Chapter 10 "Better Up Close"

I thanked Heinkel once more for one of her pistols and apologized for Kiristuo's shitty attitude before chambering a round and sliding on the safety of the gun, ensuring I wouldn't put a hole in my thigh by accident. I hopped into the vent and discovered it went straight for about a meter before dropping a bit, I peered over my shoulder just in time to see the big oak doors to the waiting room close. "Took them forever to get here but they ditch us in ten seconds flat. I think they don't have a high opinion if us, Buddy." I said with a laugh. Kirisuto mumbled in response, he was obviously kinda cranky after he was woken from his itsy bitsy...coma. The sound of a steady march consisting of sluggish feet halted any more detailed response Kirisuto may have had. He tensed up and I heard him carefully wiggle in the vent before tossing back his shirt that landed on my head, I looked up to slap his fat ass in frustration at his antics and get some payback but instead I was met with a terrifying scene.

Kirisuto was once again on all fours at rest behind the army of ghouls and staring directly at the back of the head vampire, Jan Valentine. I crawled forward and pointed my firearms toward the ghouls, ready to fire when Kirisuto made his move. I predicted he would silently try to kill the vampire as quickly as possible and not give him the chance to fight back. Instead he tensed up, lifting both arms as the muscles on his back rippled causing some that weren't as apparent before to extend and form crests along his body. His spine kinda popped out with a sickening crack and with a bloodcurdling roar he slammed his hands into the fine wood floor just as a burning red mist seemed to seep from his body. I immediately started shooting the Ghouls closest to our position as Kiri proceeded to choke slam the vampire before grabbing him by the leg and tossing him into the wall. He then turned and noticed the big oak doors were still shut so he growled, I'm not joking he growled like an animal before saying in the most authoritative voice I ever heard, "THAT'S THE SIGNAL BITCHES!" Causing the doors to spring open and a hail of gunfire to emerge from within. Seconds after speaking, the monstrous teen round house kicked the air and the walls in front of him bent inwards with a crunch while the ghouls got tossed into the direction of the kick. Some of their rotten corpses popped from the force of the blow while others broken bones and what not. I unloaded all the rounds in my magazines into the ghouls that attempted to get their feet and as I moved to reload I looked up to see Kirisuto inches from my face. I took in his demented features up close with a shiver. The skin under his eyes and his eye lids were blackened, elongated fangs jutted from his panting mouth, his hair was wild, an elaborate tattoo that seemed to be made of lava covered his stomach and his finger nails had darkened as well as lengthened to a point. But the most apparent change was his eyes, the scalera of his eye had become gray while his eyes were now crimson with four little comma like makings surrounding his slitted iris. He pulled a pair of knives from his pack and threw them at the vampire, impaling his wrists to the wall...while he was upside down. He then turned to me, smiled and said, "Nice shooting, Seras. But I'd prefer if you fight up close like me..." I looked at him confused but before I could utter a syllable he placed a red mist covered hand against my cheek and my face heated up. My throat went dry, my senses heightened and I knew exactly what I wanted...

