This is my third attempt at writing a fan-fiction in the past two years, after reading several hundred different fan-fictions, writing countless other stories, role-plays and what have you, but possibly the only 'published' work you'll find on the interenet by me. And I'm not sure if this is a one-shot or not. It would depend on the feedback of anyone who cares. But anyway, here it is... I've wanted to do something about Hellsing for a long time. Characters may be... slightly... out of character. Well, tough, I do my best, as proffesionally as I can and this is my own take on Hellsing anyway (yay, artistic liscense!).

Hellsing is not owned by me. Blah blah. You know that. I know that. We all know that. But everyone has to say it. Kohta Hirano. Blah blah. Copyright. Blah blah. Here we go.

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Hellsing: A Stirring in the Blood - Chp. 1

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Integra glared intently before her, at herself, in the mirror as she combed her hair, in the process of getting ready for the long, drawn out and boring round table discussion that would involve the other knights trying to fault the Hellsing organization with something they were not responsible for, and -still- trying to remove her as head of the organization, even after all these years. Would the old men ever learn?!

'No.' came the reply she was thinking, but not in her own thoughts. A set of red eyes replaced hers in the mirror. She glared at them, they glared back.

"Alucard, that is not funny. Cut that out." she turned away from the mirror and continued to comb her hair. He chuckled, stepping fully into the room, adorned in his usual fashion.

"You look rather charming with my eyes, Master." oh the wry way he always used that word. It infuriated her sometimes, but she wouldn't let it get to her today. She was frustrated enough.

"What is it?" she turned back to the mirror, ignoring him, "Obviously you have something to say, or you wouldn't be bothering me in the middle of the afternoon." she set the comb down on the bureau, satisfied with her appearance. And happy that her eyes were still the same ice blue that they always were. The vampire had been a pain lately, and she didn't know why. But he had been very insistent, even more-so than usual, about... about... she didn't even want to think about it, it was so obscene.

"Is it so, Master? And what is so obscene about that?" wry tone and a wry grin to match from her vampire servant. Damn his telepathy. Although he innocently told her once before that he didn't stroll through her thoughts, she knew it otherwise. And today, he was giving her no privacy at all.

"Since you're so inclined to read my thoughts, Alucard, I assume you already know." she half turned to glare at him.

"Yes, but I want to hear it from you." his expression became rather coy. Why did he pick today, and this time, of all times, to bother her? Why not after the meeting? Or a day less hectic, if there ever came a day.

"Well, contrary to your ability, I cannot read your mind, so you best tell me what's on it." she began to pull on her gloves and make some last minute adjustments to her collar before she'd leave the room.

"You." ah, he was a PAIN.

"I don't have time for this." she walked past him quickly, trying to hide the embarrassment and frustration on her face, as in these situations, it only seemed to make him worse.

"I have all the time in the world." he called as she left the room.

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The meeting went on as boring and trivial as Integra has presumed. It was mostly about funding and planning for things to come, and discussion about their heirs. Integra had the benefit of being the youngest at the table, the knights on the other hand, were growing old, if not senile as she sometimes presumed. But she too would grow old, some day. And who would run Hellsing then? She frowned into her hands, only half listening to the knights bicker on and on and on...

More, she began to think about Alucard, and what to do with him. She had to find some way to placate the monster. Send him away on another mission that could easily be done by the soldiers? He would indulge her, but he probably wouldn't enjoy it, and it wasn't away forever. And besides, she didn't want him away, she needed him. She wouldn't be here today, in this position, without his guidance and taunting. She owed her life to him, and yet, she gave him no slack at all. Cold, Integra, very cold.

She grimaced, pulling a cigar out of her pocket, and lighting up, puffing out a long trail of smoke. Today was more stressful than usual, she had more on her mind than she knew what to do with and on top of that, loads more of paperwork to take care of after this meeting was finished. And it would not be simple to take care of with the vampire lurking over her shoulder or hiding in a corner. So, what to do?

"Integra, what do you think?" Sir Islands called a little louder, for the second time, snapping back to attention on the meeting. She had no idea what they were talking about. She frowned down at her hands, trying not to look like a complete fool, running bits of the conversation she had managed to catch over in her head, piecing them together to form a suitable answer.

"I think it's best left for the Queen to decide." she took a shot in the dark, there, hoping that would satisfy them, vague though it was. She had been quiet this entire meeting for once.

"Perhaps. Maybe that would be for the best." he seemed satisfied. She sighed inwardly, that was rather unprofessional, letting all of this weigh so heavily on her mind when she ought to pay more attention to the matter at hand. But the meeting was almost over and most of the important things had already been settled. And yet she could not get her mind off Alucard.

"You've been rather quiet, Integra. Something amiss?"

Integra shook her head slowly, sitting up in her chair, glancing over the papers and files in front of her, skimming its contents.

