What is this, my eighth fic? I can't believe I've gotten this far. But anyway, here we go again. This story follows right on the heels of HD4, so you should probably read that first. I'm pretty sure some of you skipped it because it was 23 chapters long. And I also know that it's cruel to say you should go back and read it. I suppose you could get away with only reading the first two and last three chapters, but there's an awful lot of fun cool stuff in between. And it's worth it to understand this new one. The true origin of witches and some other creatures will finally be detailed in this story. So enjoy!

Hunting Dogs 5: Pedigree Papers

1

July 30

06:48:23 PM

Whitedog: Are you sure you should do this? It seems like too big a risk.

Blackdog: I'm aware that it may be dangerous. But how can I leave it alone?

Whitedog: Quite easily. You could simply lock the thing in a magical vault and forget it exists.

Blackdog: Easier said than done. Be glad you aren't the one who has to deal with this.

Whitedog: I am glad. Very much so, in fact. You will let me know what you find, won't you?

Blackdog: You don't sound worried anymore.

Whitedog: Since when have I ever worried about you? Even though you've been known to make rash decisions.

Blackdog: I know what I'm doing. You're just going to have to trust me. I have to go now. I'll be back in touch later.

07:02:09 PM

Amon signed off his IM and got up from his computer terminal. He couldn't let Integra's concerns distract him. Robin had just arrived and they were about to start. They had moved one of the spare desks into the middle of the office floor and the package lay on it, as creepy as ever. Shadows fell across it as Amon and the others gathered around it, blocking the soft beams of the overhead lighting. Without a word, Amon reached out and pulled away one of the spirit wards.

2

Nagira scraped his arm on the edge of the office door as he rushed to answer the phone ringing on his desk. He didn't know where Hana had run off to but he'd be damned if he couldn't answer his own work phone.

"Nagira law office," he said, rubbing his arm.

"Mr. Nagira," the familiar accented voice said.

"Travisian?" Nagira said a little louder than he meant to.

"I hope I have reached you in time, my friend," Travisian said. "Did your brother find a third object inside the cave?"

"How did you know about that?" Nagira asked.

"There is no time to explain. If he has not yet begun the process of unwrapping it, you must stop him from doing it. He must not touch the thing without its wrappings."

"He was going to do it today. He might already be done."

"Let us pray that he has not. You must telephone him and tell him to stop. I am on my way there right now, but it may be hours before I can reach you again."

Nagira's confusion got the better of him for a moment. "Alright, I'll call him. But what's so dangerous about that thing?"

"I will explain when I arrive. Please call now." Travisian hung up the phone.

Nagira couldn't make sense of any of this but he started dialing anyway.

3

The whole STNJ stood in silence. Even Dojima said nothing. They had started to take turns pulling the spirit wards from the package. As they each reached out and pulled in turn, a definite shape was beginning to emerge from the layered paper. It looked like a sword, but it was too big to be a traditional Japanese sword. It was shaped more like a European sword, narrow at the hilt and broadening as it reached out over its three feet of length. But it wasn't just the appearance of the thing that made everyone stare. With each pull of the old yellowed paper, the feeling of dread that seemed to rise from it got stronger. They hardly noticed when the phone rang. Amon signaled for Michael to answer it and he left the table reluctantly.

"We shouldn't be doing this," Karasuma said as she reached for the next paper.

Almost immediately, Michael started shouting.

"Stop! Nagira says to stop. It's dangerous."

Amon acted quickly, reaching across the desk to grab the sword away from Karasuma. The moment his hand closed on the hilt, his eyes widened. The others jumped back in shock. It was then that Robin noticed the wiry woven hilt binding, laid bare by the last few peelings, peeking out from under Amon's hand. As he stood frozen with his hand on the sword, a low guttering blue glow appeared around the blade. After a few seconds, the remaining spirit wards turned black and disintegrated, crumbling to dust that spread across the desktop. Amon pulled the long silver sword off the desk and held it up in front of him. Or rather, not Amon but something else. Robin could see his arm shaking as if he were resisting his own movement.

"Amon?" she said in a small voice.

"Run," he said without looking away from the sword. "Run. Get out of here."

Everyone else did as they were told and fled to the glass enclosed foyer, but Robin stood still.

"Robin!" Karasuma called out, holding the elevator door open.

"Don't worry about me," Robin called back. "Just go."

The elevator door closed and the others were gone. Amon stood just as he had been, riveted to the spot. After a moment he spoke.

"What are you doing? I told you to run."

"Not without you," Robin replied. "Tell me what's wrong."

"The sword..." It was getting harder for him to speak. He was breathing harder too, struggling against something. "It wants to kill."

Robin took a step towards him but he drew back, pushing his sword arm down with his free hand.

"Stay away from me," he snarled.

"Let the sword go. Why don't you just drop it?" Robin asked.

"I can't. The sword is... alive."

"Amon, that's impossible."

"Just go. Just get away."

"I'm not leaving you."

"I don't know... how long I can..."

Robin pulled her glasses from her pocket and put them on. If the sword was really trying to possess Amon's body, then the sooner she destroyed it the better. She focused her energy, ready to strike.

"No! Don't!" Amon shouted. But it was too late. The sword was engulfed in flames for a few seconds. Robin was sure the evil thing would be subdued by that, but when the fire cleared there wasn't even a mark on the blade. Before she could react, the sword swung upwards through Amon's snarl of pain. A flash of light blasted through the air and Robin found herself on the floor on the other side of the room. For a moment, she just sat there stunned and then she began to feel light-headed. She guessed later that she had passed out because when she opened her eyes again, Amon and the sword were gone.

Story Notes:

For those who didn't make it all the way to the epilogue of HD4, "Blackdog" is Amon's screen name and "Whitedog" is Integra Hellsing's screen name. The two of them met and became friends back in HD3.

"...magical vault..." - Integra references one of my old favorite TV series here. Friday the 13th: The Series which ran for 3 seasons during the late 80s. Plot: Two cousins inherit an antique shop from their late uncle. They quickly discover that their uncle had sold dozens of cursed items as part of a pact with the Devil. With the help of their uncle's best friend, the cousins risk life and limb to get the cursed objects back and secure them in a magically sealed vault in the shop's basement.

I'd prefer not to reveal the sword's name until later but I'm sure a few of you have already guessed its identity. Special bonus points to whoever guesses it correctly.