Bloodstained Souls

by AlucardsBro

Ichigo has been exposed to many shocking things throughout his life, and as such he was certain nothing else could surprise him. However, after learning about the existence of other supernatural entities and religious figures aside from the Soul Society, he is thrust once again into a new adventure. Vampires, Devils, and Angels…OH MY!

16. Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Devil Comes Knocking

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Hey guys.

First of all, let me go ahead and say that I am SO sorry for how long I've recently been away from my stories. Unfortunately, I was hit with a major case of writer's block, and then once it finally cleared up, I had to move halfway across the country. That being the case, I really just haven't had any proper time to sit down and write.

Secondly, I would like to clear something up so there is no possible lingering confusion. As I revealed last chapter, Alucard is aware that there is someone called 'His Majesty' working with Millennium, but he has no idea what that individual's actual name is. We all know, but he doesn't.

Make sense? If not, just DM me and I'll do my best to clarify.

Also, it appears that I made an error when describing some pre-existing power levels. Up until now, I have been classifying Sirzechs in the Satan Class Level, when he is actually in the Super Class, which is several times more powerful. Thank you to the Guest who pointed this out to me. It has been a while since I last read DxD, so I hope you can all forgive my mistake.

The power levels of the individuals in this story who are more powerful that Sirzechs will simply be increased even further due to this change. That being said, for the purposes of this story alone, all beings classified as Gods or anything more powerful will inherently be stronger than Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels. I know some people are still a bit irritated that I decided to do this, but hey, it's a fanfiction. I highly doubt the power scaling will drag the story down as far as the genuine plot is concerned. But honestly, it just never made sense to me that Gods were ranked with other much lower beings in the DxD series. Sure, Sirzechs, Michael, and Azazel are unbelievably powerful, and that's fine, but I never really liked that they stood on equal footing with genuine Gods. As I mentioned a bit earlier, for the purposes of this story, they will simply be on the tier of power directly under Gods. This still makes them bullshit levels of strong.

I hope all of you have been well, and I will be doing my best to catch up with the rest of my stories. Hopefully, this extra long chapter will somewhat make up for how long I've been away.

Additionally, I would to officially dedicate this chapter to the memory of Michael Lindsay, who was the English VA for Kisuke Urahara. Rest in peace, Hat-n-Clogs. See you in the Soul Society.

AlucardsBro OUT!

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(Hellsing Manor; London, England)

"How could you be so CRUEL, Ichigo?!"

Curling his lip at the unnecessary loudness, the aforementioned orange-head leaned forward and quickly turned down the volume on his computer. His father's irritated glare continued to stare out at him from the screen, and he made sure to return it in full. "The hell are you talking about, old man? I haven't done anything wrong!"

"Haven't don- YOU HAVEN'T CALLED HOME IN WEEKS! How do you think your dear old dad has felt all this time, wondering if my baby boy is doing okay? Have you been eating your vegetables? Did you remember to change your underwear?"

"Shut up!" Ichigo scowled, cheeks flaming. If someone were to walk past his room, he had no doubt that they would be able to hear every embarrassing word that passed through his father's lips. Even if he muted the goddamn computer, he had a feeling that the old goat would still be able to humiliate him somehow. "I'm a freakin' adult, remember? I can take care of myself just fine."

"Oh, I see what's going on here!" Isshin shouted loudly, pointing an accusatory finger at him through the computer screen. "Just because you beat a few Hollows back in the day, you think you don't need your poor old father anymore, don't you? Well, let me tell you something, ya little brat! I think you're gettin' just a bit too big for your britches!"

"Believe what you want, but I've been able to handle myself just fine so far. And for your information, I've completed all of my job assignments so far with nothing but success. My boss seems to think I'm more than capable of taking care of myself and my teammates."

"Oh, is that right? Little Integra is happy with your performance? Well, I guess I can't give you too much crap then after all." Sobering visibly, his father grinned and crossed his arms over his chest. "Even when she was still waddling around in nothing but training pants, that woman expected nothing but perfection from the people around her. If she's happy with your work ethic so far, then that's good enough for me."

Ichigo blinked in surprise.

Genuine praise from his dad wasn't exactly rare, but it was still surprising whenever he heard it. The old goofball was usually so crazy, and seeing him act like a normal human being was something that the orange-head never really expected.

However, it quickly became apparent that his train of thought had jinxed him…

Isshin's proud smile quickly morphed into an irritated expression, and he leaned forward so close to the camera on his end that Ichigo swore he could see every single one of the man's pores. "But that doesn't change the fact that we haven't heard from you in weeks! Yuzu has been worried sick about you!"

Ichigo's scowl returned. "I've been busy…"

"ICHIGO!"

The booming tone caught the former Substitute by complete surprise, and his eyes widened at the uncharacteristically serious mien his father suddenly adopted. Isshin's brow was set down in disappointment, and his dark eyes were hard. It was like a switch had inexplicably been flipped, reverting the man into his 'Captain' mode. "I understand that you have been spending your time over there in London doing your job, but the fact that this is the first I'm hearing from you is inexcusable! What was one of the most important lessons I taught you as a child?"

"I…"

"No matter what is going on in your life, family is the most important thing. School is important, and so is work, but neither of those things are more important than those you love. Would it really kill you to try harder to find time to talk with us?"

Ichigo's eyes fell into his lap, and shame slowly pooled into his gut. The old man was right. He had been putting off contacting his family, as much as he hated to admit it. Being out on his own had admittedly been pretty nice, and putting some distance between himself and Karakura Town had been a welcome change of pace. It was his home, but he had never really planned on staying there his entire life.

Still, that was no excuse to not keep in touch with his dad and sisters…

"I'm sorry…"

"You'd better be," Isshin huffed irritably. "As punishment, I hereby command you to tell me everything that has happened since you've been gone!" A joking undertone had returned to the former Captain's voice, and that small fact made Ichigo smile slightly. And so, he told father everything he could concerning what had occurred within the past few weeks. Of course, there were some things Integra had forbidden him from discussing with anyone not part of the Hellsing Organization, but he was still able to divulge small bits of information regarding his meetings with Alucard, Walter, Pip, and Seras. He also talked about his encounters with Alexander Anderson and the forces of Iscariot.

The old man's eyes narrowed minutely at that particular piece of information.

Ichigo was tempted to question his father on the matter, but ultimately decided against it and continued with his story. The tale culminated when he discussed what had most recently occurred in Tobioka City.

That also got a reaction out of his father.

"Tobioka, eh? Say, you didn't happen to run into our old friend…?"

"I did. She's doing well."

"SAYO-CHAAAAAAAN!" Isshin shouted childishly, placing his hands on his cheeks and dancing in place like a lunatic. "Oh, I just know she's grown into a fine you woman! Tell me all about her!"

"Well, she's a nurse at Mochizuki General Hospital. Speaking of that old weirdo, he's still kicking, too. He does look like a shriveled-up raisin, though…"

"Respect your elders, brat!"

"Whatever. Anyway, Sayo also seems to have overcome the issues she had back when she was still staying with us. She's confident, cheerful, and strong as all hell. She might even be able to give Chad a real run for his money as far as ordinary physical strength is concerned."

"Oh? And how do ya know that?"

"We… may have had a brief fight."

"How in the hell did that happen…?"

Ichigo grunted. It wouldn't really hurt tell the old man about his assignment, would it? "One of my coworkers and I were recently sent to Japan to deal with a group of vigilantes operating out of Tobioka City. I bet you can guess who one of them was…"

Isshin blinked. "Sayo? Really?"

The orange-head nodded in affirmation. "Yep. Apparently, she's part of a secret organization that actually operates within the hospital itself. They call themselves 'Black Label.' Ever heard of it before?"

"Course I have; I've known Masamune Mochizuki for years. You'd be surprised how many things I know, Ichigo. I'm just honestly a bit surprised that Sayo decided to join up with them… she was such a sweet little girl back in the day. It's hard to imagine she'd ever kill anyone."

Ichigo's stomach twisted slightly at that little reminder. Still, even though it had become all too apparent that Sayo didn't hesitate to kill, she'd made it more than clear that she only terminated those who made life miserable for others. Drug lords, sex traffickers, murderers, and the like. He still wasn't fully comfortable with the idea of killing humans, but he supposed executing genuine criminals and monsters was better than innocent people…

"Just answer me this…" Isshin suddenly spoke up, as if somehow reading his very thoughts. "Is she still a good person?"

Ichigo smiled as his confidence returned. "She's the best, dad."

The former Captain adopted a knowing smirk, and the orange-head felt his good mood die a horribly brutal death. He knew exactly where this was going…

"Oh, is that so? Tell me, my boy… has she become a stunning beauty? I always had a feeling that our little Sayo would grow up to be a jaw-dropper."

Ichigo's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Well, uh… she's…"

As he continued to stutter over his words and mutter under his breath, Isshin's teasing grin slowly but surely morphed into a look of absolute incredulity. "No…"

"What?"

"Something happened, didn't it? Between the two of you?"

"Look, dad-"

"Spill the beans, Ichigo! And don't you dare lie to me! I'll carry my ass all the way to Tobioka City, track down Sayo, and ask HER if I have to!"

Growling, Ichigo released a resigned sigh. He'd been dreading this moment ever since he and Sayo had made their new relationship official. He loved his dad, he really did, but the old goat had a nasty habit of overreacting when it came to certain topics. The love life of his children definitely counted as one of those few subjects.

"We're dating…"

"What?"

"I said, we're dating."

"Run that by me again? I don't think I heard you correctly."

His left eyebrow twitched. "Sayo Hitsugi is now my girlfriend…"

Isshin stared at him blankly though the computer screen, as if he'd just been told a Tyrannosaurus Rex was wearing a pink leotard and doing the worm in the middle of the street. He remained silent for a good five minutes, and Ichigo was honestly starting to worry that he might've broken his dear old dad.

"WHAT?!"

The sudden shout surprised Ichigo to such a degree that he toppled over in his chair and tumbled to the floor in a tangled heap.

