Disclaimer: I do not own Seras Victoria, Alucard, the Hellsing Institute or the madness that is the Japanese legal system. I do own Sakura, her family and Aidan. Which is a dubious honor.

Today's chapter is brought to you by Aidan, the mad muse of humor and weirdess. I swear, this story was intended to be series and slightly dramaful. It just didn't work out that way.

~x~

'final reign'

or

'black ops, ninja style'

~x~

"You know, when he said black ops, I'm fairly sure that he didn't man dressing up like a ninja."

Despite the caustic commentary and evil glare, Alucard merely stood there holding out a ridiculously short bit of clothing that looked like something out of a cosplay. The grin on his face didn't falter no matter how incredulous the look on her face got and, finally, after five minutes of staring at each other, she sighed and snatched the outfit from him.

"Fine, but I'm stating this here and now that I'm only doing this to prevent sudden distraction should you choose to change my clothes for me later."

He shrugged, obviously unconcerned to the reasons as long as the results were there. Since he had accidentally discovered that he could still effect her clothing, he had randomly taken opportunities to adjust her clothing to things that he felt were more "appropriate".

"Bloody hell, Alucard! There is barely anything here! I'm going to have to bend over at some point you know."

"I believe that is what the black…bloomers are for," he chuckled.

"You owe me," she growled as she adjusted her stockings, the high tops to them covering more of her legs than the insanely short…whatever Alucard had given her.

"Think of it this way, police-girl. If for some reason you are discovered, you have a ready made distraction."

Her response was to throw a shoe at him which he quickly caught and offered back to her. When she finished dressing she gave him a piercing glare.

"Next time we have a mission you are going out naked."

"If you wish," he agreed peaceably as he turned to escort her from the room. "I'm sure the sight of my raw masculinity should paralyze freaks and destroy all ghouls, such is the magnificence of my naked form."

"Oh, shut up."

When they stepped out of their shared room, they met the surprised looks of the Tenjou family. Sakura looked like she was only barely able to control her amusement and received a threatening glare from her commanding officer.

"Don't ask."

"Of course not, ma'am."

"Let's move out."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Don't forget the ponytail. All female ninjas always have ponytails."

"Tied back with a ribbon that becomes a weapon," Sakura added with a small guffaw.

Seras, who had stopped in her tracks at Alucard's comment, sighed heavily and looked to the sky for patience at the younger girl's remark. Silently, for the hundredth time or more, she asked herself how she'd gotten into such an idiotic position and, once again, didn't like the answer.

~x~

"There are pictures, right? Please tell me there are pictures."

"Aidan, if you do not shut up right now, I swear on all that is Holy that I will tell Maureen every last detail of what you do on a regular mission."

A moment of silence followed the low spoken threat as the four combatants stood around the communicator. Finally, after a long pause, the Hellsing strategist sighed.

"That is a very low blow, Ice Queen. I'd be proud of your strategy if it wasn't against me."

Seras smirked. "Now, we are about to commence the operation. If everything goes well –,"

"And Alucard doesn't play with his food."

" – then we should complete the mission within a half hour. If we do not check in with you within an hour, please go to plan B."

"Righto," the Irishman agreed. "But I beg of you to not force us to plan B. My esteemed cousin is a bit crazier than usual. I really don't want to get shot giving her bad news."

Sakura chuckled. "We'll try to come back in one piece."

"All right then. I'll be expecting to hear from you at the latest in precisely one hour. Good luck."

Seras slipped the communicator into the pouch at her waist before looking at the assembled group.

"Sakura, Tenjou-san, are you ready?"

The two nodded. Dressed as a maiko, an apprentice geisha, Sakura and her father, posing as her protector, were to infiltrate through the front door. Rumor had it that the Shogun had a weakness for young pretty girls (aside of the ones that had gone missing) and would often invite the promising maiko to entertain him and his guests. Girls all over the country sought out the opportunity as a chance to launch themselves into a better life.

Many were known to show up on his door step unannounced. They were among the only guests that were invited in without prior invitation.

"We will wait for your signal to approach the meeting room. If, for any reason, you feel that it would be better to withdraw or that the plan would go awry if executed, signal us as soon as possible."

The father and daughter nodded their understanding.

"All right. See you inside. Ganbatte."

