Anime: Hellsing

Characters: Rip Van Winkle/ Zorin Blitz

Rating: R or M for later chapters

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own the masterpiece that is Hellsing TT

Summary: AU. Rip Van Winkle gets a job at a grocery store and meets her old friend Zorin. When they meet all of their feeling and desires resurface after so long

Rip was excited to get her new job, despite the fact that it was in a grocery store. However she needed the money and more importantly she needed to keep her apartment.

"I can't believe I'm going to work at this place, though it will give me good job experience. I hope I don't see anyone I know."

After much thinking to herself all the way to the store, she managed to catch her new boss yelling at one of the "box boys". She was just about to slink off when she saw who he was yelling at. It was Zorin, her old friend from high school, looking rather pissed off by the whole situation.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to smoke in the back?! The smoke contaminates the food!! Now, if catch you smoking anywhere in my store again, your fired!! Do you understand me?!"

"…Y-yes sir."

As soon as the manager walked off, after calling him an insect under her breath, Zorin saw Rip standing waving meekly at her.

"Is that Rip Van Winkle? THE Rip Van Winkle?!!"

Rip just stood in silence before being nearly crushed by a great bear hug by the massive woman.

"Z-z-zorin…your… your crushing me!!"

"Oh…ah sorry. Anyway, what are you doing here?"

After Rip caught her breath she realized Zorin was still holding her just much more gently. Her touch sent shivers up her spine. She had to get away from her.

"…um I…uh...work here now", she said with a weak smile. Suddenly a gigantic smile broke across Zorin's face.

"Wow! I don't believe it! I couldn't even imagine you working here in this hell. Your way to classy for this."

As Zorin as talking, Rip realized she didn't know her way around the store. Maybe she could show her.

"Zorin, could you show me around?"

"…wait what?"

"(sigh) You never hear a word I say. You really haven't changed. I said I don't know my way around the store. Can. You. Show. Me?", said Rip curtly

Zorin was taken aback by the smaller girl's bluntness, but she didn't mind. In fact it was it was this very thing that attracted her to Rip in the first place. She loved when she got like this. It made her want her even more.

"Uh, yeah sure. Follow me."

After showing Rip all the uninteresting parts of the store, Zorin finally brought her to the back room. This contained boxes and boxes of un-opened products which had to be moved, sorted, and placed on the shelves.

"And this is the back room. This is where I work."

"Whoa, these look heavy. Who lifts th-"

Rip stopped and thought about who she was talking to, the female body builder herself. Truth be told, Rip loved Zorin's muscular build, but she never wanted to admit it to herself. She was madly in love with her, but never wanted to admit it to herself.

"Guess you figured it out, huh?", Zorin asked, snapping Rip back into reality.

"…what… oh yeah, I did. Do you work here by yourself?"

Zorin had a puzzled look on her face. She asked herself, "What's she getting at? Does she want to be alone with me? Maybe I should test her."

"Yeah, most of the time when the boss isn't on my ass. I don't know why he's always on me like that."

"I might have an idea why.", said Rip through a giggle.

"Hmph. Well let's hear it."

"Well, look at yourself. You look like a thug off the streets."

Rip was referring to Zorin's attire. She had on the store uniform shirt which was unbuttoned all the way, revealing a black tank top. The uniform pants were sagging as low as they could go without falling down. Not to mention the tattoo's on the entire right side of her body.

"What? It's not my fault if I stick out in a crowd."

"I think it suits you." Rip couldn't believe those words escaped her lips.

She didn't want Zorin to know about her love for her yet, but luckily her thoughts were eased when she saw Zorin had thought nothing of it.

"You should get back. Your shift is starting.", Zorin said with her signature smirk.

"Yeah, I should go get started."

Rip was about to walk through the door when she felt a tug on her wrist, pulling her back. Then she heard a whisper in her ear saying, "I know how you feel about me. You won't be able to hide it for long.