"My boy finally has a girlfriend!" Isshin whooped joyously, throwing his arms into the air and running around the living room like a madman. He jumped over furniture, off the walls, and cried so happily that he might as well have won a trillion-dollar lottery. "Oh, happy days! After eighteen long years! I was starting to think that you might be playing for the same team; not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. But hallelujah!"

From his spot on the floor,Ichigo watched in bewilderment as his father threw himself against the giant poster of his mother he kept on the living room wall.

"Did you hear that, Masaki?! Our baby boy is finally becoming a man! And with dear little Sayo, no less! Whoever would have guessed that shy little Ichigo would be into older women? Oh wait, that's right… I DID!"

With a growl, Ichigo picked himself up and sat back in his chair. "Cut it out, will ya? You're making an idiot out of yourself…"

Seemingly content with ignoring his son, Isshin continued to dance around the room like a maniac. He also started singing an indistinguishable song about love at the top of his lungs.

Letting out a sigh, the former Substitute decided to just sit back and let his father work through all of his energy until he eventually tired himself out. Was it really such a big deal that he'd entered his first real relationship? There'd been plenty of girls who had tried to approach him back in middle school, as well as during the earlier years of high school. After a while, though, they'd just sort of stopped.

It hadn't taken a genius to realize that they all thought he just wasn't interested. Either that, or they figured he was unapproachable.

Truth be told, he really hadn't held any interest in girls or dating back then. Sure, he'd had the odd crush here and there, but none of them had really been worth investing in. And when he'd initially received his Soul Reaper powers, the idea of romance and intimate relationships had disappeared from his mind altogether.

That had all changed when he'd met Seras.

Granted, he still wasn't exactly sure what he felt for the blonde vampiress, but it was definitely stronger than just ordinary feelings of friendship. And then he'd run into Sayo in Tobioka City after nearly a decade spent apart, and the fledgling emotions he'd felt towards her back in the day had returned in spades. His father was right in one regard, as much as it pained him to admit it…

Sayo really had grown into an unbelievably beautiful woman.

And to top it all off, she had actually encouraged him to continue exploring his feelings for Seras. He honestly didn't know exactly what to think about that, if he was being completely truthful with himself. Sure, he'd heard of outlandish mangas where the main character ended up dating more than one of his admirers, but this was real life. Real feelings could be shattered, and real hearts could be broken.

He had no idea how he was going to do it, but Ichigo knew he definitely needed to approach Seras in one form or another, and come clean about his new relationship with Sayo. If she wanted nothing to do with him after that, then that was fine. However, if she still showed interest, then he was willing to extend the offer Sayo had proposed. How would that even work, though? Having two girlfriends? Plenty of his friends would likely kill to be in such a situation, but Ichigo didn't want to play with the hearts of two of the most important people in his life. Still, if it came down to a forced decision, he knew in his heart that he would choose Sayo.

He still felt some kind of feelings for Seras, but the bluenette was already his girlfriend. And, despite the short amount of time they'd been in a relationship with one another, he truly loved her with all of his heart. He refused to betray her if Seras asked him to choose.

He knew it would hurt, but he was prepared for that.

Still, though, there really wasn't any use in dwelling on the subject for too long at the current time. Not when the blonde occupying his thoughts was still on her way back to the Manor. He'd deal with the issue once she actually arrived, and he was able to catch a moment alone with her.

"…chigo! Ichigo!"

Blinking as his father's voice cut through his thoughts, Ichigo turned his attention back to the computer screen in front of him. "Huh? What is it?"

Isshin's expression was slightly concerned. "You zoned out on me for at least three minutes. You okay?"

He was so very tempted to ask his father for advice regarding his dilemma. However, knowing the old man, he would likely have some useless words of wisdom or actively encourage him to chase after both of the women occupying his thoughts. Still though… what could it hurt?

"Dad… what do you do when you don't want to hurt someone, but you might not have a choice? How do you make sure everyone stays happy?"

If he was at all caught off guard by the strange question, Isshin didn't show any outward signs. He remained silent for several moments, simply staring at his son through the computer screen. Ichigo shifted in discomfort under the calculative gaze, but sat firm and maintained eye contact. Finally, his dad let out a sigh and closed his eyes, shaking his head. "I hate to say it, but you can't always make everyone happy, Ichigo. You can try and try, but that will just likely end up driving you insane. There comes a point in life where you just have to take a good hard look at yourself, and ask 'what is the best thing for me?' You may want to make sure that the people around you are experiencing the same fulfillment that you are, but that is a genuine impossibility. If you spend your life hovering over others, then you'll likely turn grey by your next birthday."

"Gee, thanks for the advice…"

"Hey, I know it sucks, but it's the truth. It's an admirable thing to want to look out for everyone around you, and I'm proud of you for feeling that way, but you honestly need to live your life with your own best interests in mind. Helping others is fantastic, but don't let it become an obsession that runs you ragged. Now, is there any particular reason why you asked me such a thing?"

"I… no. No, there isn't."

It was more than clear that his father didn't believe a word of that, but thankfully he didn't push the issue any further. Instead, he sat back down in front of his own computer and fixed his son with a peculiar look. He continued to stare in silence for a good five minutes, after which time Ichigo finally decided he'd had enough.

"What is it?"

Leaning back in his chair, Isshin folded his arms over his chest. "You mentioned that your Soul Reaper powers are returning, right?"

"Um, yeah…?"

"Quickly?"

"Faster every day. But no, not very."

"Hm. I thought not. Listen, I called in a favor a few days ago from a shared acquaintance of ours. She'll be arriving in London any day now to help keep an eye on you."

"What?!" Ichigo barked, standing up so quickly that his chair was once again sent toppling to the floor. "I don't need a damn babysitter! I've been doing just fine by myself!"

"Oh, is that right? Well, I guess I must have misheard you when you said Alucard essentially saved your bacon during your encounter with Alexander Anderson. Is that right?"

The orange-head winced.

"I must've also heard wrong when you told me that Yuuko and Sayo basically kicked the crap out of you in Tobioka City. Oh, and let's not forget that your victory against the Quincy girl was due to dumb luck and convenience. She left your battle to go and search for one of her comrades, right?"

"I…"

"Look, in any other circumstance I wouldn't be as worried as I am now. However, if everything you've told me is true, then you're going up against more and more powerful opponents with each passing day. The simple fact is that you just aren't strong enough to take them head-on by yourself just yet. Do you disagree?"

Ichigo bit lip. He wanted to say that he could handle everything that was thrown at him, but that would just be an outright lie. At least for now. The truth of the matter was that he wasn't strong enough to fight on the same level as Alucard and Seras just yet. Granted, he was more powerful than Pip, but that really wasn't saying much. His French comrade was just an ordinary human who had no previous history of fighting against supernatural opponents.

He hated the idea of having someone constantly keeping an eye on him, but given the circumstances it didn't really sound like he had a choice. With a sigh, he lightly shook his head. "No, I don't…"

"I thought not. Listen, I know you aren't happy about this, but you'll understand my reasons when you become a parent yourself one day," Isshin said. "When you become a parent, you will be willing to do ANYTHING to protect your children."

Ichigo snorted. He wasn't exactly thinking about settling down and making any babies just yet. "So, who's coming to stalk me?"

His father grinned, and that grin made an unpleasant chill run down his spine. "Oh, but why should I tell you? That would take all of the fun out of it! You'll find out when she gets there!"

"I hate you…"

"I love you too, my darling son!"

Reaching out, Ichigo pressed the button on his laptop that would end the call. His dad's smiling face disappeared, and he was left to look at nothing but a blank screen. Dread and worry began to pool in his gut. Who the hell had his old man sent to watch over him?

Surely, it wasn't one of the maniacs from the Soul Society?

However, his dad had said it would be a shared acquaintance…

And unfortunately, most of their shared acquaintances were supernatural in nature. Oh God, what if it was Rukia?! Ichigo didn't know if he could bear having that freeloading little midget sleeping in his closet yet again. She always borrowed things without asking! Living with her had been an absolute nightmare!

His bedroom door suddenly opened.

Ichigo shrieked and involuntarily flung himself across the room.

From the doorway, Walter fixed him with a look of utter bewilderment. "Master Ichigo, are you quite alright?"

Groaning from his spot on the floor, the aforementioned orange-head rubbed his aching scalp where it had collided brutally with the wall. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little jumpy, I guess…"

If Walter was at all curious, he did a damn fine job at hiding it. Instead, he swept his left arm across his chest and bowed elegantly. "Well, I do hope you are in good health; I know your assignment in Japan must have been incredibly taxing. Nevertheless, Sir Integra sent me to come and fetch you."

"Why?" Ichigo asked, awkwardly returning to his feet.

"Well, Alucard and Miss Victoria have just returned from their own assignment. Sir Integra wishes to hear a brief report from them, as well as you and Mister Bernadotte. We will all then make haste towards Buckingham Palace, where we will present our findings regarding Millennium to Her Majesty the Queen herself."

The former Substitute's eyes widened considerably. They were going to meet the freakin' Queen of England?! Was there some kind of dress code he needed to be aware of?!

Seemingly sensing his internal debate, Walter chuckled good-naturedly and returned to an upright stance. "Worry not, young Master. I realize that you are not fully familiar with the customs and necessities regarding an audience with Her Majesty, but I highly doubt you will have to do much speaking. If need be, I will tell Mister Bernadotte to give your mission report when the time comes."

"Y-Yeah, that would probably be a good idea."

"Excellent. Now then, if you would please follow me…"

Doing as he was told, Ichigo allowed the elderly retainer to guide him out of the room and through the labyrinth of hallways leading to Integra's personal offices. They passed several members of the Manor's staff, as well as some of the Wild Geese, all of whom greeted the orange-head warmly and expressed their pleasure at seeing him back home safe and sound. The sentiment actually brought a warm feeling to his chest, and Ichigo found himself returning their greetings with equal enthusiasm.

