, if I don't make it, please bang Tekeshi's brains out for me. It is my greatest desire," she said as she suffered.

Utsuki laughed as a giant grin split her face, "I would do that anyways. Not often, but I would." she then winced as she remembered their one night of passion before the battle, and how she had some trouble walking for a few hours afterward.

The darkness wasn't an issue for her as she changed out of the workout clothes. She stripped down to her bare skin and sniffed a few spots. When she was satisfied that she didn't smell, she pulled on a clean pair of panties, and then a camisole. As she tried to get her breasts situated she noticed that it felt tight.

"No, could it," she said quietly.

Tossing it to the side she pulled another one out. Pulling it on she had the same issue. A third confirmed it.

"Kari, my boobs got bigger," Utsuki was almost as happy as she could have been without Tekeshi being there.

"Congratulations, I knew that already. Our bodies are mirrors of each other, and my bras don't fit right anymore. Why are you so damned obsessed with how big your tits are? I'm starting to think it's unhealthy," Karasu said, the last part muffled as she turned over so that she was face down in a pillow.

"We all have our obsessions. You are obsessed with fashion magazines," was the retort.

Karasu raised a hand with a single finger up, "At least my obsession is halfway normal, you sound like a skank."

Utsuki dropped down on the bed and wrapped her arms around the other girl, "Admit Sis, you still love me though."

"Please just let me die. Alone if you don't mind."


Moka walked out to the mausoleum. Mizore hadn't been quite right after they returned from the battle, and it wasn't hard to understand why. One of her twin daughters was in a state of suspended animation, imprisoned within a giant ice crystal that was eternally frozen. Mizore tended to spend much of her time sitting with her frozen child.

Moka finding out she was pregnant hadn't helped things. Yuki-onna had a very short time in their life that they could could conceive, and Yusa and Asusa had come at the very end of her time that she could. This made the two girls, which being twins made them special beyond the fact that they were the only children that Mizore would ever have, so precious to her.

It was strange in a way to now have Mizore as Tsukune's mistress. Of course it had been Moka who had convinced Tsukune to agree to take her as such. Given how hard she had taken Yusa's near death, it may have been what kept her sane. It was also strange that their bed was so full now, and Tsukune seemed a little ragged from it. Moka didn't mind though.

"Tekeshi. I don't know if I could have stopped you, or if I would have even tried if I knew you were going to do this. I understand why, but I wish that you would have waited, but you might not have been able to if you did. I am so proud that you haven't lost your sense of kindness, or of justice. I can't wait for you to come home," even though she knew he couldn't hear him, she still spoke out loud for her own sake.

She looked out over the trees as she walked. Usually she didn't think about it, but right then she wished that they were all green. The sea of dead trees was starting to become distressing to her. Life was what she wanted to see. Trees in full leaf.

"Oh, Moka. How are you doing today," a woman on a set of crutches approached her.

"Ruby, how are you feeling. I remember Galdia said you have had a cold for the last few days," Moka embraced the witch as they reached each other.

"Well enough that I decided to get some exercise. I can't wait until these things are gone. I wouldn't mind having my wheelchair back some, but any time I head for it, there is Amethyst. I honestly don't know how she does it, and I don't have the heart to tell her no. I need to start though, otherwise she will never grow up. It's just," Ruby trailed off as the hug ended.

Moka nodded, "I can understand. With what she experienced since she was born, how do you do so without making yourself feel guilty. She has been good for Mizore though. I know that she misses teaching at a regular school, but Amethyst gives her something to look forward to in the mornings. Is she over there?"

The other woman shook her head, "Not right now. She actually took Amethyst to see Tsukune's parents. She thought that it wouldn't hurt her to be exposed to humans, and anyone else, I would have told her no. Tsukune also went with them, I promised to let you know if I saw you, if he didn't get the chance. So, who won today?"

"Utsuki. I don't understand it myself, but she is a much better swordswoman, than Tekeshi has ever been a swordsman. I know that she was disappointed that we missed him when we picked up Miss Ortega, but her spirits are staying high. I'm glad to hear that Mizore is willing to leave the school. This is the first time since she came to be with us, and she started sitting with Yusa," Moka looked down at the ground.

"I was surprised by that, but I think it is good for her. She said that she found out when she talked to some of the other teachers when she was getting ready to leave, that the guy she was seeing was also seeing three other women at the same time. So, yeah, like all of us think, Tsukune is best. At the least he isn't hiding it, or doing it without permission. I haven't had the time to interact with Miss Ortega much yet. I need to, to finish out her paperwork. Her former school hasn't been too much of an issue, but I cannot get her parents to spend more than ten seconds on the phone to get the information out of them that I need. Do you think that you and Tsukune could pay them a visit," Ruby asked, having to catch herself a little as a small stick rolled out from under one of her crutches.

"Careful. I will ask him when I get a chance this evening. Heavy and Harumi are looking out for her right now. I can't believe these words are going to come out of my mouth, but I am so thankful for the Mongrels being here."

"I have only known them since I was rescued, but I like them. They keep things interesting. They also have done a lot to help ease the school into being mixed human and yokai. Tekeshi is really good at choosing his friends. Even if it doesn't seem like it. I think that Machiko has a major crush on Heavy, don't you," Ruby chuckled.

"Think? Have you seen the amount of sexual harassment she directs towards him in particular, and how he lets her literally hang off his shoulders? They are married by the time she hits twenty. I stake my favorite stilettos on it," Moka crossed her arms and puffed her chest out proudly.

Ruby chuckled again, "You know, you are the only woman I know that would stake a pair of hooker boots on someones love life."