A/N: In which Hunter and Seras go to a ball, Integra offers Alucard a challenge, and there is general air of amour and armour.
It was a dull morning. Grey clouds coated the sky, it was cold, mists cloaking the ground. Millions Knives looked out, enjoying the quiet that was rare in the small enclave. That insane vampire had finally left to sleep the day away, and he would be free of his incessant yammering. Though he wasn't human, the undead monster was still enough like those meddling spiders to be included in his plans. Only a few knew of his plans.
The old wound in his leg throbbed. His hand brushed in unconsciously, remembering the near escape from that bumbling brother of his and those cohorts. He sneered. The thought of his brother as a bounty hunter was a laugh. The pacifist nullwit would likely only take the 'alive' bounties. He reconsidered, remembering the priest and the two former insurance clerks. It had been a mistake to kill the parents of the two women. He had thought that it would frighten them enough to leave him be. It had the opposite effect.
He shrugged the thought away. He may be a superior being, but he was hardly omniscient. The cold wind blew, ruffling his short cut pale blonde hair. He heard the scuff-step of someone coming up the steps behind him. He turned, seeing the tall man that he had given the post of lieutenant. "Yes?" he said.
"Word from the watchers in Falklands, my liege. Your brother is investigating the trail we had left to distract him from the hunt."
"Are his companions with him?"
The man bowed his head, averting his golden eyes. "Our reports show the women with him. It is unknown at this time where the priest is."
"Very well," he said. Nothing he could do about it now. "You have my orders for Monev and Rai-Dei?"
"Yes, my master."
"Send them out at once. Legato?"
"Yes, lord?"
"Let them know the price of failure."
"Of course,"
Once the man had disappeared, Knives turned and looked out at the dismal sky. Yes, he may work for this vampire now, but he was his own master. He picked up the small mug of coffee, drinking it down before heading back into the complex himself.
He was sure of one thing. Erik Valar would not walk from this place alive. He would see to it personally.
The smell of salt wafted up to him along with the sounds of surf crashing on the rocks. He gazed out at the water, letting the work of art, this piece of Earth wrought by God's hand soothe him. He let his thoughts drift to the children that he guarded, so young, so defenseless. He felt his conviction grow as he thought of those innocent lives. He would wipe every last vampire from the face of the Earth to protect them, given leave and time.
He sighed. Yet somehow he always wound up leaving those two pet monsters of the Hellsing group be. He couldn't find an answer why. For some reason he kept winding up in situations that required him to work with them. The Millennium Nazi's were one case. His humiliation at the hands of that bastard Valar was another. He knew that Maxwell would assign him to some other case or give him time off once he returned to the Vatican. He couldn't allow that. He needed to pay that monster back, to take an eye for an eye, as he always did.
Even if it meant working with that she-devil and her corrupt friends.
He stood, stretching his huge frame, his hair wavering in the breeze. He set his glasses back on his nose and picked his way down the small trail to the cabin where the young fisherman had offered him board in return for guidance. The man's sins were minor, like what you would find in such a simple folk, but sometimes to refuse an offer would be to offend the giver. It was merely an example of the Scriptures. "The Lord giveth and He taketh away," he said, as he walked, the sea breeze blowing his jacket and robes about his body.
Perhaps, if he planned carefully, he would be the only one to walk away from the confrontation that was coming. He smiled. Yes, that was a welcome thought indeed.
His laugh echoed down the rocky sides of the bluff.
She woke slowly, feeling reluctance for leaving the bliss of sleep behind. She reached out to slap the control that would raise the lid of her bed, but her flailing arm hit only air. The fog coating her brain started to thin, and she also realized that there was an arm draped over her waist. She opened her eyes and saw that she wasn't in her room, she was in Hunter's. Where she had fallen asleep after toasting the memory of Pip and the others that she had known during her stay with Hellsing. Where Hunter had held her to give her comfort as she faced what she had done.