Additionally, he took pleasure in the fact that all of the previous damage caused by the Valentine Brothers' assault had disappeared completely. Not a single lamp nor painting was out of place. It was as if the attack had never taken place to begin with. Soon enough, he and Walter found themselves at the entrance to the destination.

The Hellsing butler grasped the handle to one of the massive double doors, and slowly pulled it open to grant them access to what lay beyond.

---

London was just as dreary as she'd expected it to be.

It was cold, it was wet, and the sky was an ugly shade of grey.

She would have much rather been back at home, curled up in her warm bed. Oh, and a roaring fire sounded absolutely divine right about now. Still, though, Isshin had called in the favor she owed him, and she liked to think of herself as someone who didn't go back on her word. She'd just have to suck it up and do her best to grow accustomed to the weather as quickly as possible.

Besides, it wasn't like she'd be here forever. Only until Ichigo's powers returned to such an amount that he could properly defend himself against supernaturally enhanced opponents. It would be good to see the little brat again, but she genuinely wished he'd chosen anywhere else on the planet to find employment.

Being within a hundred feet of Alucard always made her skin crawl.

There were very few beings in existence, alive or dead, that truly unnerved her. Unfortunately, the Hellsing Family's pet was one of those entities. She'd lost multiple comrades to him several hundred years ago, when they'd been tasked with wiping him off the face of the Earth. That particular mission had gone south faster than anyone would have ever thought possible. Five of her subordinates had been killed in battle by the monster, and the rest of her squad had returned to Soul Society with shattered pride and wounded spirits.

After that, Yoruichi had made a personal vow to never set eyes upon Alucard ever again if she could help it. Funny how things had played out…

Clearing her thoughts of the troubling memories, the former Captain of the Stealth Force pressed her feline body close to the ground and slunk across the Hellsing Manor's massive garden. Pausing under a rose bush, she hunkered down and locked her gaze on the massive building in front of her. It wouldn't be a problem for someone of her skill set to sneak into such a place, but doing so completely undetected was another matter entirely. Granted, the guards stationed all over the grounds likely wouldn't think twice about seeing what they would likely assume was a stray cat wandering around, but she wasn't willing to chance it. These men were trained to expect the unexpected, and she didn't want to draw their attention.

Suddenly, as if the Soul King himself had decided to smile down upon her, a ray of sunlight inexplicably cut through the clouds and shone off of a metallic surface on the Manor's outer wall. Squinting her eyes, Yoruichi smiled internally upon realizing that she was looking at a ventilation grate.

'Maybe my luck is changing after all,' she mused to herself.

Sparing a brief glance at the closest armed guard, she waited until his back was turned before darting out from her hiding place. Crossing the distance to the mansion's main structure was a laughably simple matter, and only took a couple of minutes. She merely slunk from bush to bush until she finally reached her destination, leaving the 'highly trained mercenaries' absolutely clueless as to her movements.

When one spent their entire life training to lead the Soul Society's most elite task force of assassins and killers, sneaking by a group of mere humans became child's play.

Still, it never killed anyone to be cautious.

Scaling the wall up to the ventilation grate was also fairly easy. Her feline form's claws made climbing a breeze, and she ascended the creepers and vines growing up the side of the wall in a matter of seconds. Her claws also made it easy to silently unscrew the bolts holding the grate in place. When she was done, it opened with a slight creak, swinging open on the two remaining bolts she'd left in place.

Thankfully, though, the noise was insignificant enough to not draw any attention from the men below.

Sneaking into the ventilation shaft, Yoruichi paused momentarily and closed her eyes to extend her spiritual awareness. Her sense of reach extended throughout the entirety of the mansion, and it didn't take long for her to find Ichigo. His spiritual output was still relatively weak; not even a third of what he'd possessed back during the Winter War. Still, his energy signature was unmistakable.

Unfortunately, it seemed as though he was in the same room as Alucard…

Additionally, there were four other individuals in the immediate area as well.

Three were human, but the fourth was engulfed in Spiritual Energy nearly identical to Alucard's. It was nowhere nearly as potent, though. A fledgling vampire, perhaps?

Poor soul.

Opening her golden eyes, Yoruichi began walking in the direction of Ichigo's energy. She paused here and there to peer down through the random grates in the ceiling she passed on the way. More guards, dressed identically to those outside, patrolled the halls of the manor with anti-vampire weaponry strapped to their personnel. Maids, butlers, and other servants were present as well, and Yoruichi hissed to herself as she continued forward. Moving around outside of the ventilation shafts looked like it was going to be a lot more troublesome than she'd hoped…

Before too long, she finally found the room she was looking for. Looking down through the grate before her, she easily spotted the familiar head of bright orange hair she'd helped train three years ago.

Ichigo had grown.

No longer was he the inexperienced boy who'd desperately wanted to obtain his Bankai in order to save Rukia Kuchiki. He was a grown man in his own right, and a light coat of prickly stubble adorned his chin and jawline. Oh, where had the time gone?

With no small measure of amusement, Yoruichi watched as her darling pupil was wrapped in a bone-crushing hug by a much shorter blonde girl, who easily lifted him off his feet. The color left his face, and he gasped desperately for air. The Flash Goddess actively fought to reign in her audible mirth.

"That's enough, Seras," a tan-skinned woman said from behind a large mahogany desk at the head of the room, situated in front of an enormous window pane. Her tone was firm, but there was a measure of amusement hidden within it.

Based on the stories she'd been told by Isshin, Yoruichi was confident in assuming that this was the illustrious Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. She was a far cry from the pouty little girl that Isshin had so fondly spoken of. This was a strong and confident woman, and Youichi immediately found herself liking her.

Anyone who could tame Alucard deserved at least some measure of genuine respect.

The bubbly blonde inadvertently strangling Ichigo shrieked in embarrassment, and the orange-haired boy was finally released from her iron-clad clutches. He fell to the floor, and instantly wrapped his arms around his ribcage as he greedily sucked down mouthfuls of oxygen.

"Oh my God, Ichigo! I'm so sorry!"

"D-Don't worry about it…"

"Are you alright?"

As the two youngsters continued their exchange, Yoruichi turned her attention to the other two obvious humans in the room. One was a rather distinguished-looking older man, dressed in clothing befitting a butler. His jet-black hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and a monocle covered his left eye. He stood dutifully behind Integra, watching the situation playing out before him with a clearly amused smile.

That cheeky grin reminded her slightly of Kisuke.

The other man was much younger, and dressed in a uniform similar to the men who had been patrolling the garden and hallways. If she were to venture a guess, she'd say this would be their commander. A leather patch covered his left eye, and his incredibly long hair was stylized in a braid, which was in turn wrapped around his neck and shoulders. A strange hat sat upon his head, but Yoruichi was no stranger to odd choices of headgear.

Kisuke absolutely refused to part with his beloved bucket hat. Honestly, sometimes she'd even thought she had heard him talking to the damn thing as if it were his beloved child or something.

Removing her gaze from the man, she turned her attention to the final individual present in the room.

Blazing crimson eyes stared back at her.

Yoruichi felt her blood run cold.

Alucard's smile pulled up into a cruel sneer.

He knew she was here, and he wasn't at all bothered with letting her know that fact. Was he going to expose her? Was she going to have to make a hasty retreat? At best, she could make a mad dash back down the way she'd came. At worst, she could assume her human form within the cramped space and Flash Step away. The muscles in her legs tensed, and she prepared to bolt.

However, much to her surprise, Alucard actually winked at her. He then turned away, focusing back on the interaction between Ichigo and the blonde girl. Her heart continued to hammer in her chest. There was no way the vampire wouldn't confront her later, but he obviously wanted to do so away from the other people in the room. Why?

Her mind raced a mile a minute, but she eventually made her decision.

If violence became inevitable, she would simply utilize Flash Step to make her getaway. Until then, she would remain in place and watch everything below her unfold. Making herself comfortable, she settled down and locked her golden gaze on Ichigo. He looked incredibly nervous, which was an emotion she didn't see very often on his face.

It was actually kind of adorable…

It made her think back to simpler times, when he'd first become involved with the supernatural world. It seemed like only yesterday that he'd first come barging into Kisuke's shop, desperate to find a way to open up a Senkaimon to the Soul Society. Hard to believe it had actually been three years since that day.

Three years since she'd joined him on his mission to save Rukia Kuchiki.

Three years since he'd been beaten to a pulp by Byakuya for the first time.

Three years since she'd trained him in the hot springs to obtain his Bankai.

Where had the time gone?

Releasing a quiet breath, Yoruichi rested her chin on her front paws, crossing one over the other. Her gaze shifted to Alucard once more, and she caught him looking up at her again. Narrowing her eyes, she opened her mouth and hissed at him fiercely. Normally, she would have never done something so immature and feral, but at this point she didn't really care.

The undead bastard could go fuck himself.

Alucard blinked in genuine surprise, before his face once again split into a mocking grin.

She wished her current form had the physical ability to flip him off.

Turning her attention back to Ichigo, she tuned out the conversation he was having with Integra and allowed her thoughts to drift to more pleasant topics. Like the unbridled mirth she'd felt all those years ago when she'd first exposed the orange-head to her true form. Even the mere thought of his gob-smacked face still made her tail twitch in amusement. Out of everyone who had seen her transform over the years, his reaction was the most priceless.

She wondered if he was still as inexperienced with women as he was back then…

What was she thinking? Of course he was!

This was Ichigo Kurosaki she was talking about. The boy who turned red at the mere mention of the naked female form. He probably hadn't even given away his first kiss yet. Such an innocent little soul he was…

It made it all the more unfortunate that he was becoming the focus of quite the turbulent political conflict within the supernatural world.

If what Isshin had told her was correct, then multiple figureheads from the many factions across the globe were all fighting one another to obtain the rights to Ichigo's power. It was no secret that his Soul Reaper abilities were returning, and it wouldn't be too terribly long before he was just as powerful as he'd been when he had initially lost them. That made him an incredible asset, which many powerful people would kill to get their hands on. From what she'd been able to hear through Isshin, the Soul Society and the rest of the Shinto Faction were making the most reasonable case for regaining their rights to the kid, but Sirzechs sounded like he wasn't willing to give up anytime soon…

That surprised her.

