Oh boy, your back for more!? That's great! I must admit before you read on, this one is a info filler. Loads of conversation takes place in the beginning along with Asami figuring out what to do with her new life. I think this chapter took, eehhh three days to work on altogether. Alucard is indeed featured in this chapter! I hope you enjoy!
- I do not own Hellsing. All rights reserved to their respective owners
Chapter 3: Shadows
"So you are a Kitsune. What are the rules of your kind? I've only read folklore about such spirit animals but coming from experience, some tales can be misleading.."
The fox's lips tugged up into a partial smile, the lady before her speaking the truth. "I hope you understand that I really don't want to explain everything for I just met you. However, you guys did rescue me so I will inform you of my 'kinds' rules to some extent.."
Integra could understand this as she took another drag of her cigar. This will suffice, for now. She gave a nod, asking the girl before her to continue.
"I can change my physical appearance and this is something my kind learn first. Even the weakest of kitsunes have this ability though they cannot use it for long periods of time." With that said her body shifted, distorting for just a second. A small girl with medium length black hair and playful golden eyes now sat in the chair. In all aspect; this form looked like a younger version of Asami but with the exception that her clothing altered. A long maroon color kimono gracing her child-like body, a black sash around her stomach. The sleeve fabric flowing out of the chair as the little, twelve looking or so, kitsune swayed her feet. They appear to be socked and braced with wooden sandals, geta as they were called in her homeland. A young voice spoke,"Of course this doesn't apply to just me being the child I used to be, I just prefer to explain it by taking this form. It doesn't absorb as much energy this way.."
"If you wanted, you could change yourself into me then?" came the stern voice of Integra, her body now sitting forward in the large chair. This was concerning and a dangerous aspect. Sure, her servant could do something very similar to this.. but not to this extent. 'These powers are dangerous and so far true to the folklore.'
Asami only nodded to confirm this, but did nothing to alter her form to take on Sir Integra features. The kitsune only continued to explain her kind to the lady still in the kid-Asami body, "Since we are spirits, being that we exist in both the physical and astral plains, we can do magic. What determine these techniques that we possess and can control; is our age. How long we have lived outside of the spirit realm." she lifted her small right hand, the kimonos wide sleeve falling down onto her forearm. A small red dot appeared then flicked, a flame sparking in her palm.
"Fire being the most common."she kept explaining. The flame shifted than quivered till vanishing. "I can also tame water but I do not have the ability to create it like I do fire. I need a source to do anything with that substance.." The child before Integra finished just as her figure shifting back into her more adult form. Asami did not mention to Sir Integra of the darker arts she possessed.. and she thought it would be better for both of them to keep it that way until further notice.
"You said you are from the 19th century, where might I ask? You speak with a British accent despite your name and appearance."
"I've lived in London for little over two-hundred years."came the fox's answer then Asami chuckled finding her next thought amusing, "And I guess being around for so long, anyone would catch on to the accent this continent speaks with."
Integra took a mental note, 'Kimi is more then two-hundred years old, shape-shifts, and can control elemental magics. On top of that, she has some how traveled one-hundred years in the future, why?' Integra's placed her cigar in the tray on her desk and then proceeded to open one of the compartment in the desk. Her gloved hand pulling out a open container about, a little over a foot long, and placed it on the desk to display. Asami recognized the items in the box immediately, her Kukri knives and necklace. Asami's eyes went hard at the site of them and she felt ashamed she did not notice their disappearance.. specially her necklace.
As Integra spoke Asami's eyes did not leave the box, the fur on her tail bristling a little and ears lowered. "I only have a few more questions for you. The main one being, how did you get here if you original from a entirely different dimension?" there was a moment of silents as the kitsune went over things in her head, on what and how to explain it. Sighing she final looked away from her precious belongings and locked eyes with Integra. Her golden eyes no longer held the playful bored expression as before, like a kid showing off their talents or toys. Now they were hard and meant business, just like Integra's.
'Seems I hit a nerve.. is it these items?' Integra thought to herself. 'Or the question?'
