Author's Notes: Just so you know. Yes, I DO always start any chapter of my fic with author's notes. It's for my rationale and particular thoughts to be expelled before writing the chapter. It helps, trust me.
Anyway, my friend (who didn't review despite reading my fic so I'm pissed with her :p) has complained that there was no big singing in the last chapter. I'm making it up now, to her and everyone, by of course including a nice ditty in this one. It's not much, as I had to crop out several verses from the original song that didn't fit, and if you complain that a lot of the characters don't get their own solos like Celes, just you wait, espeically for Alucard ~_^
Hope you enjoy, this chapter will be short as I'm on a drain of ideas for now.
Chapter 3
Integra sat motionlessly in her chair, leaning down towards her desk with her face behind clasped fingers, her eyes closed in deep thought.
"Two seperate incidences of spontaneous singing and dancing, one personally experienced by Captain Bernadotte, and the other which we had just witnessed. Most certainly out of the ordinary, perhaps even supernatural," Walter said, standing at attention next to the desk.
Integra reopened her eyes, calm and blue. She spoke, "It might not be so serious, it certainly doesn't seem so. In fact, I have the feeling that this is all just one big joke, whoever the perpetrator might be," she eyed Pip questioningly, and he looked back indignantly.
"I hell didn't planned MY 'performance'! Like I said, I-can't-damn-cartwheel!" he yelled in his defence, slamming his fist onto the desk.
Walter seemed slightly amused, "Please, Captain Bernadotte, try to keep your temper under control,"
"Under control? Think it was easy with that routine!? YOU try cartwheeling with full battle gear and see how you like it..." Pip muttered, running the fingers on his free hand on his sore fist, turning away from the desk partway.
Integra sighed, and continued to ponder, then frowned as a thought crossed her mind.
"The people of Hellsing may not be willing participants of this joke," she said in a low voice.
Walter was silent for a while, noting the emphasis in Integra's voice, and with a small smile and calm reassuring voice, he said, "I very much doubt that Lord Alucard was responsible for these strange happenings, Sir Integra. It is to the best of my knowledge, that he finds the dabbling and use of magic, both of the light and darkness, to be rather pathetic. He would never permit himself to resort to it,"
"Perhaps if he was in combat, but there are no ways to be sure he would not use it for whatever other twisted intention," Integra replied.
Walter laughed lightly, as if enjoying some private joke, Integra looked up at him quizzically out of the corner of her eye.
Walter regained his composure, though there was a visible trace of a smile as he explained, "Forgive me, Sir Integra. But I do believe that while Alucard likes to say he regards magic with disdain, another reason he would not give, may be that he has no skill nor ability of wielding black magic,"
Integra raised an eyebrow, "And why should that be amusing?"
Walter laughed again, his eyes looking upwards to his right as he recalled a well-loved memory, "You were still not born yet, but I well remember how Alucard had once tried in vain to break the spell binding him to Hellsing. As I have said, he, unfortunately, has no expectional abilities in magic, and though he tried his best to use it to his advantage...the results were rather...catastrophic ..." he stopped laughing abruptly when a loud knock resounded on the door to Integra's office.
"Enter," Integra responded, as she lighted a cigar for herself, her mind restless and uneasy over the unresolved matter.
Celes walked in, peering at Pip momentarily as he stood muttering at a wall, and bowed her head slightly once she was in front of Integra's desk.
"The mission was successful I assume," Integra stated in a more buisness-like tone, directing her attention to the draculina in front of her.
"Yes, Sir Integral," Celes responded.
"All the three targets have been eliminated successfully," she continued.
Integra nodded in approval, satisfied with the simple report, and was ready to dismiss Celes when Walter suddenly spoke to her.
"Excuse me, Ms. Victoria," Walter started formally.
Celes looked up in surprise, at the steward, who continued.
"I would like to know whether you noted anything 'unusual' during the course of your mission,"
Celes was taken aback. Did Walter know something about her...singing?! Her mind swam for a moment before remembering the other 'incident' that happened shortly after that number.
She was beginning to look suspiciously flustered under Walter's gaze and she quickly replied, "Well, when I was waiting for to be picked up, a man at the far corner of the street just...tapdanced up to the corner, and..."