"Good afternoon," a voice said from behind her. She rolled onto her back and saw Hunter there, stretched across the top of the blanket, still in the simple togs and sleeveless tunic he had put on after changing out of his wet clothes. She smiled at him. "You didn't stay there all day, did you?" she asked.
He smiled back. "No, I ran a few errands, getting replacement equipment and ammunition. But I made sure to check in from time to time. You slept fitfully at first, but as the day went on you settled down. Seemed to have some interesting dreams, too. Smiled a lot during them." He hopped over her, his bare feet slapping on the stones. "Now get up, slugabed. It's time for some training."
"Training?" she asked as she slid out from the blankets. The baggy sweats and t-shirt she had on hid her form in the voluminous cloth. "Should I go change?"
"No, it's mental exercises first. We're going to tap into your ability to mask your form, much like I did at the club." He sat on the floor, legs crossed in the lotus position. He gestured to the spot in front of him. "Please, make yourself comfortable."
She sat, mirroring his position as best she could. He reached out and pushed her eyes closed. "I want you to picture yourself in your mind, much as if you were looking in a mirror. Don't bother with details just yet. Just focus on the basics, height, eyes, form, hair colour and length, and so on."
She built the image in her minds, using his guidance. He showed her the mental paths to follow, the roads to turn on. When she thought she had it enough to try on her own, she nodded. "Now I want you to pick a feature, like how long your hair is or your eye colour, something simple." He waited until she had decided before continuing. "Now I want you to picture it different, in a substantial way."
She focused on her spiky blonde hair, matted from sleep. She imagined it growing longer, darkening to a malt blonde then into a red-tinged brown, much as her mothers had been. For a few moments, she felt nothing happen, then she felt something brush against the back of her neck. She gasped, eyes flying open. Hunter sat in front of her still, a smirk on his face.
"You look good as a brunette, Police Girl," he said trying to keep the laughter out of his voice.
She reached behind her head and grabbed the mass of hair that hung there, pulling it in front of her, looking at the dark colour, so close to the wine they had drunk the night before. As she marveled at it, Hunter cleared his throat.
"You did good, but simple things like that are easy. Now we'll try something a bit tougher, like altering physical features. We'll try your hands. Fix what they look like in your mind."
Seras pictured her hands, the short, nimble fingers, slightly stocky. She had always wanted long, tapered fingers like Integra had, so delicate, so regal. It was easier, now that she knew how to shape the thought pattern, but it still took her several tries before she felt her hands start to tingle, almost like a tickle. She opened her eyes and saw that her hands had shifted into a longer, slimmer form, not quite the delicate hands that she had envisioned, but still different from her normal hands. After another few tries with Hunter's guidance, she managed to get them formed like she had pictured.
"Now for the tricky part," he said as she released the changes, shifting back to her normal self. "Changing multiple parts at once. Stand up, and fix the image of yourself firmly in your mind, then choose what you would want to appear as. It's much the same process, but you are doing it on a larger scale. Don't change the features to something radically different, just a minor shift."
She saw herself, short, blonde, and a bit on the young side. She pictured herself taller, a little older, her hair brushing her shoulders. She felt the brush of her hair on her neck and shoulders, and the slight tickle-tingle spreading across her body. She kept the picture in her mind, waiting for the tingling to stop, when she heard a saccharine voice purr from the side. "My, how've you've grown, Police Girl."
Her eyes snapped open and she saw Alucard standing there, leaning against the doorframe. He held a smirk on his face that she had come to associate with pride and smug confidence. "If I had known it would have been this easy, I would have started your training long ago."
She felt a bit of heat rise to her cheeks, followed by a small flash of anger. He had held off thinking she wouldn't be able to learn?
Calm down, Seras, a voice thought at her, tinged with the wry laughter of Hunter's sarcasm. If you remember how long it took you to feed willingly, you'd understand his hesitation.
Her anger faded. He was right.