Yoruichi had never figured the Prince of Hell for someone who would ever potentially be interested in Ichigo. Then again, he'd always been rather chummy with Isshin. If she remembered correctly, Sirzechs had also been extraordinarily close with Masaki, back when the latter was still alive. His icy bride had always been on good terms with the Kurosaki family as well.

Personally, Yoruichi had no problem with the red-haired Devil. In fact, she held no real ill-will towards Devils in general. However, she honestly didn't quite know how she felt about young Ichigo being dragged down to the Underworld. Granted, it wasn't like he couldn't take care of himself, but he still belonged up here where she- where Soul Society could keep a watchful eye on him. He was still young, after all.

Youngsters needed to be looked after.

Even someone as powerful as Ichigo needed someone who was willing to watch his back.

That being the case, it was only right that she be the one to fill that spot. After all, she was experienced, an extremely accomplished fighter, and someone who knew the boy on a personal level. It would be an extremely arduous task, no doubt, but she was willing to accept that. The orange fool certainly couldn't look after himself.

Down below, Integra released a frustrated sigh and reached up to massage her temples. "While I can't say I expected things to play out the way they did for you, I'm glad you were provided with the necessary assistance to rescue Detective Suzue. It puts my mind at ease knowing that Black Label is willing to work alongside us should the need arise. Ichigo, this old friend of yours is someone I would personally like to meet someday. Her supernatural strength interests me; I'd like to understand its origin."

The orange-head nodded. "I'll shoot Sayo a text and let her know."

Yoruichi blinked in surprise.

Sayo? As in little Sayo Hitsugi? She hadn't heard that name in a long time…

"The Pulya Organization helped us too," the man in the slouch hat spoke up. Standing up from the chair he'd been sitting in, he tossed the end of his long braid over his shoulder. "Without them, I doubt we would've had the necessary know-how to accomplish our mission. Their services proved to be invaluable."

"As much as it pains me to owe any kind of debt to Balalaika, I shall make an effort to contact her and thank her for her team's assistance," Integra replied grudgingly. "Now then, you say that although Black Label was proven to have no connection to Millennium, you did still encounter several Millennium agents?"

"Yes, Sir," the long-haired man replied. "We ran into three of them, to be precise. Two of them were artificial vampires, but their commander was unlike anything I have ever seen or read about in Hellsing's data files."

Ichigo stepped forward. "That's because she was a Quincy."

Yoruichi's eyes widened. A Quincy?! That was impossible; Soul Society had eradicated nearly all of the Quincies centuries ago save for Ryuken and Uryu Ishida. Even if a small number of them had managed to survive undetected, it couldn't have been enough for them to start causing trouble now…

Below, Integra's eyes narrowed. "Forgive me, I am not familiar with the term… what is a 'Quincy?'"

"A Quincy is a human being gifted with the ability to see and interact with the Spiritual World," Ichigo explained. "Hundreds of years ago, Soul Society and the Quincies went to war, due to the fact that the Quincies were creating an imbalance within the cycle of life and death."

"How so?"

"My dad told you about Hollows, right? Well, Soul Society's main purpose is to send out Soul Reapers in order to purify the numerous Hollows that roam the Living World. They cleanse their corrupted souls, and then send them to Soul Society where they can live out the rest of their afterlife in peace."

Interga leaned forward, once again resting her chin on her interlocked fingers. Her eyes were sharp, and it was clear she was listening intently to the former Substitute's story.

Ichigo continued speaking. "Quincies were of the belief that Hollows were simply pure evil, which is as far from the truth as you can get. That said, they made it their mission to eradicate the Hollows instead of purifying them. They destroyed so many corrupted souls that it created an imbalance within the afterlife. Soul Society tried to warn them of what they were doing, but they wouldn't listen; so they were destroyed instead."

"I see…" Integra said quietly, nodding in understanding. "And, have you encountered any of these individuals prior to your mission in Tobioka City?"

The orange-head nodded. "Yeah, but they're my friends. One of my classmates from back in Karakura Town and his father are both Quincies."

Alucard chuckled deeply from the corner of the room, drawing the attention of everyone present. "How interesting your story is, Ghost Boy. The Police Girl and I also encountered a Quincy during our time in Brazil; coincidently enough, he was also working with Millennium."

Standing from her chair, Integra fixed everyone in the room with a firm gaze. "This cannot be a coincidence. Unfortunately, we will have to wait to hear the rest of Alucard's report. The scheduled time for our meeting with the Queen is drawing near, and I refuse to allow the Hellsing Organization's reputation to be tarnished by being late. Rest assured, though, that we will get to the bottom of this; this collaboration between the Quincies and Millennium is not something that we can allow to continue."

Ichigo, the blonde girl standing next to him, and the man with the long braid all nodded in unison. The butler merely continued to stand silently, and Alucard's lips pulled up into a cruel smile.

The sight of it made Yoruichi shiver.

She had no idea what the hell was going on, but it all sounded far more serious than Isshin had ever believed. She had no clue what 'Millennium' was, but if they were working with an unknown group of Quincies, it could definitely spell trouble for the whole of Soul Society. Still though, it wouldn't do for her to jump the gun just yet. As the previous commander of the Stealth Force, she more than anyone knew the value in watching and waiting in lieu of rushing headfirst into a dangerous situation. Doing such a thing could get you killed faster than you could blink.

That being the case, the would stick around and gather more info before rushing off to warn Isshin or Kisuke.

"Alright then," Intgera said. "Alucard, Seras, unload the rest of your equipment from the car, and be quick about it. Ichigo, Mister Bernadotte, please go make yourselves a bit more presentable. We will be meeting with royalty in only an hour. You are all dismissed for now."

Everyone present, save for the butler, quickly filed out of the room.

Quietly, Yoruichi stood up and followed them through the air shaft, making certain to keep an eye trained on her young charge. Ichigo exchanged a brief word with the chipper blonde who'd nearly crushed him to death, and she nodded happily and merrily turned to walk down another hallway. Ichigo remained stationary for a moment, watching her go.

What was with that? She would make sure to ask him once they were alone.

The orange-head quickly began moving again, and Yoruichi did her best to keep up with him. As he approached the end of one hallway, Ichigo turned a corner down a new one, still completely ignorant to the fact that he was being followed. By the Soul King, the boy really was rusty, wasn't he? Yoruichi did the same, intent on keeping him within her line of sight. However, as she rounded the upcoming corner in the air shaft, she suddenly found a rather unpleasant obstacle obstructing her path.

Alucard's burning crimson eyes locked on her, and she immediately froze. The vampire's head, neck, and shoulders occupied the entirety of the space in front of her, making the possibility of squeezing past him impossible.

"Flash Goddess. It's been a century or two… how are you?"

Yoruichi bit back the seething retort she'd reflexively prepared to deliver. Instead, she calmly sat down and regarded the monster in front of her with a cool glare. "Hello, Alucard; I'm well, thank you for asking. I see that your time in Miss Hellsing's employ has exponentially improved your manners."

The vampire chuckled lowly, shoulders shaking with unrestrained mirth. "Yes, well, when one is in the constant company of humans, it tends to mellow one out. And what of you? Where have you been licking your wounds since our last dance?"

She bristled at the jab, but didn't rise to the bait. "Let's just say that I've found a permanent home within the Living World. Now, let's cut to the chase… what do you want?"

"Should I not be asking you that? You are the one trespassing on my Master's property, after all."

Yoruichi's muscles tensed. "Are you going to expose me?"

"Do you intend to bring my Master any harm?"

"Of course not. I'm only here for Ichigo."

"Ah, the Ghost Boy, hmm? In that case, I see no reason to enter a physical confrontation. It matters very little to me, but I know Sir Integra would be quite upset if we ruined anything within the Manor. We just finished rebuilding, you see."

"Hm. May I pass?"

Alucard chuckled, obviously having picked up on the clear dismissal in her tone. Phasing through the side of the ventilation shaft, he allowed her to continue on her way. As she passed him, Yoruichi felt every single hair on her body rise up in warning, as if trying to tell her that she was turning her back on an apex predator.

"Oh, Flash Goddess?"

She paused, but did not turn back around face him.

"Can you still hear them? Alucard asked mockingly. "Can you still hear the screams of your subordinates as I tore them to pieces? As I ripped out their throats, feasted on their innards, and absorbed their consciousness into myself? Would you like to know what their final thoughts were?"

Yoruichi's mouth pulled into a fierce snarl. Her claws emerged, and her tail twitched furiously behind her.

The vampire laughed. "They all wondered why their dear Captain was abandoning them. They desperately wondered what they'd done to anger you, for you to have led them into such death trap. You know you failed them, correct? They trusted you to lead them, but all you led them to was a slow an agonizing demise."

She hissed violently, but did not give Alucard the satisfaction of seeing her facial expression. Instead, she bolted down the airshaft, following Ichigo's minuscule amount of Spiritual Energy.

Cackling laughter followed her.

She weaved through the labyrinth of air ducts, desperate to put as much distance between herself and the monster behind her as possible. Before too long, she finally found the destination she was looking for. Peering through the ventilation grate in front of her, she saw Ichigo in the room below, engrossed in the task of unpacking numerous objects and personal belongings from a suitcase that was set on an enormous bed with pristine white sheets.

Was this his room?

Of course it was. What else could it be?

A multitude of teasing scenarios played through her mind, bringing a coy smile to her face. She could wait until he went into the bathroom, then jump down onto the bed, transform into her human form, and wait for him to come out. His reaction would undoubtedly be priceless.

But no, knowing Ichigo he would likely make some sort of loud noise in surprise. And that would attract unwanted attention to her presence. Alucard already knew she was here; she didn't need the entire staff of Hellsing Manor to know as well. As much fun as it would be to tease her young charge an elicit an embarrassed reaction from him, time was of the essence. Best to simply be forward and to the point.

