Integra in Training
Interlude: Lesson
The next evening, she carried the sword down to the courtyard with trepidation. This didn't seem like such a good idea after she'd had a day to think about it. After all, Alucard was hardly likely to take this seriously. And she did not want to be in his debt. Allowing him to be her teacher altered their relationship, no matter how much he persisted in addressing her as 'Master.' She preferred not to think about what his arm looked like, laying on the ground.
But he was waiting for her, as eager as ever. "Good evening, Master."
She nodded to him, hoping to demonstrate her readiness despite her misgivings.
He did not bother moving from where he was leaning against a column on the edge of the courtyard. His hat was gone and his long untamed hair fell across his face. Outside, the sun had not yet set, but it had dipped below the roof, leaving them in the shadows of early dusk.
He taught her how to fight. Nothing fancy, no complicated feints. Just a direct lesson in how to use a blade as a deadly weapon. His body served as her target, his arm blocking her thrusts when they were too weak or half-hearted. She saw first hand what the result of each blow would be; which ones drew blood or crunched bone. He claimed a sword could slice right through a person, but she was skeptical. Maybe with him wielding it, but she would never be as strong as he was, not even if she practiced every day. Still, she could learn to deal death with this sword as surely as with her gun. She knew that now. It was exhausting work, though. And she was so inelegant!
She sat down on the edge of the fountain, catching her breath. He waited patiently, completely unphased by their earlier activities. "You've always called me Master," she said at length.
"That is what you are. I like to use true names."
"Alucard isn't your true name, is it?"
His smile did not falter. "It was the name that was given to me, by my master. It is mine."
"But you could call meā¦mistress," she said.
"What you are is my master. You may be mistress of this house, but that does not concern me."
"It's strange. You are the only one who does not treat me only as a woman. And you aren't even human."
"Appearances don't matter, Master." His voice was unusually sincere.
They continued the lesson until it was truly dark, and she had trouble seeing. He reminded her to clean her blade, then sent her to bed like a little girl; she tried to ignore his mocking. As she dragged herself up the stairs, she knew she would sleep well.
Author's Note: This is the same story it was before. I'm just breaking it up into chapters now, since it had natural breaks in it anyway.