"It runs in my family line, this ability to travel to new places.. Either to a different time line or a different universe altogether. I had no intentions on coming here though.."Came Asami's reply, drawing Integra's attention back to her.
"Then why did you? Do you not have control of this power, you speak of?"Integra pointed to her stomach," And the wound you were inflicted with was caused by a bullet. Was someone out to murder you?"they were all honest question but it still made her fox ears twitch.
"It was by accident, transporting here. The wound clouded my mind.. and I do have control of my ancestors powers. I just don't.. do it often enough." Asami avoided the last question.
"Ah, I see."Came the short retort. "What about these.. two blades and a necklace were all they found on you. You killed about ten ghouls the other night while wounded, so you must be trained in wielding these."
'Ghouls, that is what they are called?' thought Asami."Yes. In my, now, previous life I am a skilled assassin." Apparently that reply was music to Integra's ears as Asami watched a slight smirk appear on the lady's face.
"Is that so? If I may, why do you say 'previous life'?"
"Because, Sir Integra, I can not return to a world or time that I have visited once leaving it. It is one of the down falls of my blood line."
"So you are now homeless and jobless." she stated the obvious, the light smirk still on her lips.
"Yes."came the quick reply. Asami was beginning to feel annoyed, not understanding why Integra was smirking at her.
Integra thought it over to herself, letting another minute or two slide in silence, and decided that the girl before her would make a good asset to her. 'Servant..' she called out mentally, knowing he was lurking near by, feeling that familiar presence since Asami entered her office.
'Yes, Master.' came Alucard reply telepathically.
'Give me your thoughts on this matter containing to this girl.' she could practically feel the smirk Alucard was giving her.
'I think she would make a rather fine edition to our organization. I would love to see her in action.'
They sat in silence for what seemed like five minutes but easily could of been just two or three. Asami assumed that Integra must of ran out of question because of this. All the kitsune wanted were her belongings then she would take her leave. 'Then again, I doubt they will let me after what I have explained..' Finally Integra shifted in her seat and gave the box with Asami's positions a push forward, as if offering them to her. '..Or maybe I will after all?'
"I want you to join the Hellsing Organization. If you say yes, you will be tasked with defending this country's shores from any and all supernatural threats."Integra decision now on the table.
Asami just stared at her.. this never dawned on the kitsune that they would want her to fight along side them in some supernatural warfare..
"You are skillful and powerful.. If you are not with us then you are against us." came the stern words, as if answering a silent question within the kitsune. Asami didn't doubt the meaning behind that sentience. Death was indeed the other option given to her if she was to say no. They knew she could be wounded which meant they knew they could kill her..
Asami turned her gaze to the box before her again and stood up, clearing the small gap between her and the boss lady with one stride. Instead of attacking the blond she gave her attention to the box. Touching her fingers to her clean blades she guided along one of the curved edges before passing over the handle and reaching for her pendent. Clasping her hand over the oval shape orb, she lifted it up, the string draping out of her fingers. Her golden eyes were calm now as her mind went over this decision given to her. Asami could swiftly kill this lady and leave without anyone knowing she was dead. Even though that was an option it didn't seem like the best one for she understood where the lady was coming from. Asami was indeed a powerful and a trained assassin,"In all the lives I have lived.. I merely killed to survive.." her quiet voice spoke out,"Even though men in that universe were the only 'monsters' that truly existed, they still needed me to shed the blood of their enemies for them."her voice only raising another octave as she lifted her knives out of the box.
Shadows in the distance shifted, going unnoticed by Asami but not by Integra for she could see behind the Kitsune. The Hellsing's Trump Card ready to strike the fox down if she made any more sudden movements toward his Master. The tip of a silver gun now pointing at the back of her head from the depths of his shadows.
"Maybe this time, I will not shed another innocent soul.."Asami finished and with that she bowed her head, even her upper body slightly hunched over, causing her midnight black hair to cascade around her. Both of the assassins blades now displayed to Integra with her necklace wrapped around them, they laid opposite of one another and in her out stretched palms. Asami was portraying an old action from her homeland in which she was raised in. This notion gave the person who was receiving it the ability to end her life that minute, if they saw it fitting to do so. This was her way of disclaiming that she belonged to Integra now and would follow any orders she demanded of her.
