CHAPTER 2: Memory

Their fated battle began with the chirp of bats collecting around Walter. He made quick work of the little buzzards with a few flicks of his wire and darted headlong towards Alucard.

"So are you getting angry, Angel? Get mad, get mad!" Smirked the vampire. He too ran at Walter and threw his hand up to smash the young man's face.

It didn't take long for Walter to block him. The multitude of wire ensnared Alucard ripping off an arm before he could lay a finger on the Angel of Death.

Always with the speeches…get mad, get mad. Walter frowned. You always enjoyed when I was angry with you. Back when I was a teenager I had trouble controlling my emotions.

Walter freed his wire from Alucard's arm to switch direction to a leg and attached the majority there. You loved it…when I would lose my temper. You never cared a bit…It was just sport for you, and I was your plaything.

Instead of ripping off another appendage, the butler decided to toss his opponent around like a ragdoll. I never meant anything more than a cheap thrill and a good time for you. Just your little puppet on a string.

That's all I ever was…just a toy. Walter chuckled. I'm half to blame. I never once tried to stop you. In fact, I spurned you on. I wanted to be used…if it was by you, I didn't care. "Alucard…you said once before there was no such thing as an immortal? Just you wait…I'll prove you correct."

It didn't take long for those words to rekindle an old memory in the butler's mind.

"Immortal…how is it that I'm an immortal?" Alucard's girlish face showed curiosity to the posed question. He stood with his back turned to the tall window, moonlight illuminating his small, white-clad frame.

Walter, about 15 years old, sat upon his bed a couple yards away, smoothing over the wrinkles on his comforter idly. "Well, it's never been explained to me exactly how you've existed so long. Sir Hellsing hardly ever mentioned you, much less your powers."

Alucard chuckled, crossing his arms. "Just like the old man. Well it's very simple. He never explained it because it does not pertain to you."

Walter chewed a corner of his mouth, eyes narrowing. "Why? Because I'm just some kid?"

"Ahah, no Angel. That's not why." Alucard could hear Walter's blood pulse in his ears. It was so enjoyable to see the little butler feisty with anger. Dainty gloved fingers splayed across the frosted window. "It's simply because it doesn't matter. You are the butler and trash man. I am the pet dog. Aside from our squabbles on the battlefield, we are not meant to mix."

Walter laughed. "Sure. Then what would you call these nightly meetings, hm?"

Crimson eyes lowered a fraction. "I never said we couldn't mingle, more or less I meant that we shouldn't…but…" The enigmatic vampire lowered his hands, advancing to the butler poised on the mattress. He extended a cool, white gloved hand that caressed the boy's face, coloring his cheeks with a brilliant red. "…You should already know that, dragul meu Înger." (Romanian: my dear Angel)

Walter shivered. Alucard only spoke in his native tongue to derail Walter's thoughts. As usual, the word for Angel, Înger, was working it's magic on him. But he wasn't about to let his emotions take over, at least, not just yet.

"So," purred the feminine vampire. "Would you like me to continue?" Dead fingers brushed the top of Walter's cheek ghosting down the side of his face until it met with his jugular.

The servant gasped, looking away. "Answer me. I want to know…tell me how you've existed for so long." Uncertainly, his deep blue eyes looked up to meet with red ones, hoping to silently express how serious he was about the question. "Please…"

Silence filled the room and was only cut by the movement of fabric as Alucard removed his hand from Walter. He turned away to face the window, gazing at the moon that lit up the midnight sky.

"Please…tell me…"

"…You really want to know…so badly?"

Walter felt a protesting in his heart and a wretched feeling swirling in his stomach. Something told him that he shouldn't have pressed the matter.

"Fine then…if you're that curious, Walter…then I'll tell you…"

Two shots rang out from the Jackal, reminding Walter that he was in the midst of battle. At lightning speed he prepared a barrier of wire, thick enough to deflect those silver bullets. Just in time…he thought with a short gasp.

Several shots were fired after, but each missed their target. "You should know that won't work against me, Alucard."

At that very moment, a low growl sounded and the hellhound materialized from Alucard's fiery shadows. Its eyes glowered a bright red as it cried out, appearing before Walter. But its bite was proven to be just as ineffectual as its bark and the Angel of Death slashed it in two with little effort. "So is that the best you've got?"

Alucard materialized from the bloody remains of his dog and pulled the trigger on the Jackal. In an unexpected turn of events the gun exploded leaving the vampire in shock. Whether it was a fake or genuine expression, Walter couldn't say for sure.

"That gun was made by me to defeat Anderson. I'm not Anderson." Before Walter could execute another attack, he heard a few short gasps and a form emerge from the shadows. He made a split second decision and cast his wire toward the figure who turned out to be Luke Valentine. I can use him as my puppet for now.

Luke gagged on the shiny blue wire that entered his mouth and limbs. Before long the string had invaded his every appendage, transforming him into a bloody marionette.

Walter held tight to his weapon. But suddenly it started to loosen and shake and he examined his hand for the cause. No…my body…it's already starting to deteriorate. Dammit…why so soon? Gnashing his teeth, the Shinigami rethought his plans and decided not to beat around the bush any longer. I was fully aware of this from the start. I need to concentrate; I don't have time to think of the past.

Walter tightened his grip on the creaking wires, silencing them. He pulled them tight and began his assault upon Alucard.

The vampire grinned with a sigh. He was starting to remember how terrible those wires could be. "Oh so it's you," he smirked, acknowledging the elder Valentine brother. "You don't digest very well, you piece of shit. What an interesting toy you have there, Walter."