"I take it you and Integra are up and about finally?" he said to the vampire in the meantime.
"I am, but she has been up for several hours, back at work." He came in, the long red coat draped over his slender frame brushing against his calves. "I understand you came into some information about the Anusan that might be helpful," he said as he lowered himself into a chair and crossed his long, booted legs.
"You could say that," Hunter said. "I'm waiting on a few things to get verified, but I think there is a very real chance that it won't be as bad as it could be."
"You're being awfully vague, Thanatos," chided the dark-haired vampire.
"A necessity born out of habit. I don't want to say something now that might be proven incorrect thereafter." He stood, brushing the bottom of the togs he was wearing. He waved a hand at Seras. "She makes a beautiful thirty-something, doesn't she?"
Seras blushed again. She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the mirror hanging over the bureau, seeing the slight smile lines that had graced her face now, the fuller face and body, the hair curling around her shoulders. She looked at the two men in the room. "I guess I'm a fast learner when you have a good teacher," she said, trying to give a quick jibe at her former master but was surprised when her voice sounded different. The looks on the two faces in front of her confirmed that her voice was different. Hunter smirked with satisfaction while Alucard raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You can let it drop now, Seras," Hunter said. Her viewpoint shifted as she shrank back to her old height, and she felt the slight glimmerings of pride that she had expanded her control of her powers. She wondered what other abilities she would be able to call forth now.
"Time to go to the ball anyway," he said.
She looked at him. "What ball?"
He shrugged. "Some hobnob function in Birmingham. It's being thrown by a man named Kale Rivlar. There are quite a few people on the guest list that were part of Das Millennium and as the scrabble fiend pointed out, it's an anagram for Erik Valar."
"Scrabble fiend?" asked the blonde.
"Robin is rather fond of word games, as I found out during lunch today." He shook his head. "You ever try to get a triple word score with nothing but consonants? She ate me alive."
She giggled at that. "Well, if we're going to a ball, I should hop in the shower."
"Take your time, Cinderella," said Alucard. "It's not for another four hours, and we've yet to turn the pumpkin into the carriage."
She shot him a glare that she softened with a slight smile. She phased out, heading for her room to shower and change. As she arrived at her destination, a voice filtered into her head.
Don't get into anything fancy, we're going in disguise. Why do you think I had you work on that for two hours? Hunter chuckled in her mind. We'll work out the details of what to wear when you get done.
As long as you stay out of my mind when I get in and out of my shower, she thought at him, teasing. The mirror in her bathroom was directly across from the shower.
Who, me? came the response, in hurt tones. I wouldn't think of doing something like that.
Good. I'd hate to have to put you in another police hold.
His laugh echoed hers as she cranked on the shower, the room starting to fill with steam.
Integra smoothed the tie she wore as she resettled herself in the chair. Dressed in her more traditional suit, its dark grey colour melding with that of the chair she sat in, she brushed a stray lock of her pale blonde hair behind her ear.
"Interesting," she said as she looked at the two forms in front of her. Hunter stood in the same dark tunic and jeans he had been wearing when she had first seen him, his broad face set with another of those damning smirks. Alucard stood beside him, his red coat and slate grey suit a riot of colour compared to the Dhampir's somber array and her more mature suit tone.
"Are you sure that it will go off as planned?" she asked. It was a risky plan.
The vampire shrugged. "Few things are certain, Master. But we are relatively sure that he won't risk an out and out confrontation with so many people there. Some of them are from Iscariot, undoubtedly plants from Maxwell to keep tabs on this large gathering of Millennium alumni."
Hunter nodded, his rust-coloured hair swaying as he did. "Plus, he'll want the fight to be on his ground, where he'll have backup and complete knowledge of the terrain. He'll flaunt and intimidate, but he'll hold off from violence."
"Again, are you sure?" she asked, eyeing him hard.
