Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Hellsing and make no money from these writings.

Like the Dawn

Chapter Four

Kagome watched the scenery pass by as brick and buildings gradually faded into grass and trees. Her eyes wandered around the interior of the car with its plush leather seats and wood paneling and finally came to rest on the man who had picked her up at the airport. She'd seen him almost immediately after stepping off the plane and into the terminal, a relatively attractive man in his mid- to late-forties, if she had to guess, holding a sign that read "Higurashi." He had an easy smile and introduced himself as Arthur. He then helped her find her bags, get through the customs check, and get her things into the car.

"So Arthur…?" Kagome began as a way to get his attention. She was sitting in the back seat while Arthur drove, so while he couldn't turn and face her, he did turn his head slightly to indicate that he'd heard her.

"Yes, Miss?"

"I thought Integra...Ms. Hellsing...Sir...?" Kagome rattled off, very unsure of what to call her biological mother. With a sigh just continued on with her initial question. "I thought she lived in London?"

Arthur nodded in understanding before he explained, "Sir Integra's family estate is in the countryside just outside of the city."

"Oh, okay then," Kagome said as she leaned back into her seat. It was too quiet in the car for her tastes, so she tried to fill the silence again. "How long have you worked for her?"

"I've been in the Hellsing family's employ since I was eleven years old, Miss," Arthur answered calmly.

Kagome leaned forward to peek over the back of the front seat so that she could see the side of Arthur's face. "Really?" She asked in surprise. "Aren't there, I don't know, child labor laws against that or something?"

Arthur chuckled a little at her obvious concern. After all, what kind of person would hire an eleven-year-old child? "Perhaps "employ" isn't the correct term to use," Arthur amended. "I'm sure you know about the attack on London thirty years ago?" When he heard Kagome hum in affirmation, he continued, "I was eleven at the time. A school friend had invited me along on a holiday with his family, so I wasn't in the city when the attack happened. Unfortunately, my parents weren't able to leave the city in time and were among the casualties. When I returned, I had nothing left; no home, no family, nowhere to go. But, for reasons I may never fully know, Sir Integra took me into her home. She clothed me, fed me, and sent me to school, and I trained to be the butler of the house."

"Oh, I'm...I'm sorry about your family," she responded unsure of what else there was to say. She also felt a little bad for thinking that he was older than he actually was.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Miss," Arthur reassured her. "It all happened a very long time ago, and I enjoy what I do now."

Deciding to change the subject away from the past, Kagome questioned, "So exactly what does a butler do?"

"I manage the rest of the staff in the house and make sure that things run smoothly and as they should. Though I'm also trained and prepared to take on any other task Sir Integra asks of me," Arthur explained even if he was a little vague towards the end.

Kagome arched a brow at his last sentence. "Like picking up people from the airport?" She asked with a bit of sarcasm lacing its way into her tone.

"From time to time," Arthur responded in kind as his smile broadened. "Ah, we're approaching the house now," he said as they turned onto the main driveway.

Kagome turned her eyes forward and felt them grow wide. That was not just a house. It was a mansion at the very least. And who in the world would need that many rooms? Perfectly trimmed topiaries lined the driveway and Kagome couldn't seem to stop openly gawking at the vastness of just the front yard of the estate. She felt the car come to a stop and looked back to Arthur only to see him getting out of the car. Her eyes followed him as he walked around to open her door for her. Taking his offered hand, she slid out of the backseat and tugged at the hem of her cardigan in an effort to smooth out her clothes. She had just covered her mouth in a small yawn when the front door of the house opened.

Two men stepped outside and made their way down the stone steps. Frowning a little in confusion, Kagome watched them make their way towards the trunk of the car and begin unloading her bags. It was a big house and Arthur had stated that he managed the rest of the house staff, so naturally she expected there to be other people working around the estate. What she hadn't expected were for them to be in uniform. They weren't wearing nice suits like Arthur. They were in uniforms that more closely resembled the police or possibly even military.

"Ah, thank you, gentlemen," Arthur said as he turned to look at them. "If you would, take everything to the room that's been prepared for Ms. Higurashi." The men nodded and gathered up her bags, but she didn't miss the way they looked her over as if sizing her up when they walked by.

When Arthur turned to address her again, he saw the look of surprise and confusion that she was giving him. "Our household staff is a bit...different from what you might find at other estates. I'm sure Sir Integra will explain it when you meet with her later this afternoon."

"Later this afternoon?" She asked to no one in particular. "What time is it now?"

Checking his watch, Arthur answered, "It's a quarter past three, Miss."

"You can call me Kagome, you know. I really don't mind," she told him with a smile and another small yawn.

Arthur motioned for them to go into the house as he shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, Miss, but it wouldn't be proper."

Kagome and Arthur made their way up the mansion's stone steps and through the large wooden door that had been left open by the men in uniforms. Looking around the large front hall for only a moment, Kagome's attention was soon captured by Arthur again. "This way," he motioned before starting up a flight of stairs that ran up the wall to their right.