A burning sensation flowed up the butler's esophagus, dribbling out of his mouth. He wheezed and coughed, spitting out the coppery fluid that coated his tongue and lips. Blood? He thought, one hand examining the extracted matter. Goddammit…his body was weak and heavy, bringing the dark man to the ground. "No. No! It can't happen like this. Not now. I have to defeat him. I must!" He could feel it, another lump of decaying blood threatening to move upwards into his mouth. But he wouldn't allow it. Swallowing a mixture of saliva with the first clump of blood, the former servant huffed. "I won't be defeated by my own body. I have to get up. I have to put him to death."

I need to do this…I need to do this…for him.

He pushed past the pain and the shakiness in his legs. The dark haired man stood firmly and threw his wires about. Walter wasn't going to let anything keep him from reaching his goal. He was going to destroy Alucard with his own two hands.

Luke paired with Baskerville continued to dance about the playing field, making their way towards Alucard. With his usual smirk, Alucard made quick work of the puppet, shooting Luke in the head with a single bullet from Joshua. He and the dog fell in a splatter of blood after which the microfilament wire fell limp.

"I lost my puppet…" Walter declared, coming upon Alucard. "But I don't need it anymore. I have you right where I want you. It's over."

The vampire's shoulders shook with laughter. Looking over one he grinned. "Yes. Let's end this dance right now."

In one motion, Walter had attached his wires to the Hellsing pet and dismembered him, leaving his head and torso to dangle yards above the ground. The shimmering cobalt wire dug into his smooth white flesh, staining the surrounding area with rich crimson.

Another asthma-like attack assaulted Walter then, his form convulsing with deep wheezes. His long black hair began to recede and his face narrowed. He was growing younger. Falling to his knees, the now younger man lifted his head, sweat dripping from every pore. "No…I have to get up. I have to pierce…his heart."

He stood, almost completely out of breath. Blue eyes caught sight of a metal pole which he grasped. I'll use this. Walter realized that he didn't have much time left. And this would he his final task. Wearily, he clutched the pole and staggered towards his opponent. The metallic pole felt like it was made of lead as he dragged it by his side, gasping for air.

Enough of this! Walter threw the pole in the air, exerting what little strength he possessed. With this…I say goodbye to you…Alucard. The tip of the metal entered through Alucard's chest until it stuck out the other side. Blood burst from the wound and his head lulled to one side.

It was over now. Wait…no! "This isn't him!" Walter's eyes went wide. "No!"

He released the pole as the supernatural shadows flickered away, revealing Luke Valentine's face smirking back at Walter's panic-stricken one. "No…this can't be…"

A small hand grasped his shoulder. That familiar feeling from 50 years ago settled behind him, goose flesh scattering across his back.

"No it's true. You fucked up pretty bad, Angel," his voice purred in an ambiguous tone.

That grip tightened, causing Walter to turn directly into Alucard's fist. He fell on his rear a few feet away.

"Something wrong, micul meu Unul Negru?" (Romanian: my little Black One?) Alucard advanced to the fallen butler and stood over him. He was clad in white just like he had been in the days of Warsaw, pillbox hat and all.

"You can't just back out after getting spanked once like a bad little boy. It's your fault for becoming this in the first place." He formed a Cheshire-like grin. "Look at you, how pathetic. I doubt you'll be able to sustain that form much longer."

Walter nursed his face with one hand, glaring at the feminine vampire.

"So what are you now…about 20 or so? Hm, what will you become? A dim-witted, 14 year old again?"

The former servant could feel his age slip away as his body changed to exactly what Alucard had predicted. That familiar form…it had been about 55 years since he'd felt so young and confident. His shorter, almost pre-pubescent form radiated with youthful energy.

Even though he was in a lion's den, he felt livelier than ever. His hands felt stronger, his breathing a little easier. Old age had not been so kind to him, accompanied by the usual ailments of elderly life. But now he felt wonderful as if the last 50 years had not happened.

"Hello there, Walter. It's been about 50 years, hasn't it?"

Eye narrowed in annoyance. "Don't toy with me. What's the meaning of this, that form you've assumed?" Walter blinked, forgetting how his voice used to sound. It was much higher-pitched than it had been in so long. He had missed this, missed how he'd looked when he first met Alucard.

"Toying?" He released a low chuckle. "I'm toying? You're the one who's toying, Boy. You're the one who started this game, I'm merely playing along. You of all people should remember that appearances hold no meaning to me."

He's treating me like a kid again. Dammit…you'll never take me seriously will you?

"When you get down to it, this has always been a kid's game between you and me, nothing more. So I thought I'd join you. We're kids now, me, you."

"Don't take me so lightly…"

"Still trying to be the tough guy, aren't you, Boy?" With a chuckle, Alucard extended his arms out in front of himself. "You haven't matured one bit. So how could I treat you as anything other than a little kid?

"So what's your plan, Walter? Seems like you're running from something. Old age? Becoming useless? Being left behind? Hmph…" He released a nasal snort and continued. "Seems like you're not fighting me to fight me, but more like you're fighting yourself. Running from your fate, you little snot. You haven't learned a damn thing."

"Shut up!"

Alucard gasped gently.

"I know nothing. I know nothing, huh? You're the one who doesn't know a damn thing. You never cared to know a damn thing about me!" Huffing, Walter quieted his voice, grasping at his chest. "But…that doesn't matter now. Those times have passed and that's that." Walter grinned almost sadly. "If you don't understand by now, than…" He left his words to trail off and stood. "Let's ends this."

The ancient vampire thought a moment before nodding. "Yes. It's time that we put an end to this dream. So…" He gave Walter a jaunty grin. "…bring it on, you punk bitch."