One of his loose-shouldered shrugs. "Not really, but I'm going on the fact that he's tried to stay hidden thus far. I'm going in under the identity of a Millennium member that died in your attack three years ago. If anything happens, it'll be after we leave. Amon and Robin will be there as backup."
She nodded. Her own thoughts followed the same lines. She looked at Alucard. "And what will you be doing during this?" she asked him.
He flashed his wide grin. "Why, my favorite pastime, Master."
"Annoying me?" she asked with a smile.
"My second favorite pastime, then. There are some FREAKS out in Manchester that I thought I would deal with as a distraction. Plus, I am rather bored, and dances don't do much for me after that night with Mina and your ancestor."
Her lips quirked at that. Abraham Van Helsing had set up a long mirror to expose his lack of a reflection, the stories said. It had backfired on him, since that was a superstition, but the man's ingenuity had rather annoyed the vampire, along with his persistence.
She folded her tan hands in front of her, thinking. "Do it," she said simply. The two men nodded and left, Alucard phasing into the shadows and Hunter using the door.
"Alucard," she said. The vampire returned.
"Yes, my Master?" he had his usual smirk on his face, eyes hidden behind his glasses. She beckoned him closer. When he was at her desk, she reached out, grabbed the ribbon that he used for a tie and pulled him down for a kiss.
"Hurry back," she said, her voice implying that she would prefer him to be careful to fast.
"As you wish, Integra," he said, fading out again.
She sat back in her chair. No reason they should have all the fun tonight. She'd find something to do to entertain herself.
And just maybe, a tall, dark-haired companion to join her.
She smiled.
"That?" she asked, not quite believing. Hanging on a rack in her room was a long gown set in tones of pale yellow with threads of blue shot through if you looked at it at an angle. A wrap of grey-blue lay draped across the shoulder of the dress, held in place with an intricate shoulder sculpt, a brooch of pewter, shaped like a Celtic knot.
"Why not?" said Walter as he turned from the door. "It does fit the manner of dress that you will be mingling with."
"I can't wear that, it's too long!" She went and felt it. Silk or some similar smooth material. And I'm afraid of damaging it, she thought to herself.
You won't, Hunter said. She turned, seeing him attired in a three-piece tuxedo, the banded collar of his shirt still undone. "It would fit you rather well as you were earlier, with some minor changes." He winked at her. She pinked as she thought back to the shape-shifting exercises they had done earlier.
"What about you? Aren't you going to go in disguise as well?" she looked at his familiar, if clean shaven, face.
"No sense in getting ready as early as I was dressed. But if it'll appease you, I could..."
"No, I believe you." She regarded the dress. "You think it will look good on me?" she asked.
He laughed. "What?" she demanded.
"A moment ago you were worried about if it would fit and if you would hurt it. Now you are wondering if it'll go with your hair." He shook his head. "Instead of wondering, how about getting into it?" He motioned for Walter to follow him out to the hall.
Seras pulled the gown from the hanger, setting the wrap and sculpt to the side and slid into the dress. It pooled about her feet, too long by a good three inches. It was also a little loose in the hip and waist. She shrugged and used what she had learned earlier to take care of the problems, and then glanced in her mirror. She blushed; it did look good on her. She grew her hair out and changed it to a dark red which she worked into an intricate braid that she let hang down her back. She shifted her eye colour into the same blue it had been in her life before that night in Cheddar. She heard a gentle knock at the door and turned. "Come in," she said.
Hunter poked his head in, and did a double take at her appearance. "You do learn fast," he said. He walked up and fingered the braid. "What lovely hair," he mumured.
"Yes, what about it?" she asked, looking up into his eyes. They had an almost distant expression.
"Well, it's just that, well," he said as a grin slid across his face.
Uh-oh, she thought and started to step away. She got away, but not before he had flicked the end of her braid up and caught her lightly across her pert nose with it. She mock-glared at him. "That was uncalled for," she said.