Following quickly so that she wouldn't get left behind or lost, Kagome decided to voice a question she'd had since they were outside. "Why am I meeting," she paused again, unsure of what name to use before just choosing one and continuing, "Ms. Hellsing later this afternoon? I thought...I don't know, I thought she would want to meet me when I got here?"

"Sir Integra had a small business matter to attend to this afternoon, so I thought that you might like to use this time to freshen up from your trip," Arthur informed her as he glanced back to where she was walking a couple of paces behind him. When Kagome yawned again, Arthur continued, "A nice bath and some fresh clothes might be just the thing to help you wake up a little, hm?"

"I slept for most of the plane ride," Kagome frowned a little. "Why am I still so tired?"

Arthur paused in his stride and turned around to face Kagome fully. "Aside from having had a very long day, I'd say it has something to do with Japan being roughly eight hours ahead of Great Britain. That means that it's nearing midnight in Japan. It would seem that you have jet lag."

"Great," Kagome grumbled as she caught up to Arthur. "But a bath does sound really nice."

"We're almost to you room," Arthur smiled as he began walking again. "Either myself or Ms. Victoria will give you a proper tour of the estate at a later time."

Kagome nodded and continued to follow after the butler who was probably at least a good six inches taller than she was. As they walked in silence, she let her gaze roam around the hall. Windows lined the outer wall and she could see the large expanse of yard behind the mansion. The lighting from intervaled sconces was soft though she was almost positive that they'd been adapted for using light bulbs rather than candles.

As they turned a corner and started down a hallway that lead away from the natural light provided by the windows, Kagome paused. A chill ran over her as he stomach twisted. There had been a tingle here and there upon entering the mansion, but this hallway was different. She felt like eyes were watching her from all directions and it set her on edge. But there was nothing there. Nothing that she could see, anyway. It was just Arthur walking down an otherwise empty hallway. Kagome nearly jumped out of her skin when Arthur called out to her.

"Ms. Higurashi?" Arthur questioned when he noticed Kagome still standing at the end of the hall. "This is your room," he gestured towards a door.

Kagome lightly jogged down to where Arthur waited for her and stepped into her new room when he opened the door for her. Big was the first thing that came to mind. A big room with a big bed and a big dresser. The closet was big and the attached bathroom was big. The bedroom walls were a deep maroon while the furniture pieces were all made of a matching darkly stained and polished wood. All of the dark colors were off-set by cream-colored linens and accents. Looking around, she spotted her pink luggage in a small sitting area with a chaise lounge. "This is my room?"

"Is this room suitable?" Arthur questioned as he watched her take several steps into the room to examine a vanity table.

Running her fingers over the smooth, polished, and spotless wood of the vanity top, Kagome looked around the room again. There were two large windows on either side of the bed, both with a gauzy set of cream curtains that were pulled shut and a set of heavier brown curtains that were tied back. The room was grand and beautiful. It fit the mansion very well. She just wasn't sure if it fit her. Honestly, it was more space than she knew what to do with. "No," she finally answered at length. "It's great. Thanks, Arthur," Kagome smiled at the older man.

"Would you like for me to get a bath started for you?" Arthur asked from the doorway.

Kagome shook her head as she took a few steps back towards him. "I think I can manage. Thank you, though."

"Very well, then. The linen closet with fresh towels is over there and there should be soaps, shampoo, and conditioner on the shelves in the bathroom. If you have a particular brand that you prefer, I can add that to the list of supplies needed for the house." Arthur watched Kagome turn her head to peek into the bathroom from where she stood. "Since you aren't familiar with the house yet, I would suggest staying in your room until I come to get you later. You wouldn't want to get lost."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Kagome answered a little absently, still trying to take in all the little details of her room. "It'll give me time to unpack."

"Then I'll leave you to your bath, Miss," Arthur finished with a slight bow before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. Once in the hall, he paused, listened, and waited until he heard the water turn on in Kagome's bathroom. With a tired sigh, Arthur called out, "Alucard."

"Yes?" The tall vampire inquired as he exited the room across the hall, opting to step through the wall rather than use the door. He looked all too pleased with himself in Arthur's opinion.

"Sir Integra will be angry if you reveal yourself to her guest before she has the chance to speak with her," Arthur warned, but he knew that he couldn't really do anything to stop Alucard if he really wanted to do something.

"Don't worry," Alucard placated in a smooth yet slightly taunting tone. "I was just testing the waters a little."

Arthur turned away from the taller man and began walking back down the hall the way he'd come. "At least she seems to have the good sense to be fearful when danger is near," he commented.

Alucard hummed deep in his throat as he turned back to stare at Kagome's bedroom door. What Arthur had said wasn't quite right. The woman had paused, yes, and she'd been wary of entering the hallway where he'd been lurking. But that was it. She was cautious, not fearful. And that one small fact about her intrigued Alucard more than he'd ever expected.