With a harsh slap of her paw, the ventilation grate fell from its place and fell down onto Ichigo's bed. The orange-head's attention immediately snapped in the direction of the noise, and his eyes quickly trained on her as she jumped down from the airshaft and down onto the bed as well.

"W-Wha…?"

"Hello Ichigo," she said calmly, sitting down and making herself comfortable. The mattress really was extraordinarily soft. She could get used to sleeping something so heavenly.

"Yoruichi?! Is that you…?"

"Do you know any other talking black cats?"

"Why the hell are you- oh no… my dad sent you to keep an eye on me?!"

If her current form was capable of pouting, Yoruichi would have done so. "You sound so upset at the idea. Do you truly despise me so…?"

"What? No, I… ugh. Look, I don't need a babysitter. You can go back home to Kisuke's if you want."

"How rude. I came all the way from Karakura Town, and you don't even invite me to stay the night and rest my tired little paws? I'd have thought I taught you to be more gentlemanly than that."

"Don't give me that! I know Hat-n-Clogs probably set up a Garganta for you!"

"Maybe so," she admitted easily, settling down and wrapping her tail around her body. "Still, your father entrusted me to keep an eye on you until your powers return to a significant degree. So, like it or not, you're just going to have to suck it up and get comfortable with the idea of me sticking around until then."

"Oh, damn it all!" the orange-head cried, clenching his teeth and reaching up to grasp two fistfuls of hair. "This is the absolute last thing I need in my life right now! I've already got enough on my mind as it is…"

Yoruichi's brows drew downward.

In an instant, her body was engulfed in a puff of grey smoke. Her fur disappeared, replaced by a smooth expanse of dark brown skin. Her paws morphed into hands and feet, and her tail retracted into the base of her spine, right above her plump, round buttocks.

Ichigo choked.

Slowly, she slid off the bed. Placing one foot in front of the other, she approached him like a panther that had just cornered its prey. Her eyes rooted him in place, and his whole body tensed as she delicately placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ichigo…"

"Bwah…?"

"Are you truly so disgusted with the idea of my presence?" she asked, drumming her fingers slowly against his collarbone. "I, for one, was delighted by the thought of seeing you again. It's been so long, and your never came by the shop for a visit…"

"I… I…"

"Not in three years."

"I'm sorry…?"

She snorted, gently slapping his right cheek. He winced, but she hadn't put any real force behind the action. "Damn right, you're sorry. How could you just abandon your poor teacher like that? It gets so lonely, what with Kisuke working in his underground bunker all of the time. Tessai is always helping him, and Ururu and Jinta spend most of their days at school."

"Well…"

"You wouldn't mind, would you?" she asked, allowing her tongue to rake along her bottom lip. To her ever-growing amusement, Ichigo went as red as his namesake. "You wouldn't mind coming down to keep me company…?" To her surprise, the orange-head's expression suddenly sobered, and he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her away. This hadn't been the reaction she'd been expecting at all. "Ichigo, darling, what's wrong?"

"Could you please not do that?"

"Hmm? Do what?"

"That!" her former pupil hissed. "Tease me like it's just some kind of game to you! Besides, for your information, I have a girlfriend now."

What? Certainly not.

Yoruichi scoffed. "You mean that blonde who was standing next to you during your meeting with Integra? I'll admit, she's pretty stacked, but she's got nothing on most of the women in Soul Society."

"You were spying on us?! No, wait, that's not the point! If you must know, Seras isn't my girlfriend. Sayo is."

The Flash Goddess blinked. "Sayo?"

"Yeah."

"Sayo Hitsugi?"

"Yes."

"The little girl who stayed with your family a decade ago?"

"Yes!" Ichigo bit out irritably.

Yoruichi frowned. In a split second, her hand darted out and impacted his chest, sending him tumbling backward into the nearest wall. "Don't think you can get snappy with me, young man. You may be the one who defeated Aizen, but that does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that you get to talk to me however you please. Got it?"

"Y-Yeah."

"What was that?"

"Yes Ma'am…"

"Good boy. Now then, I'll apologize for teasing you; I had no idea you were in a serious relationship. Still, you've got to admit it's a little surprising. I always figured you'd still be a virgin by the time you were fifty."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?!"

"Have the two of you had sex…?"

"WHAT?!"

"Oh, come on, you know. Bumped uglies? Done the horizontal tango? Plugged the porthole? I can keep going, if you'd like."

"PLEASE DON'T!"

Yoruichi snickered and rested a hand on her hip, still completely uncaring as to her nakedness. It wasn't anything he hadn't seen before. "You're so cute, Ichigo. Still though, you haven't answered my question…"

He scowled, looking down at the floor and going red in the face. "No, we haven't… we don't want to until we're sure we're both ready."

"See? Was that so hard?" she teased. However, a strange feeling bubbled up within her chest upon hearing his denial. She immediately knew what it was, and did her best to kill it as quickly as it appeared.

'Easy there, old girl…'

Reaching down to grasp his hand, she hauled Ichigo back to his feet. Just to tease him one more time, she made sure to use more strength than what was necessary, causing his chest to press up against her breasts. He reddened immediately, backing away and stammering out an apology.

How adorable.

"Now then, care to fill me in on what's going on?"

Ichigo looked away, clearly unsure.

She rolled her eyes. "I heard everything earlier, darling. You might as well give me the details."

Letting out a sigh, he shrugged and turned back to face her. "For the past few weeks, Hellsing has been having issues with a rogue group of Nazi fanatics who call themselves 'Millennium.' They sent a pretty big group of Ghouls to the mansion not too long ago, hoping to wipe us all out. The attack was headed by a pair of vampiric brothers, but I managed to kill one of them while Alucard took out the other."

"You killed a vampire? As you are now? How in the hell did you manage that?"

"Well, Alucard loaned me some of his Spirit Energy, and it was apparently enough to jumpstart a small portion of my powers and unleash my Inner Hollow. My abilities have been slowly returning since then."

Hmm… very interesting. Kisuke would no doubt want to analyze the inner workings of how a vampire's chaotic energy had managed to convert into Spiritual Energy capable of reigniting Ichigo's lost powers. "Were you hurt at all?"

"The strain from entering my Hollow form in my physical body knocked me out for a while, but I didn't take any battle damage, if that's what you're asking."

"That's good. You were saying?"

Ichigo nodded. "Anyway, as you heard when you were spying on us…"

Yoruichi stuck out her tongue.

"… we recently discovered that Millennium has Quincies operating within their ranks. I can't imagine how, though, considering Uryu and Ryuken are supposed to be the only two left alive. Soul Society never discovered any evidence of any other survivors, did they?"

She shook her head. "No, they didn't. I'm just as stumped as you are."

Ichigo frowned, eyes moving downward. Almost immediately, his face illuminated into a light blush, and he averted his gaze. "Could you please put some clothes on…?"

Yoruichi grinned, leaning forward and teasingly squishing her breasts together between her arms. "And what would you suggest I change into, hmm? It's not like I brought a spare change of clothing with me."

"Bullshit. I know you can conjure up an outfit whenever you want."

"I guess that's true."

"Well then…?"

"I don't want to. Seeing you react like this is much too amusing."

The orange-head groaned loudly, and Yoruichi let out a laugh.

However, a sudden knock at the door interrupted them. Ichigo's head snapped to the entrance of his room, before back over to Yoruichi. Rolling her eyes, she quickly engulfed herself in a cloud of smoke once more and returned to her feline form.

Just in time, too.

The door opened, and the butler from earlier entered the room. "Master Ichigo, we need to be- where did that little one come from?"

Yoruichi meowed innocently, jumping down to the floor. Doing her best to stay in proper character, she sauntered over to the butler and began to rub herself against his slacks. The older man chuckled gently, and reached down to scratch behind her ears.

Her eyes immediately rolled into the back of her head.

Oh gooooooood….

Ichigo breathed out an audible sigh of relief. "Uh, sorry Walter. I have no idea where she came from. I just walked into my room and there she was, sleeping on my pillows."

"Well, she certainly is an affectionate little thing," Walter smiled, continuing his heavenly ministrations.

Yoruichi swore she would protect this man with her life.

"Do you think Integra will be mad?"

"I wouldn't imagine so, young Master. Sir Integra has always held a particular fondness for black cats. Besides, I'm sure it would be nice to have her around to take care of any pests and vermin we may have." Returning to an upright stance, Walter trained his eyes back on Ichigo. "Now then, we really best be going. It wouldn't do to be late to a meeting with the Queen."

With that, he turned away and left the room.

Ichigo moved to follow him, but not before fixing Yoruichi with a stern glare. "Stay put."

She hissed at him in response.

Rolling his eyes, he too exited the room and closed the door behind him.

Walking back over to the bed, Yoruichi jumped up on it and returned to her human form. Stretching out until she felt her back pop satisfyingly, she made herself comfortable and took in her new surroundings in greater detail. The decor of the room was fairly high-class, a far cry from the spartan nature of her old quarters back in Soul Society.

She could get used to this.

Her golden eyes trailed over to the door that undoubtedly led into the bathroom. A mischievous smile played across her lips.

Hmm… perhaps she'd draw herself a nice bubble bath?

---

(Buckingham Palace; One Hour Later)

All eyes turned to them as they entered the conference room.

Any previous conversation halted immediately, and Ichigo couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable as the members of the Round Table unashamedly stared at him. Seras did her best to hide behind him, but Alucard strode ahead of them confidently without so much as a care in the world.

Pip meandered along at the very back of their group, evidently hoping to stay out of the spotlight.

Casting a glance at the left side of the table, which was situated in the very center of the long room, Ichigo curled his lip instinctively upon catching sight of Enrico Maxwell. He still had a very low opinion of the man, as their only encounter thus far had ended with the Italian bastard outright insulting Integra and calling her a 'disgusting sow.' Even back then, when Ichigo hadn't really known his boss all that well, he'd still felt personally enraged at how easily Maxwell had berated her.

