A/N: AAAAAHHHHHH! I just bought the first episode of the OVA, and I'm currently freaking out. AAAAAAHHHHH! I'M SO HAPPY! -Clears throat- Anyway, thanks to those of you who stopped and took the time to review. I really appreciate the input. Sorry this took so long… I'm struggling through my writer's block with fangs and claws outstretched.

(Anonymous Reviewer Responses Below)

To Ashley: Not quite. You'll see. (She has Braille documents, so they don't know she can't read them.)

To Crossfire: Nice to see you again!

To Integra Admirer: Thanks, and I love Teggy too.

To Tigerlover 77: Thanks, and I will, assuming you read it. : )

To Nightcat: Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing.

The high-backed chair was stiff, and uncomfortable, like all the other chairs in the dining room. The poor excuse for padding dug into my shoulder blades through my jacket and blouse. I held the fork in my left hand, and my broken right lay in my lap. This would be hard enough even if I had my sight. I poked around the plate and winced at the scrape of metal on glass. My searching tines found a square of meat, and I slowly brought the fork up to my mouth. I nearly missed. "Bugger," I whispered. Finally the steak found my tongue, and I savored the heavy taste.

"Sir?" A timid voice called from a good distance away, probably at the other end of the table, near the door.

"Yes, Seras?" I sounded tired, even to myself.

"I've-I've come to make my report, Sir." I sighed, and set down the fork on my plate. Why did Walter send the girl in while I was eating? Or, did she come in herself? What does it bloody matter now; she's here, isn't she?

"Then take a seat and do so. Please, Seras, make it fast." Bed was starting to sound very inviting. I've had a long day… and night, for that matter. It must be close to dawn. I heard the scrape of the chair on my left, and a rustle of cloth as Seras seated herself, I assume.

"Well, the um, target, was eliminated. However, we did lose one man." Her voice dropped in sorrow. Poor girl must hate herself right now. Good. It will teach her caution. I turned my head to where her voice was coming from, and I almost felt her squirm. What a sight I must be!

"Another life wasted. Such a pity, don't you think?"

"Ah…" I heard her swallow. "Yes, Sir Integra."

I decided to be kind. I smiled. "Seras, if the sight of me bothers you, than look away. I won't know." I turned to look straight ahead, and my fork began to explore my plate again. Seras stayed put, like a good soldier. I hadn't dismissed her. I found a hunk of potato, and brought it to my lips with care.

She broke the silence first. "Sir? How do you do it?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, first you stab a piece of food. Next, you put it in your mouth. Then, you chew and swallow. It's quite simple, really." I popped the potato into my mouth and demonstrated. She chuckled nervously.

"No, I mean, how do you keep going? If I was blinded… my whole world would end." I sighed, and set my fork down once more with a sharp clatter.

"Seras, the world will not end because I can no longer see it. If anything, it moves faster. The freaks will be out in full force now that I can no longer play an active role in exterminating them. I have no time to grieve, no time to wallow in sorrow. I must be stronger than I ever was before. I know that in my heart, in my soul. That for God and Her Majesty, I must be all I can be, and more. The trust of the country is in us, and I will not make them regret it. And, no matter what, neither will you."

"Yes, sir!" She stood, the chair skidding on the floor.

"However, I have a special assignment for you. You are to stay here at the mansion tomorrow night. Details tomorrow, as well. Now, go to your coffin. It's almost dawn. Good day. Dismissed." I heard the soft impacts of her shoes on the wood floor all the way to the door, and then the squeak of hinges as she exited.

I smiled at my plate. Finally! Then I can get some rest.

Sometimes I regretted refusing a cane. This was one of those times. I carefully put one foot in front of the other, my good hand on the hallway wall. I knew that when my hand bumped an ornately carved picture frame I would be directly in front of my room. So, I walked. There was a flurry of footsteps closing in from behind me, and a chatty conversation as well. Their words died quickly, probably from the sight of me. The footsteps picked up pace, and I felt them pass by me, with a "Good Morning, Sir Hellsing." A woman's voice, probably a maid.

"Good Morning," I growled back. I was in no mood for pleasantries. The footsteps faded away, ending with the opening and closing of a door. My hand ran into carved wood, and I traced the lazy designs. My door was right across the hall. I took a deep breath and crossed the hall in two strides, hands out in front of me. I found the door, and entered the privacy of my room. Only one more thing before bed.

-Alucard-

"Yes, my Master?" A sudden chill invaded my room, and I shivered.

"You will be dealing with tomorrow night's heathens. I expect them to be taken care of cleanly and efficiently. Understood?" I found my armoire, and grasped the handle in my left hand.

There was a pause, and then, "Of course."

"Seras will remain behind."

He only grunted in reply.

"I'm going to bed now, you should retire as well."

"Good Morning, Master." I felt him fade away, the temperature in the room returning to normal.