Of course Integra only gave the girl a puzzled expression in return, "I assume that is a yes. If so, then the Hellsing organization is glad to have you on our side. You are free to take your possessions and will be issued a uniform in the following hours. The room you woke in will be your room from now on and you should find your clothing awaiting you. You may take your leave now, Kimi. I need to be left alone with my thoughts."
Ah yes, that was her name. Lifting her head up and pulling her arms to her body, she unwrapped her blades before placing both her kukri knives back into the container. 'I'm just happy she didn't ask about the pendent..' Asami thought while signing in relief. She took the pendent and placed it around her neck, hiding it once more beneath her sweater before picking up the box and proceeded to leave as her new boss informed her to do. When she stepped out she saw that Walter was waiting on the other side.
"Follow me, Miss Kumiko."
Integra's POV
As soon as Kimi left another presence became visible, his form shifting out from the far wall. His large red hat and glasses shadowing most of his face, but the smirk was still noticeable. "Alucard, I know she is hiding something.. she is strong and clearly powerful and I do not know the extent of her full powers.. if she does anything out of line toward us, I want you to end her life. You understand, servant?" that was Sir Integra's orders.
"Of course Master." his smirk twitched up into a grin as he cocked his head, an eye coming into view over those orangesh-red glasses. He found this to be quite exciting for even he has never been faced with such a foe, if that day was to come. From what Alucard could tell, she was much stronger then many vampires he had faced yet weaker then them at the same time. She did almost die form a bullet wound. 'Such an odd... demon.'
"You are dismissed." Alucard's Master declared, seeing no need to talk further. Taking a step back without another word, Alucard shifted into the wall, disappearing.
"This is just bloody perfect.. "she signed as she took her glasses off, sitting them down on her desk. The other hand now giving a light squeeze to the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. "Humans disappearing, towns being over run with ghouls with frequent vampire attacks, and now a time-dimension traveling fox.. just perfect."
Asami's POV
Give or take, fifteen minutes had ticked by since they began walking. The old butler, Walter, giving her a tour. So far the layout of the mansion was exactly what she originally thought. 'Even though it's a little over one-hundred years in the future.. and the furniture looks better, it feels very 19th century. I could get used to this.' Of course Asami didn't live in a mansion in the 1900's, but she still visited them on occasions. More so for the sake of a mission..
They were currently on the main floor. "And this here is the facility, there are meals scheduled but other then that; it is open at all hours of the day."Walter informed. The fox's nose tingled as she gave the room a look over. A few men dressed like the ones they walked past previously, were sitting about in clusters eating. The atmosphere felt friendly and upbeat and the food smelled good. Asami didn't know if she would visit this place often or not, maybe on the off hours with less people. Turning around she nodded to the greying man and with that; he lead her to another hall still on the main floor.
"The solders living corridors."then turned toward the stairs. It made since to have the main bruit of the forces on the entry floor so Asami didn't question it. 'Originally that should be the servant's corridors but I guess solders are servants in their own way.. just like I.' Stepping just a stride behind the butler, Asami kept in step as her long-semi-bushy tail swished behind her. The box with her blades resting in one arm, the other swinging by her side. Even though less then an hour ago she was in a life changing predicament, her body language seemed quite chippy. They stepped up to the 2nd floor in which Asami recognized already but they still paused, Walter speaking again."The main business floor. Sir Integra's office along with our equipment rooms are on this level." then they were off to another floor up.
"The meeting rooms and other large dormitories, like the Library."
"Mhm." Came the tone of Asami as Walter continued onward to the fourth floor, her floor.
"The main living corridors, Miss. Your room is the fourth door to the right. That is the end of the tour." if they still followed traditions like they did back in the 18th-19th century, Sir Integra most likely lived on this floor as well. The owners of Mansions often took up residents on the highest floor which meant this estate was only 4 floors high. She turned to the greying man and took a small bow.
"Thank you for the tour Walter, much appreciated." when she stood up right again, a small smile graced the elder mans face, his eyes shut.