To hell with him.

His eyes left the silver-haired man, and focused instead on Integra, who was sitting at the far end of the table. Her hands were neatly folded on the wooden surface in front of her, and she gave him a nod of acknowledgment as their eyes met. He nodded back, before looking up at Walter, who was standing directly behind her. The older man offered him a kind smile, which Ichigo briefly returned before turning his attention to the elderly woman sitting several meters behind Integra. Her chair was a simple wooden one, but her status was emphasized by the raised platform which the chair itself was situated upon.

It didn't take a genius to realize he was looking at the Queen.

"Remove your glasses, Alucard," Integra spoke, pouting a finger at her own eyes for emphasis. "The Queen awaits your report."

The elder vampire did as he was told, plucking his orange spectacles off his nose. Storing them in his pocket, he slowly walked down the length of the room towards where the Queen was seated. His footsteps echoed loudly within the marble room, and his overcoat billowed slightly in a nonexistent wind. As he drew closer, two armed guards attempted to block his path and prevent him from moving any further. Ichigo winced as they were easily disposed of. Ascending the small flight of steps leading to Her Majesty's platform, Alucard finally came to a stop when he was standing directly in front of the old woman.

"It's been a long time, vampire," she spoke softly. "Come closer and let me look at you."

Grinning, Alucard dropped down to a single knee in a respectful bow. Much to Ichigo's surprise, the Queen actually reached out and held the vampire's face in her hands, as if greeting a long-lost friend.

"All these years, and yet you haven't aged a day," Elizabeth mused, tone alight with amusement. "And yet, look at me. The passage of time seems to have greatly favored one of us over the other. Can you believe how quickly I became a little old woman?"

"Nonsense, Your Highness," Alucard spoke, baritone voice thundering throughout the room. "I still see the same spirited young girl I met half a century ago. In fact, if I may be so bold, I personally believe that the years have only made you even more beautiful."

"Hmm, you were always such a charmer…" the Queen chuckled. "Please proceed with your report, vampire."

Smoothly rising back into a stand, Alucard turned to face the collection of individuals gather at the conference table. "As you command, Your Majesty. Allow me to provide some insight as to our current situation… fifty-five years ago, a deranged Nazi Major attempted to breed a vampire army. Walter and I laid waste to their operation, but recent events have suggested that some of them refused to die during our initial purge…"

Ichigo leaned down towards Seras. "Walter fought alongside Alucard?"

She nodded. "Apparently, he and Master were quite the team back in the day."

If he picked up on their conversation, Alucard didn't give any outward indication of caring. "Millennium has returned. They've replenished their numbers, and are now preparing to complete their original objective. They truly are the last battalion. This time, however, they seem to be receiving additional outside assistance. Would you care to explain, Ghost Boy?"

Ichigo's eyes widened, and within a matter of seconds every set of eyes in the room were fixed on him. Damn it all… he'd really hoped to avoid having to do any speaking. Swallowing audibly, he nodded. "U-Uh, based off of recent encounters the Hellsing Organization has had with Millennium agents, it looks like they're working with another group of supernaturally gifted individuals called Quincies."

One of the men seated at the table raised his hand. "I cannot say that we are familiar with these 'Quincies' you speak of, young man. Please elaborate."

"Well, I used to work for a place called the Soul Society. As far as the Japanese mythology is concerned, Soul Society is where you go after you die if your soul possesses absolutely no lingering feelings of malice or regret. However, if you do die with any regrets, your soul twists and darkens, turning your spirit into what Soul Society calls a Hollow."

The members of the Round Table muttered amongst themselves, some speaking in horror while others merely looked fascinated by the idea. Ichigo wondered if this was the first they were hearing of concrete proof of the afterlife.

"I have heard of these creatures," Maxwell spoke up. "Hollows are the Japanese equivalents of demons and devils, are they not?"

The orange-head shrugged. "It's a little more complicated than that. Soul Society employs deceased individuals called Soul Reapers, or Shinigami, who go out into the World of the Living and purify Hollows. When a Hollow is purified, their soul gets cleansed, and they are allowed access into Soul Society."

"This is all very fascinating," a grey-haired man drawled. "But what does all of this have to do with Millennium and they Quincies? It all sounds a bit far-fetched, if you ask me."

"Bite your tongue, Sir Oswald," Queen Elizabeth spoke up.

Oswald paled, and stuttered out an apology. Ignoring him, the Queen motioned for Ichigo to continue with his explanation.

He nodded respectfully. "Unlike Soul Reapers, who are already deceased souls, Quincies are human beings who have been granted spiritual awareness and a very specific skillset of spiritual powers. Centuries ago, the Quincies attempted to completely exterminate every Hollow in existence. However, doing so inadvertently upset the balance of souls within the afterlife, which could potentially throw the world out of balance. Soul Society tried to warn the Quincies what they were doing, but they wouldn't listen. Given that they refused to stop eradicating Hollows, they themselves were eradicated by the Soul Reapers."

Maxwell hummed loudly, reaching up to stroke his chin. "Millennium and the Quincies… two organizations at the brink of extinction. It only makes sense that they would work together to obtain their revenge against those they believe have wronged them."

"We cannot be sure this is about revenge, though," Integra pointed out. "If we are to jump to any conclusion, then we must only do so after we have gathered enough proof and hard evidence."

"There's no need for that, silly!"

Ichigo's sword was pulled from its sheath.

Even Seras' Harkonnen left its own case.

Everyone in the room collectively turned towards the main doors, where a small boy had suddenly appeared out of thin air. He wore a light tan uniform, and a band bearing Millennium's emblem was wrapped around his left arm. Curiously enough, a pair of feline ears also poked though his blond hair.

It wasn't the weirdest thing Ichigo had ever seen, but he still had no idea how the boy had managed to sneak in without even opening the doors.

"Please don't shoot me," the child laughed jovially, walking towards the table without so much as a care in the world. "I'm only the messenger. You wouldn't hurt someone who is unarmed, now would you?"

"Explain this," Integra said, lip curling in irritation.

Walter's eyes narrowed. "Forgive me, Miss. I have no idea how he managed to get past all of the security…"

The boy laughed, placing an ancient-looking monitor on the table. "Those silly guards are useless against me! I am both everywhere and nowhere. My name is Schrödinger."

"No one asked for your damn name, kid," Ichigo snarled, pointing his blade at the impish blond. "Why the hell are you here, and what the hell do you want?"

Schrödinger pouted, sticking out his lower lip childishly. "There's no need to be so rude, Ichigo Kurosaki. You really are as bone-headed as the Major said you would be, aren't you?"

"What do you-"

"It doesn't matter!" the cat boy proclaimed, fishing into his uniform pocket and withdrawing a remote control. "To the gathered representatives of Great Britain and the Vatican, my commanding officer, the glorious Major, has a message for you! Please listen carefully." Pressing the only button on his handheld, Schrödinger aimed the device at the television set. The monitor gave off a shower of static, but no image appeared on the actual screen.

"Hello? Schrödinger? What is going on? There's no picture!"

The blond boy fumbled with the remote for a moment, before once again aiming it at the monitor and pressing the button. The screen blinked to life, and the image of a portly man dressed in a bone-white suit quickly appeared.

"Ah! There you are!"

Ichigo immediately felt bile rise up in his throat.

"Dear God…" Pip muttered behind him.

The scene behind the man on the screen looked like something out of a nightmare. Blood and gore painted the walls, coating everything a deep shade of red. Body parts littered every available amount of space, and the distinct sound of screaming could be heard in the background.

Interga's eyes narrowed.

Even Maxwell scoffed in disgust at the offensive sight.

"Oh, my goodness, Major!" Schrödinger laughed. "It certainly looks like you've got your hands full over there."

"Not at all! Things are going quite well; in fact, it feels as though an enormous weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I'm feeling great!"

"Hello Major," Alucard grinned, walking closer to the monitor.

"Alucard! So good to see you again, my old friend! It really has been far too long, hasn't it?"

The vampire merely chuckled in response.

From her seat, Intgera slammed an enclosed fist down on the table. "What is it that you want?"

"Ah! I cannot believe that I am finally face-to-face with the Fräulein herself. Sir Integra Hellsing," the Major said mockingly, sweeping an arm over his chest and bowing extravagantly. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my dear."

The aforementioned blonde ignored him in favor of pursuing her original question. "What is the purpose of all this? What are you lot trying to accomplish? Answer me!"

"Well, to put it in the simplest of terms, our purpose is the total absence of purpose. You should be aware, Fräulein, that there are certain irredeemable people in this world who hold no care for an end goal, or a grand finale. People such as myself, in fact! For me, the means does not always require an end. Surely, you understand?"

"You're insane," Maxwell sneered in disgust. "The whole forsaken lot of you."

"Did I really just hear someone from Iscariot questioning MY sanity? Let me ask you this… if your God would allow my madness to flourish across the globe, then wouldn't it seem to you that any god like that would be just as mad as I?"

The silver-haired Italian man rose to his feet, a furious snarl stretching across his features. "How dare you!"

"How dare I?" the Major parroted mockingly. "I dare, because I have actually managed to SPEAK with my god. Can you say the same, holy man? Regardless, we are the finest members of the Third Reich. Do you have any idea how many people we've killed over the past fifty years? You are nothing but a pesky fly on the wall to the likes of us."

"You won't be killing any more!" Ichigo shouted. His blood was boiling, and he was itching for the chance to wipe the disgusting smirk off of the Major's fat little face. To his shock, the German man actually clapped happily at his outburst, and turned his sickly-yellow eyes in his direction.

"Do my ears deceive me? Is that young Ichigo Kurosaki I hear? It is! The lost little lamb who needs to be guided back home. Worry not, my boy; His Majesty has plans for you."

The orange-head opened his mouth to voice a retort, but Alucard beat him to it.

"Who exactly is His Majesty, Major?" the elder vampire questioned, tone laced with unbridled amusement. "Last time I decimated your ranks, I never heard any mention of you taking orders from a superior officer. We both know that your allegiance to the Führer was nothing but a farce."