He shrugged. "So get me back after we get back. It's time to go." He buttoned the top button of his shirt and a slight haze covered his features. When it cleared, he had short brown hair and piercing green eyes that almost glowed from his pale skin. "Shall we?" he asked in a thick German accent.
"Let's," she said, taking his arm. She pulled the wrap across her shoulders and fastened the sculpt over the left side of her body. They reached a car and slid inside. Hunter slid a CD into the radio and hit the play button as they drove off. Eric Clapton came over the speakers, the gentle tones of 'Wonderful Tonight' fitting in with the attire.
Seras giggled. Hunter looked at her. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"Just that I never thought I'd be going to a ball, or anything dressed up so fancy. It's like a dream I had as a little girl."
He smiled. "Sometimes it just takes a while for dreams to come true," he said. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Speaking of dreams, what did you dream about last night?" His tone suggested that he had an idea.
"I thought a gentleman didn't inquire as to the private affairs of a lady," she said, teasingly.
"Ordinarily I wouldn't, but you tend to mumble in your sleep. My name and Pip's came up a few times. There was also something I didn't quite make out. Sounded like 'snog', but I could be wrong."
She flushed bright red, face blending with the shade she had turned her hair. So she did talk in her sleep. She'd always wondered about that. "Um," she started.
He reached out and patted her on the shoulder. "I was teasing, bishoujo. You don't have to tell me."
Is it because you already have an idea? she thought.
Something of one. I thought you woke up unusually adjusted for the wreck you had gone to bed as. He slowed and turned the corner, drawing up to a large house, ablaze with lights. "Here we are, milady."
A valet took the car and the two walked up to the door, where a man in a white doublet and grey pants stood with a bored air. "Invitation," he said, as though he was half asleep.
Hunter handed him a folded piece of paper. The man didn't even look at it as he waved them by. Seras looked back as they walked in.
Sloppy security, she thought.
Take a look around, Ginger Nut.
She looked as she elbowed him for the nickname, and was amazed at the number of people already in the audience chamber. There had to be close to two hundred people, and the party had just begun. I see what you mean, she thought. I'd be bored if I had to collect this many invitations.
I meant around the room, not at the people. He tossed his chin at a pillar in the corner, and Seras saw two men resting in the shadows, the obvious air of guards about them. As she scanned the rest of the room, she picked up on little things that she would have missed if not for her police training and enhanced eyesight. Cameras in corners, guards posing as guests, and a large glass wall that had to be two-way with a control room on the other side.
A lot of security for such a small affair, she said to him.
If I had invited this many people important to my operation, I'd make damn sure they were safe too. He led her to the dance floor. Let's keep up appearances until my dear father deigns to make a showing.
The music was a slow waltz, and he led her through the steps with reasonable ease. She grinned. I hope this turns out better than our last date did.
She had the satisfaction of seeing him blush before he smiled. True, I would think that gunfire would ruin the evening. And how would I get you back for a third?
She gave a soft giggle. How indeed? she thought, laying her head against his shoulder.
They danced for some time, mingled with the other guests, and sampled the food set out on a buffet before Hunter finally sighed in exasperation.
"Maybe it was just a coincidence," he said.
"Perhaps," a voice said behind them. They turned and saw Robin and Amon dressed much as they were. Amon wore a Japanese suit with golden stichery depicting a dragon curving around to his back. Robin was sheathed from throat to calves in a form-fitting red dress, her blonde hair piled on top of her head, glasses on the tip of her nose.
"Any problems?" he asked the witches.
"None. By the time we got here, the door warden was more or less just looking to see if we were armed."
Robin smiled. "Like he could disarm me," she said with a laugh. She turned to Seras. "Que bella capelli," she said, smiling.
"Now, now, let's not go and set things on fire. They might not invite us back for the next little get-together." Hunter glanced around. "Sides, I doubt anything would happen in here. It's when we leave that trouble could start."