I dressed for bed, albeit slower than before. I left my suit in a pile on the floor, and slipped under my covers. The room's spring heat was laced with ice once more, and I felt the singular sensation of being watched. Does he ever give up? I felt myself slipping away, and even with the phantom eyes holding a silent vigil, I didn't feel safe. My vulnerability was a chill in my limbs, even under the thick winter comforter. Cold? In the spring?

Will I ever feel safe again?

"Reporting for duty, Sir!" Seras certainly is bright this evening, but this leaves me with a dilemma. Is she saluting, or not? I sat stiffly in my office chair, and sighed. Risk sounding like an idiot, or risk her standing on ceremony? I decided to take the middle path.

"Very good. Come, take a seat." There, that can be seen as an "at ease" or not. I listened to the small noises of her movement as she settled herself in the chair across from my desk. Little sounds I had never noticed before. How… odd. I once read that losing one sense made the others stronger. "I'm sure you're curious as to what your assignment is."

"Yes, sir." She does love that phrase. I folded my hands on top of the pile of documents I needed to wade through.

"Read this out loud." I scooted the first paper towards the opposite edge of my desk. It was slipped out from under my touch, and she cleared her throat.

"Director Hellsing, We of the UWAS, Railway Division, are filing a complaint with the recent actions of your organization. We feel that you have overstepped yourself in the process of crowd control by destroying our workplace. The railway workers who are a part of the United Workers Association for Success are being put out of the workforce. We at the UWAS (Railway Division) cannot simply stand by and let them go without some form of restitution. We demand that you fund the rebuilding of the 142nd station and see that registered UWAS citizens are given jobs. We feel that these are reasonable demands, due to the extent of the damage. Hoping to build a better workplace, The UWAS Railway Division." She finished with a flourish, and then, "But what does this have to do with my assignment? I don't understand. Although, those railway workers are brave for standing up to us, even though they don't quite know what they're blabbering about."

I sighed. "Seras, reading me these papers is your assignment. As for the union, don't worry about it. Just start up my computer, please. There should be a document format for official letters, with the Hellsing crest at the top and a place for me to sign at the bottom." There was some clicking, and the hum of my computer filled the room.

"Found it," she said triumphantly. "Now what, sir?"

"Take down what I say. To the UWAS, Railway Division…" I dictated a response to the UWAS, basically telling them, "tough luck." Those ungrateful fools. They had no idea who they were dealing with. Crowd control, honestly now. Did they not see the ghouls? Well, perhaps it's best. I wouldn't want to have to explain it to civilians. The printer whined into life, spilling out the document on expensive tan paper. I remembered the color and texture of it, and wondered why we bought it. Well, why Walter bought it. He handled office supplies. Not directly, of course… being the chief of my staff, he merely gave instructions to a lower staff member.

"Did you spell-check it?" I heard her gasp, and there was some frantic clicking.

"Err, no. One second." She made some adjustments with the keyboard, and then the printer clicked, and spit out a new copy. I still wasn't quite sure.

"Read it back to me." She did so, and I pointed out several errors. More typing later, she slipped the finished letter under my hands. I found my pen, and set my hand in writing position.

"Um, sir? That's the middle of the letter." I sighed in exasperation.

"Would you be so kind as to line me up, Seras?" A warm hand brushed against mine, and careful fingers set my pen on the paper in a different spot. The hand lingered, before being quickly withdrawn. What was that about? I signed in as straight of a line as I could manage, then had her place it in a pile.

It's going to be a long night…

An hour and a half. It took us almost two hours to get through twenty-five papers and ten additional responses. Dear God. We're finally done. I covered my face in my hands and took a deep breath.

"Sir? Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine." I let out a sigh. "I'm just rather peeved it took us so damned long."

"I… I'm sorry, Sir. That's my fault." I raised my face as she stood, an automatic gesture.

I smiled by way of apology. That's what I get for speaking my mind. "No, Seras, you did your damnedest. Don't. Just… don't start pitying yourself. That is a road to disaster."

"Yes'm."

"Dismissed. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Senior Officer."

"Yes sir. You- you too."

I fished around in my drawer for my cigars, expecting to hear the door. When I didn't, I called out, "Yes?"

"I, well, I just wanted to say that It's not hard to look at you. I've been thinking, since you said that, you see, and I don't have trouble looking at you, sir. Oh, bugger, that didn't come out right!" I heard her gasp, and I chuckled despite myself.

"Thank you, Seras. I'd return the compliment, but it would be nonsense coming from me, now."

"Well, right then." The door opened and shut, and I was alone. Instead of resuming the hunt for a smoke, I scooted my chair back and stood. I walked around my seat, and reached out a hand to touch the full curtains that covered my office window. I lifted them back with my left hand, and put the tips of my right on the cool glass. I couldn't quite remember the view, and I could only imagine it now.

Funny, the things you end up regretting in life. I let the curtains fall back into place, and wondered if the office light was still on. Someone will turn it off, I'm sure. For now… I'm going for a bloody walk. Maybe, just maybe, I could make up for those lost memories…

…Who am I fooling? I can never regain that lost time.

But, I can at least try to make new time.

I carefully guided myself around my desk, and made for the door.