"Of course it was," the portly man admitted with a careless shrug. "But why should I tell you anything about His Majesty, hmm? That would take all of the fun out of the game! I want you to play with me, and you won't do that if you already know everything, will you? However, if you must know something, then I suppose it couldn't hurt to tell you that His Majesty came to us in our hour of need. He picked us up off the ground, and provided us with the means to reignite our initial passion. We are simply in the process of repaying him for his kindness. He is our god, after all."

"Your god will burn, monster!" Maxwell snarled. "There is only one true God, and that is our Lord in Heaven!"

"Did you just call me a monster, dear Enrico?" the Major laughed. "The only monster I see is the one standing among you all, dressed in red. That is why I will end up being the hero of this tale, you know. For in the end, I will be the one to slay that monster. That is why Britain is my enemy. That is why Hellsing is my enemy. Because the lot of you harbor the devil himself, and use him as your personal attack dog. He will bite you back eventually, but you refuse to acknowledge that. This is why I must put him down for you."

Alucard cackled maniacally, reaching up to hold his sides. "So, it's declaration of war is it? Excellent! I can't wait to destroy you again!"

The Major chuckled, shaking his head as if preparing to lecture a small misbehaving child. "You simply do not understand, do you? No matter what you do, you cannot emerge victorious from this. His Majesty has already determined that your demise is needed in order for his plans to reach fruition. There is quite literally nothing you can do to change that."

"Ichigo. Alucard. Kill him," Integra commanded coldly.

In an instant, the Hellsing vampire withdrew the Jackal from his overcoat, forced it into Schrödinger's mouth, and pulled the trigger. The young boy's head quite literally exploded, sending chunks of brain matter and skull fragments everywhere. His body twitched violently as it fell to the floor, where it continued to bleed profusely on the marble surface.

"Fine. Shoot the messenger if it will make you feel better," the Major grinned sadistically, raising a hand in farewell. "Auf Wiedersehen, meine Fräulein. I look forward to meeting you all across the battlefield… especially YOU, young Soul Reaper."

Ichigo scowled, leaping forward and carving through the television monitor with Manus' blade. The piece of machinery fell neatly into two pieces, before shattering completely as it fell to the hard, unforgiving floor. Standing up straight and sheathing his sword, the orange-head stole a glance over towards Schrödinger's corpse. However, much to his shock, the young boy's body had completely disappeared.

Everyone else in the room apparently noticed this as well, and those gathered at the table reacted in varying degrees of shock and disbelief.

Integra's eyes widened.

Maxwell's jaw fell open.

One of the members of the Round Table even outright fainted, toppling over backwards in his chair.

Silence completely enveloped the room, and it was only after a few minutes that the lapse in conversation was broken by the Queen herself. "Alucard. Sir Hellsing…"

The crimson-clad vampire turned his attention towards Elizabeth, and Integra respectfully stood from her chair to give the monarch her undivided attention.

The Queen continued without missing a beat. "Destroy them all. Leave no trace. I do not want them to have another opportunity to skulk away and rebuild their forces. Do I make myself clear?"

Integra bowed reverently, as did Alucard. Walter did the same, and Seras hurriedly motioned for Ichigo to follow suit.

"Of course, Your Majesty," the head of the Hellsing family replied. "We shall wipe them from existence."

---

(Hellsing Manor; Three Hours Later)

It had been a very long day…

The feeling of adrenaline exiting his body left him extra drained, and Ichigo groaned as he waked down the hallway that led to his room. The events that had unfolded during the Round Table conference were incredibly disturbing, and the Major's mocking laughter still echoed within his mind. The pudgy little man was nowhere as threatening as Aizen had been, but Ichigo wouldn't be surprised if they were equally intelligent and manipulative.

The entire time he'd spoke, the Major had possessed a crafty gleam in his amber eyes that sent a chill down the orange-head's spine.

Finally reaching his destination, Ichigo pulled the door open and stepped into the room. The first thing he noticed was that a nest appeared to have been made out of his pillows and sheets. The drawers of his cabinets were also pulled open, making it plainly obvious that a certain someone had seen fit to riffle through his personal belongings while he'd been away.

His brow twitched.

Any cat owner could tell you that their feline companions wholeheartedly believed they owned everything within sight, and it seemed as though that mindset also extended to individuals who could transform into cats. Either that, or Yoruichi just didn't give a shit about his privacy. He'd be willing to believe either option. Either way, he was much too tired to care at this point; all he wanted to do was fall asleep.

Dragging his feet as he walked over to his bed, Ichigo flopped down face-first into the pile of pillows and closed his eyes. Much to his annoyance, his bathroom door creaked open loudly as soon as he made himself comfortable. Turning his head in the direction of the offensive noise, he prepared to give his new roommate a piece of his mind. However, as soon as he laid eyes on her, the harsh words died a terrible death in his throat…

"It's impolite to stare, you know," Yoruichi teased playfully, toweling her dark purple hair dry.

Water droplets clung to her nude form, and several individual strands of her long, flowing hair clung tightly to her wet skin. Ichigo swallowed thickly, and suddenly wished he could slip past her and take a freezing cold shower.

He loved Sayo with all his heart, and he would never betray her, but there was still no denying that Yoruichi Shihouin was an incredibly beautiful woman. It was a simple fact of life, just like how the sky was blue and grass was green. Turning away from the naked woman standing in his room, Ichigo grumbled under his breath and faced the opposite wall.

"Why do you keep doing this?"

"Doing what?" the ebony woman asked innocently, continuing with the process of drying herself off. "I just finished taking an extremely relaxing bath; I can't help it that you decided to return as soon as I was done. It was simply a coincidence."

"Right… and Yamamoto is secretly a woman."

"Sarcasm is only attractive when I do it, my darling student."

"Will you please just put on some clothes?!"

Sighing in resignation, the Flash Goddess snapped her fingers and conjured up her usual orange and black outfit. "There, you can look now. Oh, who am I kidding? You've been peeking at me this entire time, haven't you?"

Ichigo groaned loudly.

"I knew it."

"Whatever," the orange-head growled, sitting up and turning back to face her properly. "I take it that you didn't get into too much trouble while I was gone?"

Yoruichi placed a hand over her chest in mock-offense. "Why, Ichigo! Do you dare to suggest that I would do anything untoward when you specifically requested that I behave? For shame, young man."

He leveled her with an extremely flat look.

"Gosh, you're no fun at all. Yes, I was on my best behavior. Though, I must admit that I was tempted to misbehave a little, just so you could punish me. I could use a nice spanking."

"What did I do to deserve this…?" Ichigo groaned again, allowing his face to fall into his hands.

"Oh please, honey," Yoruichi snickered. "You're lucky to-"

Suddenly, and without any warning whatsoever, the Flash Goddess let out a startled cry and collapsed to her knees, cradling her skull. Ichigo was at her side in an instant, expelling their previous topic of conversation from his mind. "What the hell?! Are you okay?"

Sweat dripped down Yoruichi's body, and her entire frame trembled violently. Her golden eyes were wide, and she looked absolutely terrified. "Y-You didn't feel that?"

"Feel what…?"

"The absolutely monstrous energy surge that just flared somewhere within the Manor," she replied, reaching up to tightly grip the fabric of his jacket. "I… no, it can't be…"

"What?" Ichigo said, gently shaking her. "Who is it?"

A knock suddenly sounded from his bedroom door, making him jump in slight surprise. Blinking several times, the former Substitute regained his bearings and turned to face the door. "Just a second!" He then turned back towards Yoruichi. "Hey, I need you to turn into a cat. We can't let anyone see your real form."

She nodded silently, eyes possessing a faraway look to them. In a puff of smoke, her human body was replaced with that of a black feline. Not willing to leave her alone in such a worrisome state, Ichigo scooped her up in his arms before standing up to go and answer the door. Walter's smiling face greeted him on the other side, but it was immediately apparent that the old butler's expression was somewhat forced.

His face was unnaturally pale, and beads of sweat clung to his face.

"Walter? Are you okay?"

"Yes, young Master. I am well."

"Are ya sure…?"

"Quite so. If you don't mind, I would like you to come with me. Sir Intgera has requested your presence in her office."

Sparing a glance down at Yoruichi, who merely remained silent, Ichigo nodded and began following the Hellsing family retainer through the halls. By this point, he knew the way to Integra's office like the back of his hand, but there was something about the situation that told him it would be good to have company this time around. Before too long, the trio reached their destination, and Walter stepped forward to open the double doors leading into the study.

"Good luck, Ichigo," the older man said.

The orange-head immediately recognized that Walter had referred to him by his actual given name instead of 'Sir' or 'Young Master,' which in itself was rather odd. He couldn't even remember the last time the butler had called him by name instead of by a professional title.

"Walter, is everything okay?"

"I'm… not quite sure."

He wanted to ask more questions, but Ichigo reluctantly acknowledged that doing so would only waste Intgera's time. And, judging by Walter's strange behavior, something rather serious was going on. Sucking in a deep breath, he allowed Yoruichi to climb up onto his shoulders as he entered the office.

The first thing to assault his vision was a bright shade of crimson.

Integra was sat in her usual place behind her desk, and much to Ichigo's shock, even she looked mildly uncomfortable. It wouldn't appear that way to the untrained eye, but he could plainly see the way her crystalline blue eyes trembled slightly. Scowling, the orange-head turned his attention to the red-haired man who was sitting in front of the desk with his back to the door.

"Who the hell are you?" the former Substitute bit out.

"Ichigo!" Integra snapped harshly, making him recoil in surprise. "I expect you to show the proper level of respect when greeting a stranger!"

"No, it's fine, Miss Hellsing," the redheaded man chuckled, standing up and turning to face the doorway where Ichigo stood. "It's perfectly understandable that he would be somewhat hostile. Everyone is on edge, after all, and it doesn't take a genius to determine that my presence is the cause of such discomfort."

"I assure you that is not-"

"Please do not lie to me, Intgera."