"Just worried for tomorrow, Sir Islands. That is all."

"Aren't we all."

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The meeting was over, most of the paperwork had been filed, and she had left Walter a small, tidy stack to take care of in the morning. Her sixth or seventh cigar for the day was half finished and barely smoking as she decided to take a calming stroll down the hallway to mull things over some more. She settled on a decision that she thought might settle on both their accounts, although she wasn't sure how long she could keep it up, or even how far to let it go. Her thoughts were disrupted as the Police girl came running down the hallway screaming about something... Captain Bernadette? Again...

"Seras Victoria!" Integra yelled, stopping the girl in her tracks, "What is the matter now?"

"That... that Pip Bernadette! He is so RUDE." she stomped her foot like an angry little child, clenching her fists. Integra sighed, wondering why Alucard brought her home in the first place. He'd never seem to have found a suitable answer. None the less, most of the time she had the right attitude as a soldier, and was a suitable squad leader. But if only she could accept that she was now a vampire. Even though, sometimes, she would partake in blood, she was still as sad as a starved puppy. It frustrated her to no end, and sometimes, she just wished she could drive the idea into her head; you're dead, get over it.

"This is my house, and I beseech you, please, try to keep quiet. Yelling echoes down these hallways and every time you and the Captain have a spat, everyone can hear it. So, would you kindly?" Shut up; Integra thought to herself. She was too cultured to say it out loud, but she was sure the girl was bright enough to read it in her eyes. Either way, she flinched away in embarrassment and perhaps fear. Integra held back a smile, that was something that Alucard would do, and she refused to be that cruel to the girl.

"Yes Sir, sorry Sir." she stood back up straight, "But could you please do something about Pip's behavior?!" she looked on the verge of tears. A child vampire, who ever heard of such a thing?

"I'll see to it, but I don't promise he'll change. You'll just have to learn to get along. Back to your duties, Victoria." Integra stated. But not until tomorrow; that situation could wait for another time.

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Integra resumed her walk down the hallway, still lost in thought. Although her cigar had long been useless, she removed it now from her mouth and disposed of it in a planter as she walked by, then stopped by one of the larger windows, noticing the sunset. It had been such a long time since she stopped to admire the colors of the sky, it was so much prettier than she remembered. It was easy to forget the little things like this sometimes, under all this stress. Perhaps that's why Alucard kept pressing... hoping she would buckle... but he should know her better. He was the reason why she was so strong. And now that he had built her up, he was doing his darndest to break her. But she understood the reason, the vampire loves a challenge.

She let the thought pass her mind again, being a vampire... Strong; being able to mow down any and all opponents with little effort; fast, dodging bullets, or traveling vast distances in seconds. Nearly invincible, hard to kill, regenerating wounds in no time at all. Being able to transform yourself into a wolf, take a run through the forest and have none be the wiser. Live forever and never age. She could see why it was so appealing and romantic to so many. But the blood, the need, the thirst. The soul thing that drives the vampire, once people, to murder. Preying on the innocents, hunting them down like they're no better than cattle. Acting like souless monsters, no better than demons. She was not inclined to be among them.

"You have far more self control than that." replied a silky voice to her thoughts behind her, and she felt the area become immediately colder.

"It's still no, Alucard." she held out her hand, and it was immediately rewarded with a cigar. She lit it up. Thank you... she thought.

"I know. And you're welcome." and then he did something she didn't expect. He slowly moved his arms around her waist, leaning on her shoulders from behind, and she found herself locked in his embrace. She glanced back at him, with a look that was almost a glare and at the same time curious as he hovered his head just over her right shoulder. She could tell him to get off right this instant. She could. But she didn't.

"It is beautiful, isn't it? The sun retreats just over the horizon, bathing the sky in trails of vivid color, holding on as if in last ditch attempts to warm the earth, only to succumb to the embrace of the night."

"Yes." Integra replied half through her teeth, picking through his double-edged words. They remained like that for some time, Integra allowed him to stay; he wanted to be as close as possible, to tempt her. Well, she could push him right back. She relaxed into him, leaning against his chest, enjoying the view and her cigar. The two together were actually quite calming, and, for the moment, the stress of the day actually seemed melted away. He tightened his embrace a little in reply, and she could feel his breath on her neck. He did it intentionally of course, to tease her that his teeth were so near to her jugular. For a moment... she almost wished he would...

"Oh? What's that?" he whispered quietly in her ear, excited, devious, "Is my Master having second thoughts...?" she felt his teeth graze slightly against her neck and gasped, pulling away slightly.

"No." she wriggled all the way out of his arms and felt the disappointment roll off him as she walked away down the moonlit hallway, "Not tonight Alucard." she thought it was well past time to get some well deserved sleep. The vampire would be satisfied for now...