I had given into to my immense hatred once more...and it was GLORIOUS! I let out a cackle as I saw Seras rush into the mob of undead and seized two of them by the skull. She then crushed one skull on the spot as she used the other as a club to beat a few other ghouls into a puddle of gore. The ghouls began to surround her and get back into their crowd formation when she decided to bug out and leapt to my side once more. I examined her from the corner of my eye. Her eyes held specks of multiple shades of red and her iris became slitted, while she also gained dark pigmentation under her eyes and all her teeth sharpened to a point. She was a respectable monster in her own right. "See anything you like?" She said in a somewhat deeper, sexier in my opinion, voice as she turned to look at me full on. If I was in control, or had even a sliver of my previous mind I'd insult her, call her dumb or maybe even blush a little but...I wasn't in control. "I see a lot I like...but that can wait for later. I need to return the favor for you slapping my ass." I said in my venomous voice. She merely giggled and leapt past my behind on the way to fuck up Jan, stroking my bare back rather softly on the way. It was my turn to giggle before I gave my attention back to the ghoul horde, or rather a certain person behind them. "Katsuye-chan~! Front and center!" I exclaimed in Japanese, startling the nun and causing Katsuye-chan to sigh heavilly before popping her brown-haired head over the fence. "Shield the men by the door, I'm busting out some Sickles!" Her face paled slightly before she motioned for everyone to stand back. Throwing caution to the wind, I rushed a pair of ghouls and slammed my open palm into their chest. Sensing how close I was, the ghouls' eyes widened along with their mouths and they moved to devour me only to make a horrible gurgling noise before a large amount of blood flooded from every orifice of their face. All of the blood collected into a pool above their desiccated bodies before splitting up into twelve globules that were about the width of a kickball and a yard in length. I formed my hands into tight fists and the globules formed creatures that resembled rib cages with large curved teeth jutting out of the jaws of their "heads." I then pointed at the mob of the dead and said with an excited tone, "Ice Style: Sickle Animation!" The works of organic art suddenly gained life of their own and swam through the air towards the ghouls, some tore their flesh with their jaws or by constricting them with their jagged ribs, while others liquified once more and then invaded the ghouls' bodies and spawned more Sickles from the Ghouls' bodily fluids. Having bought myself time, I tore open my wrists with my teeth and let the blood drip down to my finger tips, freezing the blood as it dripped to form six-inch long talons that covered my digits. All of my cockiness was quickly put in check by a well placed bullet to the temple by a long-haired blond that appeared behind me. My world faded to black and all thoughts ceased as the bullet penetrated my skull, passed through my brain tissues and exploded.

My blood rage was halted at the sight of Kirisuto's head being blown apart by this...fucker. I stared at the blond as my anger rose to a whole new height and I started to scream in frustration as I charged the blonde newcomer with my fangs bared.

I did my best to lead the Sickles away from our allies when one strayed a bit too far from the pack. I heard a rather powerful gunshot and turned to the source...only to see Kiri's headless body hit the floor. I let out an ear-splitting screech and my scales flared black before I leapt to impale the person nearest to Kiri with my knife.

The two women were inches from rending the flesh off the blond man's bones when they both got grabbed by the throat and choked. They gagged while their dark-skinned assailant squealed in glee before mimicking his attacker's technique by slamming them to the ground and pinned Seras with a boot to the throat while Luke had his gun trained on Katsuye's cheek. "I'm going to make you two wish you were dead!" Jan said as he reached for the waistband of his track pants. Katsuye slightly shivered while Seras started to tear up. Luke was unsympathetic and just told him to hurry up while the others still had to deal with the ghouls.

I opened my eyes and felt pain all over my face, the only amount of pain comparable to this was when I was branded then had a chunk of molten ore shoved in my abdomen. "Sweet memories..." I thought before I looked up to see the vampire Jan with his member exposed and reaching for Seras. All thoughts of cynicism disappeared from my mind.