"You are quite welcome Miss Kumiko. I will now locate you a uniform and will return in a few hours." he ended with before turning on the heel of his black boots, walking down the stairs. Finally leaving the fox spirit alone.
Asami walked down the hall, the sounds of her bare feet hitting the hard floor being the only sound playing off the walls until a faint noise caught her attention. It sounded like wind drafting from a open window. Stopping only a door or two away from her new room, she turned around knowing now no windows lined the inner walls of the Hellsing estate. She was faced with nothing and this made her scowl as her ears lifted to their full extent and began to strain, trying to hear the noise again. Her golden eyes squinted, trying to catch anything that moved.
A rather amused vampire stood at the end of the dark hallway staring back. He barely made a sound when he materialized through the wall yet the fox heard him. She now stood there staring straight back at him but clearly he was faraway enough to the point she couldn't make his figure out from within the shadows. 'Just like a dog, her hearing is good but her sight is poor..'
Relaxing Asami closed her eyes for a second, letting out a sigh. "Large buildings and their sounds traveling capabilities.." she mutter to herself before turning around and closing in the couple of steps to her door. She didn't know what made that noise but it made her feel uneasy. There was just something... eerie out there in the shadows. She gave a short glance before turning the handle and stepping through, closing it behind her. Asami knew if she were to just use her powers, she could of found out if there was indeed something there but she knew she shouldn't so she ignored it, for now.
Just as Integra said; her clothes now sat on her bed, cleaned and neatly folded. Asami picked up her old tattered cloak and slipped it on over her head then wrapped the leather black skirt around her hips. Pausing, she lifted her sweater up and begin to unwrap the bandages, needing to see what state the wound was in. There was still a small puncture wound with light bruising to the skin around it but it wasn't nearly as bad then what a human would be experiencing. Asami wasn't surprise to find stitches either. Keeping her sweater up with one hand, she placing her free palm to the wound and begin to concentrate. Purple aura slowly seeped around her hand and she could feel the heat center on the wound. Her teeth clenched as she continue this for a good minute before pushing away the dark magic, not wanting to use it for too long. Looking down once her hand was removed, Asami now saw what looked to be a small gash and nothing more, the stitches gone. Even so she knew her insides will still need time to recover. Kistune or not, it was a vital shot so she decided against the corset still resting on her bed. She pulled her sweater down and proceeded to slip her boots on and buckle them. Picking up her belt she then fixed it to her hips before taking her blades from the container and pushed them into the sheaths. They now sat on the belt behind her in their proper place. Picking up the last piece of her outfit, she pulled on the fingerless black gloves before turning away from the bed. Now geared up she walked to the window. The fox spirit did sleep for more then two days so there was no way she was tired. 'And no way am I just hanging around in a room when I have a few hours to myself..'
Unlocking the window she gave them a tug, lifting the large window up with ease before jumping up and perching right on the window seal. Her mind shadowed with thoughts as she stared down at the ground. 'I have my own secrets.. I bet Sir Integra also has her own.. Though I want to find out exactly what it is, I don't want them to find out about mine.. damn.' and with that she jumped, landing four stories down with a light thud. Her body did crouch a little from being sore when her body made contact with the ground. Standing up she took off in a light sprint, not wanting to over do her body during the recovery stage, but wanted enough speed to jump the large fence ahead. Now Asami wasn't running away, no she was a fox of her word, but she needed time to think and what better to do then a lovely run while the sun was setting. The night being her favorite time of the day.
So Alucard was featured but has yet to actually meet Asami face to face. Asami doesn't even know that the Hellsing organization even have vampires for pet(s)! Oh boy, lol. Anyways, I honestly don't know if I captured their character in speech very well.. like.. it's hard, okay!? If I didn't, I am sorry- I tried. ^^;; I wonder if Asami evening jog will get her in trouble? Please leave a review and I am more then game for some insight on opinions on the direction everything is going so far. I do have a major plot already written out but that doesn't mean I can't or wont accept some awesome ideas! Till next time,
-Kitt-chan