Bowing briefly, the two turned and made their way quickly up the long drive towards the house. The two vampires watched them as they left before turning to look at each other. Well, more accurately, Seras watched the two leave and Alucard watched Seras watching them leave. When she turned to look at him, the gleam in his eye was anything but wholesome and rather lacking in the chaotic glee that he usually reveled in before a battle.

Seras sighed.

"I knew this outfit was a bad idea. I'm practically naked."

"We could fix that."

"Master! We don't have time for this."

"We have at least twenty minutes," he purred, stepping closer to her.

She turned to face him completely and placed a soft hand on his chest. Looking up at him with wide blue eyes she pursed her lips.

"Master. Alucard…."

Chuckling, he leaned in to meet her before he was abruptly cut off. More than twenty feet away before he came completely to an understanding of what had just happened, he watched his bride walk off in the opposite direction, the fabric of her clothes doing nothing but accentuate the curves of her body as she moved.

"Go kill things Alucard. Start on the outer perimeter and work your way in."

"You are far too distracting, draculina," he grumbled, turning to complete his part of the mission.

"Entirely your fault."

"I'll take advantage of it later."

"You do that."

~x~

For all that they often lived and died by the sword, there was much to be said for those who could use their skills in subterfuge to win the battle. As such, it had been a tradition in their family that any woman who would swear to uphold the tradition of the Tenjou family would be educated in all of the traditional arts. From a very early age, Sakura had been trained in the art of the tea ceremony, flower arrangement and, once she had completed junior high, classical training as a geisha.

All the seemingly endless training proved its worth as she and her father were ushered in before the lord Shogun.

"Ah, I see we have another pretty maiko to stand before us," he chuckled darkly as she bowed gracefully before him and his assembled guests.

"Yes, Kuromine-sama," her father began respectfully. "Our little maiko is about to go through her coming of age ceremony and we thought you might be gracious enough to allow her to entertain you once she reached the level of geisha."

"And so you have brought her to me for an introduction," the Shogun laughed.

He was a very young looking man, no more than seventeen before his turning, Sakura guessed. But, there was an age to his eyes that reminded her of Seras, a reflection of the weight of living. His appearance seemed flawless and, in other circumstances, she might have found him handsome. It was a fact that he knew, that radiated from each step he took as he approached her kneeling form.

"Tell me, little maiko, what is your name?"

"Yumeko."

"Child of dreams indeed," he murmured, running a cold finger down her cheek. "You are quite lovely, Yumeko-chan."

"You are gracious, my lord Shogun."

"I see your patron has brought your samisen," the Shogun observed with a smirk. "Play for us. Entertain us well. And, if you do, perhaps I can show what it is to have an immortal patron."

"Yes, Kuromine-sama."

~x~

The night held an unusual stillness, a quiet that seemed out of place so deep in such a large city. Even the sounds of nature seemed muted, the natural wildlife of all areas silenced or driven away by the unnatural creatures that existed within the walls of the estate. Only the sound of water rippling through man-made streams and waterfalls mixed with the soft sound of blossoms rustling in the wind.

That and the rough sound of bodies hitting the ground.

Arrogant vampire though he might be, the shogun understood politics and the malice of those who would go against him. Well-armed men guarded the perimeter of the large estate while several more patrolled through the courtyards and gardens. They were well trained and loyal to their job (though whether out of love for their lord or their paycheck was anyone's guess).

It was, all things said, a formidable display of protection. Most of the world would be kept away by just knowing of the security systems without even having to see them first hand. Most. Not all.

Seras silently downed the twentieth security personnel that she came across, mentally questioning the need for so many people. They had been a mix of low level vampires and humans. The former she had done away with quickly and the latter she had incapacitated. A personal choice she had a feeling Alucard had not made

Suddenly, she became aware of a moist touch to her thigh and looked down to find the master vampire lapping at a trace of blood on her pale skin. Senses heightened by the violence, she momentarily contemplated allowing him to have a bit more fun before logic reinstate itself in her mind. With a sigh, she shook him off, glaring down at his unrepentant grin.

"We should move inside now."

"Indeed. One of those curious futon would be far more comfortable than the grass," he murmured as he nibbled lightly on the flesh of her outer thigh. "Not that comfort is necessary."

"Are you in heat or something?" she finally exclaimed in exasperation as she dragged him up to his feet.

"Would it get me anywhere if I said yes?"

"It would get you a knife to the forehead."

Chuckling softly, he pressed a kiss to the marks of her turning.

"Then shall I say that aside of murder and mayhem, ravishing your delectable form is my highest pleasure and priority?"