I fought tears as this monster reached for me. I was about to close my eyes and pass out from the lack of oxygen until all the pressure on my throat ceased immediately, I looked up to see Jan and the blond suspend in mid air by some...thing. It was somewhat humanoid in shape but looked like a person with all their skin removed and covered by red acrylic paint with two growths extending from the back of its head. It then tossed them in the air and impaled them with two of it's large tendril like tails. Though they didn't die instead the blond one leveled his sawed-off M1 Carbine at the creature and shot at it repeatedly. But to no avail, the creature's skin was too tough, the thing then plunged a large claw into Jan's chest, causing him to scream in pain. The blond yelled for him to stop but only received another tail to the chest in response. The creature then spoke in a terrifying, vengeful voice, "I only wish I could give you the death you deserve but I cannot waste time on such pathetic, vile, immature beings. You both are the reason I hate everyone, you make life so much worse and my only happiness is that I get to kill all of you weak-willed, retarded fucks as much as I want. I'm only going to give you enough time to say goodbye to your little brother." The older brother turned to talk to Jan but was interrupted when one of the tails crawled up his chest and broke his neck. Jan screamed in protest only to be silenced by a claw to the groin. "I kept my promise...I gave him a couple of seconds, it's not my fault he didn't inherit the same gene that makes you unable to shut the fuck up." The red demon said before vaulting over the barricade, Jan in tow, before slamming open the doors to the conference room. I rose and hurried after to protect Integra only to see he tossed Jan to her feet and ripped off his arms. "It took time, Ms. Integra but I did it." The beast said as he slammed Jan's face to the pavement and the red substance peeled off the creature. "Speak." The creature continued, this time in a voice that was quieter than a whisper as he seemed to calm down. I leapt to Integra's side with my guns trained on the monster, I could see in my peripheral vision that the Iscariot soldiers did the same. The creature's...shell, for the lack of a better term, started to crack before it all shattered and dissipated within seconds. Now standing before Integra was a exhausted Kirisuto covered in blood with a hand covered in blue mist placed on the skin between Jan's shoulder blades. "I'm not telling you British fucks shit! You think my boss will let me live if I do!?" Jan cried to in protest before Kirisuto tensed his arm muscles and Jan began to grunt. Crimson icicles then jutted out from the small of his back at random angles and his grunts became screams. "You never shut the hell up when you hurt good people, I'd guess you never have shut the fuck up for longer that five minutes your entire life. So why don't you talk now?" Kirsuto asked causing Jan to start to laugh before spitting on Integra. Kirisuto started to act before Integra's hand twitched before she drew her rapier and impaled Jan through the thigh all the way to the floorboards. She the grabbed him by the track suit collar and ordered him to talk. He grit his teeth and was about to speak before he erupted on blue flames, Integra immediately looked at Kiri. "It wasn't me! I can't make blue flames!" He explained, causing Integra to grit her teeth as Jan laughed loudly. "Now I'm on fucking fire! So I guess I'll give y'all a freebie. I was sent by some hard asses called Millennium...and you..." He said as he turned to face Kirisuto just as one of his eyeballs popped from the intense heat. "You...I couldn't beat you but they will...Hahahaha...all that shit's an act and you will be even more fucked up than I am now when they get their hands on you." Jan said, taking a deep breath to no doubt consider his considerably long last words.

"Alrighty then...I look forward to that. Though it seems this Millennium isn't as scary as you say if their flames are so...weak. Let me stoke them a bit." The teen responded in an uncharacteristically cheery voice. He made another set of weird poses with his hands before extending a length of wire and wrapping it around Jan's throat, causing Jan to say he was joking. Kirisuto had a hand on either end of the wire before saying, "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" Causing fire to engulf the teen's body before he let out a roar increasing in volume as the flames traveled thought the wire and burned Jan with flames that were much higher in temperature. "Sayonara FUCKFACE!" Being Kirisuto's last words to Jan before he pulled on the wires and Jan's severed head to fall on the floorboards a few seconds later. Integra grabbed her head with a sigh before turning to the silver head man to her side as the man's corpse was burnt to ashes. "I can explain..." She started before she was interrupted but not in the way she expected. The bishop was...clapping...in approval, this asshole who went on for hours about how she was an illiterate Protestant heretic approves this...monster. Integra thought as she looked at the battered and bloodied, yet exciting, teenager before her. "I can't believe you didn't stop at getting a new bloodsucking demon spawn but you also went and got an insane, fiendish pagan! You imbecile!" The silver haired man exclaimed causing Integra to have a look that just says, "There it is." But before the mature blond could give her rebuttal, one of her men came to her defense...sadly it was Kiri.