Seras tapped him on the shoulder. "Over there," she said, pointing to a man coming down a staircase. He was attired in a suit of purple silk, a cream-coloured tunic beneath the jacket. His long black hair was tied with a braided gold cord. The features of his face were set in an aristocratic smile, his thin brows and hawkish nose giving him the air of a noble from a hundred years gone.
"Yup, that's daddy dearest," Hunter said. "Shall we go say hello?"
Seras didn't really want to, but she went with him over to the man. Hunter stuck his hand out and smiled. "Kale Rivlar, it has been too long."
The man turned, a smile on his face that faded slightly as he tried to place the face before him. "Indeed it has, too long. I'm sorry, but I seem to be having difficulty placing your name."
"Oh, forgive me. The event where we met was so much more important to me than it was to you, I'm sure. Kieran Ford." They shook hands.
"Ah, I know you now. You were part of dear Rip's navy contingent, were you not?"
"Yes, though she perished shortly after I transferred to her direct command. My wife, Leila," he said, with a slight hand motion at Seras.
"My dear, it is an honor," he said, kissing her hand. Seras smiled and merely nodded her head.
"So, how is it you managed to escape the same fate as Rip?" asked the man under the alias 'Rivlar' as they walked amongst the milling guests.
"I had been in my quarters when the alarm came. I was on my way to my station when an explosion knocked me to the ground." He reached up and pulled down his collar, exposing a large, puckered scar. "I almost did not survive."
"I see. You are one of the lucky ones that made it out, then. What purpose do you have to bring to the Council?"
Seras kept her thoughts to herself. She didn't know anything they were talking about, and hoped that Hunter was fast enough to keep from seeming suspicious.
"Oh, I just wanted to see my dear father. It seems like it's been centuries since we've talked." The Dhampir looked at Rivlar. "It's been a long time, and you didn't stay to talk last time." His voice was cold, emotionless.
"Ah, Robin. I didn't recognize you. Or should I call you James now?" He cast his gaze at Seras. "I assume she is one of the Hellsing brats?"
"If you want to call them that." He looked at the man. "But time enough for introductions later. No hug for your son? I'm hurt."
"Your tongue is sharp, young one." He glared at him. "Be careful it doesn't cut your own head off."
"Oh, the disappointed Pater Familius. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, you know." He leveled his gaze at his father. "I'm going to come for what's mine, whatever that might be. If you truly have anything now, that is." He started to turn, leading Seras off when a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"I would be careful of what you meddle in, lest you get involved in something deeper than you are tall." He looked at the half-breed, a storm behind his eyes. "I would hate to see you get hurt, or your lady friend."
"Oh, how I tremble. You know that I'm not impressed by shows of intimidation, Father. And I know that you are well aware of my past, so I know that you aren't saying it out of fatherly concern. I know what it is you're doing, and I will stop you by any means necessary." He let his eyes shift back to the grey-blue they normally were, the light in the room not reflecting from them. "Any means necessary."
"A shame then," his father said. "And I thought there was hope that I could save you from the fate that these others would face in the long run."
"A shame," agreed Hunter. "Good evening to you, Father."
"Have a safe ride home, James."
"Oh, you might want to tell the guards to get a slightly larger suit jacket if they're going to carry a pistol in a shoulder holster. The bulge is rather obvious, especially on that bishounen over there."
"I'll pass it along. Until next time?"
Hunter smiled, showing his fangs somewhat. "Of course."
As they walked out to the car, Seras punched him hard on the arm. "What the HELL were you thinking?" she said.
"I wanted to rile him up a bit so Amon and Robin could get out unnoticed. And get him back for that mind probe. Let's get out of here before someone decides to take a potshot at us." The car pulled smoothly away from the curb.
"Get him back? You have got to be kidding me."
"Of course I am. I used it to crack his control and probe his mind. I got the location of his base while he was trying to cover his shock. Now keep an eye in the rear view, please," he said, cranking the mirror around so she could use it to watch behind them. "I'm sure they'll be coming any second."
