Integral jerked her head up. She was in the hallway. Her head flew right. Victoria and Alucard were watching her; Victoria confused, Alucard with a knowing grin. Her hands clutched her abdomen, intact.
"Jagon." She hissed and ran up the stairs, slamming the door open. The Get Backers and Walter were several meters away. Ginji had recovered from his faint and was leaning on Ban.
"Halt!" She called, storming towards them. They turned.
"Hello, Sir Hellsing. Did you have a pleasant dream?" Ban asked, shoving his glasses into place. Ginji stared at him, stunned.
"You little bastard. Get out of my country. Forget everything you learned or by God I will teach you new meanings of pain," She hissed, eyes flashing blue murder. Ban studied the furious woman, a knowing smirk on his face.
"Ban. You didn't…" Ginji said softly.
"Surely it wasn't that bad," Ban purred. Mist began swirling around their feet. Walter quickly backed off, heading for the base of the stairs.
"Dying is never pleasant," Integral snapped, folding her arms over her chest. Ban's eyes bugged out.
"Wh…wah?" He stammered. The mist thickened and spread.
"Uh, Ban," Ginji whimpered, edging closer to his partner.
"What the hell?" Ban looked around, suddenly realizing something else was going on. Mist surrounded the Get Backers, slowly turning red and black. Evil laughter rang in their ears.
"You sick little worm." Alucard's voice mocked. "Invading my Master's mind, poisoning her with your Jagon."
"Aaaah. Ban!" Ginji bumped into the taller man, only to be picked up by a detached arm and tossed out of the mist.
"GINJI!" Ban lunged after his friend and slammed into Alucard.
"You're not going anywhere, German." Alucard let his tongue hang out. "Setting limited control release to level five until target is silenced."
"You FREAK!" Ban's right hand flew out.
"Snake bite!" He latched onto Alucard's face and squeezed. The vampire laughed until his jaw broke. Ban squeezed harder, panting. Alucard's face finally collapsed in on itself and he went limp. Ban let go and wiped his hand on Alucard's coat.
"Serves you right. Ginji!" Ban stepped over the body and headed in the direction Ginji had been tossed. He stopped when laughter began echoing through the room. Swallowing hard, he glanced over his shoulder. Alucard stood, his face repairing itself.
"This is a mere fraction of my power, German slime!" The mist became pure black and Alucard grew to tower over Ban.
"Now behold the wrath of a true Nosferatu!" Shadows collected around Alucard. Ban clenched his fists, bracing himself for a fight.
"ENOUGH!" Integral's voice rang out. The darkness disappeared.
"Ban!" Ginji ran down the stairs. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah." Ban glared at Integral, who was smirking. Alucard had also disappeared.
"Remember this, Get Backers. I will know if you have talked. We will find you. And he will not stop. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Crystal." Ban turned and stormed up the stairs.
"Good bye, Sir Hellsing," Ginji said softly, sending the knight a rebuking glance as he followed his partner. Walter was right on their heels and made sure they left the building quietly. Integral waited until they were gone before heading upstairs to her office.
"You have strange dreams," Alucard said, sitting on her desk when she walked in.
"Shut up."
The bell chimed cheerfully. Paul and Natsumi looked up.
"Ban! Ginji!" The Get Backers were knocked to the ground by a teenage whirlwind intent on hugging them both at the same time.
"You're back! We missed you." Paul lit up, chuckling. He leaned against the bar and waited for the tangle of bodies to unravel into their proper components. Ban succeeded first. Rising to his feet, he left Ginji and Natsumi on the floor babbling about pictures and slid onto a bar stool.
"Coffee."
"Wanna talk about it?" Paul asked, sliding a full cup under Ban's nose. Ban shook his head.
"Nothing to talk about. Bust job."
"What do you mean?" Paul asked, taking another draw. Ban's attitude spoke of more then just a bust.
"Tanaka was wrong. She was dead. We gave him the pictures." Ban declined to mention how they had gotten the pictures.
"Sorry to hear that."
"Yeah."
"Did you get the rest of the fee?" Paul asked with a slight note of hope in his voice. Ban glanced at Ginji, now sitting at the end of the bar with tourist pictures spread out in front of him. Natsumi was standing next to him, completely focused on the story Ginji was spinning about each shot.
"I don't take fees for busts." Paul groaned. They STILL weren't going to pay their tab.