"Hey calm down, Ponytail! She didn't seek me out! She helped me when no one else did and if you think that type of person is an idiot then why do you worship a God that'd say the same!" The bishop's face gained a deep red tone from his anger before retorting with a jab of his finger. "Don't speak His name you vile monster! Integra, we'll continue this meeting later and discuss this Millennium then. But please..leave your pets at home next time." Maxwell exclaimed before leaving abruptly with his fellow Iscariot members forming a protective ring around him. The only person to say goodbye was the priest and he was referring solely to Kirisuto. As soon as a he returned the gesture, Kirisuto's face cracked into a sneer before he muttered slightly under his breath thinking of the Bishop, "You didn't say I was I was wrong though." Integra wiped her sword's blade with a handkerchief she had stored in a suit pocket before addressing Kirisuto and I. "You two did well considering the circumstances, though I wish you didn't give into your need for blood and go mental..." Integra said looking at me, causing Kirisuto to frown, probably thinking it was his fault. "...or that you didn't turn into that...thing. May I ask what that thing was?" Integra asked Kirisuto, interested, I awaited his answer. "Me. More specifically, me when I use my power to a greater extent while I'm not feeling as peachy. Only drawback is that I don't act as lovable when I'm channeling so much hatred. I'm going to go take a nap by the way. I'm...sleepy..." He said before collapsing in a heap, only to be gathered by his friend and sling across her shoulders. She then tried to say something in her own language before sighing, realizing the futility of it before bowing slightly and carrying Kiri towards his room.

I turned to Integra saying I was going to go rest as well, she merely sighed looking at all the bodies of the ghouls and her men. She then walked away talking to Pip, asking for any suggestions for militant or mercenary groups to replace the fallen. As soon as I entered my room I placed all the magazines for my weapons on my long table I asked Walter to provide to keep my Harkonnen cannon and clean it. I locked back the slides of my pistols and the bolt-action receiver for the Harkonnen to see how much particulate builds up in them in a average firefight. I had nothing to compare the Harkonnen's performance but I was happy to see my pistols stayed cleaner than my old Glock, though my new pistols held only ten bullets as opposed to seventeen. I then burst into a sudden fit of coughs causing me to rub my throat to ease the irritation. "He..." I thought thinking of the dark-skinned Mong that beat me with one hand. "...subdued me so quickly...when it comes to ranged combat I can do great with my new abilities...and I'm stronger than a couple of men up close now but..." My thoughts continued as I observed the bloodied throwing knife I retrieved from a ghoul while Jan had me by the neck, I was planning to stab him and get away. "...if I could fight better up close like Master or Anderson." I looked at the blood to see how the knife easily had penetrated seven inches into the monster's skull. "...or Whiskers...he fights most of the time with only his sword...plus he seems to know some martial arts too. I know some grappling techniques but to be completely objective it would be advantageous to learn to fight bare handed or with a knife." I thought with a laugh before sliding back the sheets in my bed before removing my dress shirt, exposing my black tank top and feeling the cool air cling to my torso. "I guess I'll ask for training or something tomorrow. Hm...I also wonder where Master went? He doesn't seem like the type to hide..." Were my last thoughts before drifting into unconsciousness.

"Damn it seems I didn't have as much fun as the others..." A deep voice, full of malevolence, stated aloud in his grand hidden cellar that was filled by a mountain of ghoul corpses. The voice's bored source slouched back in his throne with a gloved finger stuck in his wide brimmed hat, spinning it on his finger. Suddenly the hand stopped, causing the hat to fly off the finger only to be caught by a pair of pale hands. "I'm assuming you're not here for me...you must have some very powerful masters if they have some of you fighting for them." The group of pale figures dressed in black clothes with downcast eyes approached before speaking in unison. "Sorry Mister...we can't talk about that but we do have an inquiry of our own." Alucard merely scoffed before gaining a colossal grin, thinking of repercussions of the choices he could make. But it was obvious he would choose the most interesting one. "What do you wish to know?" He replied watching as the group of children, from the age of a teen to toddler, suddenly looked up, revealing eyes that were pure black and had no white to them at all.

"Where is Kirisuto Uzumaki?"

Chapter End

A/N: In case you aren't up on modern monsters look up "Black Eyed Kids" or "Black Eyed People" to see the lore. I'll explain in detail later but I can't sum up an entire legend and keep it interesting so it's best to look yourself...or don't...I don't care. :P