"Who?" she asked.
He didn't have a chance to answer as a car slammed into them as they passed through an intersection. He fought the wheel for control. "Them," he said. He downshifted and cranked the wheel hard to the left, pulling away from them. He spun up a side street, loosing them for a few moments. "There's a pistol under your seat, so would you like to drive or shoot?"
She looked at the fast gaining car. "I'll shoot, if you don't mind."
She hauled the gun out, seeing that it was an older Colt 1911. She checked the magazine, then turned and started to open the sunroof.
"Just shoot through the back window," Hunter said. "I'm sure Sir Integra will get over it."
She shrugged, and slid over to the back seat and knocked the rear windscreen out. She started firing at the car that was now within thirty meters and gaining fast. She gouged holes in the hood and fenders, but she didn't penetrate. "They're armoured," she shouted over the sound of the wind.
See if you can hit a tire or something, he thought back at her. As a return shot spanged! off the trunk, he sent another thought back. And make sure your red head doesn't get taken off in the meantime, Rusty.
She smiled, glad for the concern he was showing. It was like the early days of D-11, or the times she spent shoulder to shoulder with Pip. Thanks for the concern, but my hair is going back to normal as soon as we get out of this. I don't think I can take another one of those nicknames.
Keep your eye on the guns, Police Girl, he shot back as another bullet ricocheted off the back of the car. She emptied the clip at the car, trying to pierce the windscreen.
Got another clip for this thing?
Not on me. Hold onto something, he said a few moments before slamming on the brakes. The car slid back, slamming into the pursuing car. There was a sound like tearing metal, and as Hunter sped up again, the car behind them stayed right on the bumper.
I think we're hooked on something, she thought. She eyed the men in the other car. They were dazed from the impact.
No huge matter, he thought. He was eyeing the road in front of them. Is there something back there we can use to jam the gas pedal down with?
Her eyes lit on an umbrella in the floorboards. She grabbed it and handed it up to him before she realized what he was going to do. You aren't,
I am. They knew the risks when you started shooting back at them. Get ready.
She shook her head. What was it about men that made them so ready to shoot first and forget about asking questions?
It's part of our charming personalities. And I haven't always been a saint. All Undead persons please exit the vehicle now, thank you for traveling with Hunter cab service.
She rolled her eyes as she phased out of the car. Comedian, she thought.
"Yeah, but I'm a comedian in one piece, which is more than we'll be able to say for them." he said from beside her. They stood in the street as the two cars sped towards the retaining wall at the end of the street. Someone must have recovered enough to realize what was going on, as the brake lights on the second car flared into life a split second before they slammed into the wall. The resulting explosion lit the night, sending a plume of smoke into the air. A car slid up behind them, Amon at the wheel. "Took you long enough," he said to the man. "You and Robin go for ice cream or something?"
"No, we thought we'd let you handle it. It's your own fault for riling him up." Amon gazed at the conflagration. "Did you get the information you had hoped for?"
Hunter shook his head. "No, just the locale. His mind didn't shake open enough for me to get an exact read."
Seras heard the faint sounds of sirens. "Could we finish this back at the manor? I'd rather not be here when the cops arrive."
They climbed in the car and started up a side street, heading back to the main boulevard. Hunter shifted back to his normal form, then smacked himself on the forehead. "Oh bollocks," he said.
"What?" asked Robin.
"I left my CD in the stereo."
The two women tittered. "All that over a CD?" asked Seras.
"Hey, I liked that CD. Had all my favorite songs on it."
"So, now we go in and break up whatever he's got planned?" Amon glanced in the rearview, business oriented as usual.
"Eventually. I think we should just let them stew a bit about just how much we know, let them get sloppy."
Robin looked at him. "And if they try to do something in the meantime?"
He shrugged. "Then we deal with it."
Integra glanced up at the form that entered her office. She sighed. "And again, I thought we had discussed this, Alucard."