The blonde woman's mouth immediately snapped shut.

The red-haired man nodded, seemingly pleased, and walked across the room towards Ichigo. The orange-head himself took the opportunity to appraise the stranger's appearance. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, which itself covered a pristine white undershirt. His tie matched the color of his hair, right down to the very shade, and his eyes were a piercing blue-green. His hair itself was actually quite long, and reached down to at least his mid-back.

As the man finally came to a stop in front of him, he stuck out a hand. "Hello again, Ichigo. It really has been far too long since I last saw you… I was so devastated to hear about the death of your mother. You have my sincerest condolences."

"Uh, thanks. Who are you, exactly?"

The stranger chuckled. "It's no surprise that you don't remember me. After all, the last time I saw you, you barely came up to my knee."

Behind her desk, Intgera stood up as well. "Ichigo, this is Lord Sirzechs Lucifer; son of Lord Zeoticus and Lady Venelana Gremory, and one of the Four Great Satans of Hell. He is the Lord of Destruction, and the current King of the Underworld. Additionally, he serves as one of three main figureheads of what is referred to as the Biblical Faction."

Ichigo paled.

Had he really just mouthed off to the Devil himself…?

He'd done a lot of stupid things during his life, but this definitely took the cake.

He quickly shook Sirzech's outstretched hand.

The red-haired man laughed jovially. "Oh relax, will you? I'm not here to interfere in your business or lay waste to Europe, so you can remove those worries from your mind. I'm only here for you, Ichigo."

"M-Me?!"

From his shoulder, Yoruichi finally seemed to get ahold of herself. "It's been sixteen years, Sirzechs. Why only just now come to see the boy after all that time?"

Integra choked. "Did that cat just talk…?"

Sirzechs merely chuckled, and reached up to run a hand through his hair in what seemed like a small bit of actual embarrassment. "Well, truth be told, political changes prevented me visiting Karakura Town for quite some time, despite my status as one of the Four. I wish it hadn't turned out that way, but now that Ichigo is currently inhabiting territory that belongs to the Biblical Faction, I can come up and interact with him as much as I want. Oh, and it's good to see you too, Flash Goddess."

She nodded, seemingly content with his reasoning. "My question still remains, though. Why come to visit now, of all times?"

"Well, I wanted to wait until he had enough of his own Spirit Energy to survive a trip to Hell. It wouldn't take much effort on my part to cast a protective spell, but it usually helps if someone possess enough power on their own to shield themselves. Protection spells are usually only utilized as an extra preventive measure to keep someone from being crushed by the maelstrom of chaotic energy within the Pit."

Ichigo's left brow rose in incredulity. "Why the heck would I ever agree to go to Hell of my own free will…? Isn't the place covered with fire and brimstone?"

Sirzechs grinned. "Actually, it's quite nice if you stay within the populated areas. Contrary to popular belief, Hell has many of the same environments that can be found within the Living World. We have forests, mountains, cities, and even quite a few lovely beaches. In fact, my wife and I spent our last anniversary at a place called 'Lilith's Hotel and Spa,' which is a very popular romantic beach resort for couples. And let me tell you, we sure had a fun time…"

Ichigo made a face.

He really didn't need to imagine what kind of weird sex the Devil was having with his wife…

Either way, even if Hell was more like the human world than he'd initially believed, he still didn't have enough of a reason to actually go there. Sure, Sirzechs could likely force him if it came to that, but he sincerely doubted it would. Despite his title, the redheaded man actually seemed like a fairly decent guy.

"That still doesn't give me a good reason why I should agree to go. Besides, I have things I need to take care of here," he said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

Sirzechs smiled. "Ichigo, I sincerely doubt your presence will affect the Hellsing Organization too much. No offense, but as of right now, you are still nothing but an ordinary human with a bit of above average spiritual awareness. If you come with me, there will still be two very powerful vampires here who will undoubtedly be able to handle anything that is thrown at them."

Ichigo scowled, more than a little upset that he'd essentially just been called useless.

"It's alright, Ichigo," Integra suddenly spoke up, still standing by her desk. "It would be unwise of you to refuse a request from the King of Destruction himself. Besides, he's right; Alucard and Seras will likely be more than enough to combat the likes of Millennium in your absence."

"Why though?" the orange-head asked, posing the question to Sirzechs. "Why the hell are you so damn interested in me in the first place? What am I to someone like you?"

The green-eyed man's lips pulled up into a giddy smile.

"Now, Ichigo. Is that any way to talk to your godfather…?"

---

You know what really sucks?

I planned on having the entirety of my Christmas/holiday break all to myself, but my workplace called in the other day and said they needed me to come in because a bunch of other people were unwilling to work. Don't get me wrong, I love having a source of income, but it's REALLY frustrating to have to cover for a bunch of coworkers. Especially when, like I said, I hadn't planned on working at all over the break.

Anyway, once again, I am really sorry for how long I've been away. School came along, and unexpectedly took up more of my time than I'd anticipated. Hopefully, when the next semester rolls around, I'll be able to have more free time that I can devote to writing these stories.

So, let's review what happened in this chapter:

1. Isshin sent Yoruichi to keep an eye on Ichigo until more of his powers return.

2. The Major sent Schrödinger to deliver the message to the Round Table conference.

3. Sirzechs came to Hellsing Manor, and it is revealed that he is Ichigo's godfather. It is not mentioned, but this also obviously makes Grayfia his godmother. Or devilmother, if you want to get technical. Lol.

If you recall the omake from the previous chapter, I implied that Isshin and Masaki had a very good relationship with the Crimson Satan and his wife in the past. Still, it was never mentioned previously that Ichigo knew who Sirzechs was, which is because political issues within the multiple Factions prevented him from visiting Japan. For the better half of Ichigo's childhood, Japan has been the sole territory the Shinto Faction.

Now you all know why this is called the Family Ties Arc.

Don't worry, I still plan on giving the actual plot of Hellsing plenty of attention. I know some people were irritated with how I temporarily ignored the Hellsing storyline in favor of my Triage X Arc, but I promise to divide things up equally between the canon story and my own original idea. In fact, the only way for this Arc to work is if I do so, considering everything will be leading up to the Battle of London. Trust me, you'll see what I mean. Everything will be fine.

Besides, you all want to see Ichigo get his powers back, right? That will only happen if I follow the plot line I have planned out.

Again, sorry for how long I've been away. Thank you for your patience.

AlucardsBro OUT!

---

Omake

---

(Karakura Town; Sixteen years ago)

"I really don't think this is necessary, My Lady."

Amaterasu, in the guise of an ordinary Japanese woman, sighed forcefully and fixed him with an irritated glare. "How many times must We say it, Lord Lucifer? We are closing off Our borders for the foreseeable future, which means you will no longer be granted legal access to Karakura Town."

Sirzechs bit his lip, doing his best to reign in the growing anger welling up inside of him. He knew what this was all about, even if he couldn't say it out loud. The Lady of the Sun was jealous. Jealous of the fact that he and Grayfia had been spending so much time with Her beloved grandchild recently. Elder gods were restricted in how much time they were allowed on Earth, but no such restrictions applied to a Devil such as himself.

Allowing his irritation to leave his body in the form of a heavy sigh, the Crimson Satan leaned back against the park bench they were sitting on. "You do realize that I am his family too, correct? What you are doing is selfish and unfair."

In the sky above, the sun's heat grew in intensity.

"Do you truly intend to lecture Us on what is fair, Devil? Your kind lies, cheats, and steals like it is a simple part of life. You will have to forgive Us if We do not want young Ichigo to be exposed to that type of environment."

"So that's it, then? You're really willing to change entire laws to keep me from visiting my godson?"

"We are. And if it means protecting him from corruption, We are also willing to do much more."

"Is that a threat?" Sirzechs inquired, raising a brow.

"Not at all," Amaterasu replied, shaking her head. "We are simply letting you know how far We are willing to go to protect Our grandson. We are more than well aware that you can feel it too; how powerful he will become once he comes of age."

The red-haired Devil grunted, nodding in confirmation. "Is that partly why you're doing this as well? To ensure he joins the forces of Soul Society once he's old enough?"

"Do not claim for a single moment that you would not do the same, Lord Lucifer…"

"Hnn… you've got me there. Still, I think you might be taking this a bit too far. Will you at least let me come and visit him if I swear not to interfere with his life choices?"

The Lady of the Sun hummed quietly, watching as a group of children chasing after a ball ran by. "We will consider it. However, you once told Us that the word of a Devil cannot always be trusted. Do you deny it?"

"I don't. But I would still appreciate it if you didn't insinuate that I am a liar."

"Apologies. It must have been a slip of the tongue."

Sirzechs actively fought the urge to roll his eyes. Amaterasu was many things, but she very rarely misspoke; if she felt like something was worth saying, then she would say it regardless of whether or not it would offend someone within earshot. She wasn't arrogant by any means, but she obviously knew she was far more powerful than the people she typically surrounded herself with. Even he, with all of his Demonic Power, would likely only be able to rough her up just a bit if they came to blows. In the end, though, he had no doubts that she would be victorious in such a battle.

Standing up, the redheaded Devil brushed off his jacket and turned slightly to look down at her. "Well, My Lady, if your mind is made up, then I doubt there is very little I can say to change your decision. Either way, I should probably be getting back home. Grayfia is making manticore steak for dinner, after all."

Turning away, he raised a hand and prepared to conjure up a teleportation circle.

"Lord Lucifer…"

He paused.

Amaterasu sighed. "The new law does not go into effect until the end of the week. Until that time comes, you have Our full permission to visit young Ichigo and his family as much as you like."

Sirzechs withheld a snort. Four days wasn't a very long time. Still, he was more than willing to take whatever he could get at this point. "Thank you, My Lady."

With a flick of his left hand, a teleportation circle materialized on the ground below him. Glowing bright red and decorated with archaic runes, it pulsated with power for a brief moment before engulfing him in a vortex of Demonic Energy.

Within a matter of seconds, he was gone.