Celes paused for a moment, wondering what would everyone's reaction be when she finished with, "Exploded,"
Integra blinked, Pip stopped his muttering and looked cautiously over his shoulder.
"Exploded?" Walter repeated.
Celes nodded frantically, "He just BOOM! Exploded and burned up,"
Walter leaned back, with a slight smile of polite interest for the matter. Integra took off her glasses and rubbed her temples, "Dancing monkeys, dancing servants, and now exploding people in the streets of London..." she groaned.
"'Monkeys?!'" yelled Pip indignantly, but noone was paying attention to him.
"Not to mention, Ms. Hellsing, a certain dancing vampire as well," Alucard's deep baritone resounded throughout the room as he appeared from a pool of blackness through the wall, right next to Pip who immediately backed away from the vampire with a yelp.
Celes' face burned and she did not dare turn to face her master, who had begun laughing at her embarrassment.
Pip looked at Alucard queerly, "You were dancing?!"
Integra allowed herself to smile a little in amusement while Walter shook slightly with repressed mirth. Celes could have laughed as well, but she noticed that her master had stopped laughing abruptly and was glaring at Pip, his sharp teeth very evident as he grinned threateningly.
"Uh, Pip, it was me," Celes raised up a hand apologetically. Pip looked horrified when he realized his mistake and looked from Celes to Alucard, who had now turned to face him directly.
"Whoops..." he squeaked meekly, retreating further and further backwards from the looming vampire.
"Alucard, stop harassing Captain Bernadotte," Integra instructed neutrally. Alucard's face dropped with disappointment, and backed away, while Pip was breathing again in relief.
"Celes," she spoke sternly, making Celes immediately turn to face her with a gulp, "Why didn't you tell us that?"
*Would YOU tell everyone you were dancing and singing halfway through a mission?!* Celes thought in exasperation.
"I thought it was unimportant..."
"Hmph," Alucard snorted slightly, "So, has anyone else burst into song?"
Walter: "I've got a theory
That it's a demon
A dancing demon!
No, something isn't right there."
Celes: "I've got a theory
Some kid is dreaming
And we're all stuck inside his wacky Broadway nightmare."
Pip: "I've got a theory
We should work this oooooouuuuut!"
Walter, Celes, Pip and Integral: "It's getting eerie
What's this cheery singing all about?"
Pip: "It could be demons!
Some bloodsucking demons!
[suddenly notices both Alucard's and Celes' glares] "Which is ridiculous 'cause vampires they're superior and really strong and really sharp teeth and could suck my blood and I'll be over here."
Celes: "I've got a theory!
It could be bunnies!"
Silence and stares
Integral: "I've got a theory-"
Celes (yelling, gothic-style)
Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes!
They've got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses!
And what's with all the carrots?
What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?
Bunnies!
Bunnies!
It must be bunnies!"
Silence and stares
Walter: "I've got a theory we should work this out fast-"
Walter and Alucard: "Because it clearly could get serious before it's passed."
Integral: "I've got a theory-"
But before Integral could finally speak her line, the mysterious phase of singing just passed through them, and they were left without words once more.
Integral seemed at a loss for words, almost not willing to accept she had just been included into this singing fiasco, and as expected, grabbed a cigar and lighted it quickly.
"Hmm..." murmured Walter, mentally counting, "Four incidences, not counting the exploding man which I personally suspect is a fellow result to all this...strange occurances,"
Everyone was silent for a moment, Alucard was casually leaning against the wall, his hat tipped down to conceal the upper part of his face. Celes fidgetted and shuffled her feet a bit, Pip was looking curiously at everyone, shrugging at everyone's silence when he met Celes' gaze.
"Alucard," Integral suddenly spoke.
Alucard grinned, his red eyes glinting as he lifted his hat graciously off his head.
"Find whatever is causing this phenomenon, and if it is dangerous," Integral continued, tipping the smoking end of her cigar held in his hand downwards
"Destroy it," she finished coolly.
Alucard bowed in gentlemanly style and answered, "Yes, my Master,"