The red-draped form smiled. "I was under the impression that you wanted me to return at the soonest opportunity. This seemed the fastest way to fulfill your wish."
Another sigh. "Remind me to clarify myself in the future," she said.
"Of course, Master."
She looked at him as he settled himself in the chair, his lanky form slouching in the comfortable leather. "The targets?"
"They were all silenced. It was really too easy, but it was fun to get out and stretch my wings a bit."
"Any complications?" she asked, standing and crossing the desk to settle against the front of it.
"None to speak of, Master. They were the same small, pitiful bits of scum I've been fighting for years now."
"Perhaps this Valar would be a suitable foe. Incognito was merely his fledgling, after all,"
The vampire nodded. "He would be a suitable foe, but it is not my fight, as I said the other night. This is one that I cannot take part in."
"And if I had another challenge for you?" she asked.
"What did you have in mind, Master?"
She smiled. "How about keeping me safe for the night?"
"Hardly a challenge. There is likely nothing to happen this night."
"Oh?" she arched an eyebrow. "Would you like to make something happen, then?"
Alucard smiled slyly. "What would you like to happen?"
"Why don't you come with me and find out?" she said, taking his hands and pulling him up out of the chair.
"As my Master wishes," he said, for the first time not speaking the title or the phrase with sarcasm.
Drum Fill
I never really feel quite right and I don't know why
All I know is that something's wrong
Everytime I look at you you seem so alive.
Tell me how do you do it?
Walk me through it,
I'm following everyfootstep
Maybe on your own you take a cautious step
Do you want to give it up?
But all I want is for you to SHINE
Shine down on me
Shine on this life that's burning out.
I say a lot of things sometimes that don't come out right
And I act like I don't know why
I guess the reaction is all I was looking for, yeah
You looked through me,
You really knew me,
Like no one has ever looked before
Baby on your own you take a cautious step
Do you want to give it up?
But all I want is for you to SHINE
Shine down on me,
Shine this life that's burning out.
I know, I know, girl you got something
SHINE (shine it on to me)
Shine down on me (I wanna feel it)
Shine on this life that's burning out
Instrumental break
Baby on your own you take a cautious step
Do you wanna give it up?
But all I want is for you to SHINE
Shine down on me (just show me something)
Shine on this life that's burning out (you give me something that I never
know)
SHINE (it gonna kill me if you give something away)
Shine down on me(I wanna know what's going in on your mind)
Shine on this life that's burning out
Don't you know I want you to SHINE
Shine down on me
Shine on this life that's burning out
Preview
Seras: So, we went to a dance, got in a car chase, and basically made goo-goo eyes at each other.
Hunter: Yeah, that's the long and short of it.
Seras: Did anything happen that was of any importance?
Hunter: Well, I think Integra and Alucard took advantage of the empty manor, but other than that, not really. Found a nice place to put a summer home, if we can evict the baddies that are currently set up there.
Integra: Your findings are irrelevant.
Hunter: Actually, we found where he was basing his plan of attack.
Integra: Oh?
Seras: Yes, sir, we did.
Integra: Well done, then. I believe you have a preview to do, Commander?
Seras: Oh, right! In our next chapter of 'There but for the Grace,' we begin the assault on Erik Valar's island, Hunter's dark past comes to the fore, and the strained alliance between Iscariot and Hellsing is tested again.
Anderson: I was wondering when ye were going to bring me back into the story, she-beast.
Hunter: Might want to watch it, Anderson.
Seras: I've got this one, dear.
Anderson: I'm not afraid of ye, whelp.
Hunter: Actually, our time's up, guys.
Chapter 11: Shadows of the Past
A/N: Robin's quote at the ball means 'What beautiful hair' in Italian. I'm pretty sure everyone here knows what a bishoujo and bishounen would be. Just five chapters left if I follow the original plan. I'm sad, it's ending so quickly.