Rolling her eyes, she softened enough to steal a fierce kiss before turning to walk towards the large building where their prey lay.

"Later."

~x~

After one song played and another danced to, Sakura was beginning to feel nervous as to the success of the plan. There were twelve other vampires in the room with the Shogun. If her skills did not prove good enough, the entire night would go to waste. Still, she gave every effort to not let her anxiousness show as she participated in the flirtatious conversation. Her role was to be enticing and calm and she would do it even if it killed her.

Thankfully, it didn't come to that.

After what felt like hours, the Shogun rose to his feet and smiled down at her condescendingly.

"Yumeko-chan, you have proven yourself to be quite the apprentice. You have learned your skills well and would be the crown jewel to any home that would invite you."

"My most gracious thanks, my lord Shogun," she answered modestly.

"In fact," he continued, running a finger down the line of her exposed neck, "I think such a jewel as you should live to entertain the world for many years longer than your youth would allow."

"Oh?"

He nodded. "Why don't you come with me and we can…discuss…such an arrangement?"

At impossibly the same time, Sakura both relaxed and tensed at his words. Even as she rejoiced that the plan would go through as planned, she knew the hardest part was yet to come. On the surface, however, she smiled.

"Of course, my lord Shogun."

Gracefully, she rose to her feet, taking only the barest of seconds to signal her father with her eyes before stepping into an adjoining chamber with the vampire lord. The door closed behind them with a quite snap and all eyes turned to the maiko's patron.

A man who seemed to transform before their very eyes leaving all pretense of a patron behind as he stepped into the well worn mantle of a warrior.

~x~

A quiet tone sounded from the communicators in their ears signaling to the two vampires that Sakura had gotten the Shogun alone. They finished off what was left of the security before heading to the large meeting room where they sensed the presence of the Tenjou Makoto.

"Now remember, ninja-girl," Alucard smirked as they stepped up to the door. "You can't use your gun. Ninjas use swords."

"You are having entirely too much fun with this Master," she sighed tiredly.

"When you get as old as I am, you have to find your entertainments where you can."

"Like dressing me up in an outfit that would make a porn star blush?"

"That," he grinned, looking her over once more, "is just a bonus."

She glared at him.

"Just remember, Alucard," she threatened. "Naked."

"Pervert."

~x~

Had their attention not been fixed on the miraculously transformed and suddenly armed human in their midst, they might have caught sign of the two vampires as they phased through the walls. As it was, the first indication they had that they were no longer alone in the room came when the smell of blood washed through the room and the sound of a human head hitting the ground echoed in the silent space.

All eyes turned to find a petite blonde woman standing above the corpse of their fellow vampire. Any immediate response was stilled as they took in the sight of her curvaceous form clad only in bits of fabric, her tongue running a line down the blade she held in her hand, removing the traces of blood. This very hesitation allowed for the other vampire to put down two further vampires.

Then chaos broke loose.

Between the experience demon hunter and the two vampires, the fight took only moments. Their hesitation fell into shock placing the young vampires into an even greater disadvantage. For most, the last vision they saw was the shine of a blade and the glimmer of red eyes before they met their true and final end. It was slaughter.

In the end, the three invaders exchanged glances, sharing a slight sense of disappointment as they cleaned and sheathed their weapons. Only Alucard seemed to find humor at the ease of the kill as he looked around the mass of red that stained the walls and floor before meeting the gaze of his bride.

"Told you. Distraction."

~x~

"Immortality is a gift that shouldn't be granted to just anyone," he commented as he lead her further into his private quarters. "One should earn that right. Some do it by being uncommonly intelligent, others by possessing strong skills or talents. Others merely because they are truly beautiful and beauty is a thing that should never be wasted."

She eyed him carefully as left her to stand in the middle of a large room. Behind a screen, she could see a large bed with rumbled sheets. They had, apparently, reached his own private bedroom. Still, he did not lead her to it, preferring instead to observer her, pacing in a large circle around her.

"You, my dear, seem to possess many of these. Your beauty is quite remarkable and your talent exceptional. I'd even go so far to say that I sense a great intelligence lurking behind the shining eyes you display. A rare treasure, indeed."

"I'm glad you think so, my lord Shogun."

He nodded casually, coming to a stop in front of her.

"Normally when I see a fine girl like you, my blood comes to boil and I can't help the urge to…partake. And, I confess, I feel that urge now."

"Oh?" she murmured, pretending confusion.

"Yes, you are quite the appetizing meal. But," he sighed, "I feel I should give you the chance so few are offered."
"What is that?"

He threw back his head and laughed. "Do not play coy with me! Clever girl that you are, you know I can only mean one thing. The world knows that I am a vampire. I have been for, oh, so many years." He looked at her, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "We were convinced, our Divine Emperor and I, that it would be the best of all things. The world would be ours and we would be the ultimate rulers. What wars could be fought when there was no need to worry about who would succeed another? What fear would there be of the unknown when you could have an reign immortal?"

He sighed, looking for a moment so old and ancient that she nearly gasped when he met her eyes.

"But, I'm afraid it wasn't so. It was a seductive lie."
"Was it, my lord?"

Silently, he nodded, dark hair momentarily obscuring his young features. Then, once more he looked at her.

"He changed, you know."

"Who?"

"The Emperor. Once, a long time ago, he was very idealistic. He sought immortality as a way to solve the ails of our country. But, in the end he couldn't take it. Sometimes, long life is only a solace cause you know that one day it will end. One day, there will be a reckoning and you can see your life as it finishes and see the good and evil that you have done." He shrugged.

"He was my friend, in all of this. But no longer. The idea of immortality broke him. He has given in to wants and desires that were not really his own." His eyes rose to the ceiling, as if contemplating the idea. "Perhaps from a lack of childhood."

With a casual shrug, he turned to face her completely.

"And, as much as it is my job to rule the people of this country, it is my job to keep my lord happy."

"By providing him with girls to feed off of?"

He nodded slightly before stilling in his action. Slowly, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

"You are not what you appear to be at all, are you little maiko?"

"How many girls did you take off the street and feed to our Divine Emperor? How many innocents shed their blood to feed him?"

"I can't even remember their number," he answered coldly, eyes thoughtful. "There were so many starting so long ago. He always did have a taste for the young. I do, too, but I prefer more…lasting relationships."

"And that is forgivable?"

"Tell me," he commanded, voice like ice, "what is your real name, little maiko?"

She grinned, bowing slightly without taking her eyes from him.

"My name is Tenjou Sakura. I have come to kill you."

He threw his head back in laughter, so amused at the very idea. "You kill me, little maiko? The last daughter of the Tenjou line that was banished to another country? You kill me?"

Laughter over took his words once more before it was suddenly cut short. His shocked face stilled and looked down to find the length of katana slipping once more from his heart.

"Rule number one, my lord, is to never take your eyes off your opponent," she instructed, taking stance once more as he stared dumbfounded at the sword she seemed to have conjured from thin air.

"Rule number two: always check what a girl has in her kimono."

Her comment was punctuated by the sickening sound of steel cutting through flesh and the quiet thud of his head bouncing on the floor.

With a practiced move, she flicked the blood from her blade and drew the sheath from the line of her back. The blade had barely found its resting place with a soft click as the door slid open to reveal the sight of her blood splattered comrades. She gave them a cursory nod before turning to leave the room, her father close behind.

Alucard watched after her for a moment before grinning down at Seras.

"Should I check and see what you are hiding in there as well, my draculina?"

She stared at him for a moment before closing her eyes in an expression of tried patience. Then, without another word, she turned and walked from the room, dialing up Hellsing to give her report.

"I'll take that as a yes."

AN: The last chapter will probably take me slightly longer but it's 90% planned out. Just depends on how inefficent my coworkers are in getting me the information I need.

Hope the humor wasn't too much. And I know Alucard was a bit OOC...but I figure boredom on a perverse and immortal mind would bring about weird things. And, while not shown too often, one of Seras' chief feelings towards her master in the manga was DEFINITELY exasperation. Why not have fun with both right?

Terms:

maiko- apprentice geisha. If you don't know what a geisha is, you should look it up. They are rather nifty.

s(h)amisen - a three string banjo type instrument. it is a traditional instrument of Japan and is used both as an accompaniment to song and dance.

ganbatte - literally it translates as "do your best" or "work hard". the more colloquial translation would be "good luck" (hard workers, the Japanese)

douzo yoroshiku - this came up last chapter and I forgot to put the note up. this roughly translates to "take care of me" or "I'm in your care" and is usually part of a formal greeting. there is a plethora of cultural background for this term...but more or less you get the idea.

Hope you liked it!

Til next time!