Bet you didn't think I was coming back so soon, huh? Well the thing is I'm going easy on studying cause I'm far ahead, so, decided to be nice on you and myself (you should see how good writing makes me)

So this is a bit of a flashback chapter, but as that could go for long, it's going to be dissected in two chapters. You have no idea just how much story there is to tell.

Gingetsu lay still in his bed, looking up, irritated. He couldn't sleep. It was six in the morning, and he had the opportunity to get the few hours he needed of rest, but sleep just wouldn't come to him. However, other images did come to his mind. He closed his eyes one more time and allowed the memories to flow through his mind.

Start flashback

Gingetsu took his hand to the side of the visor, trying to clear the interference. In his left hand he was holding his long sword. The rain kept falling like ice drops from the sky and from between his lips hot air got condensed. His hair was so wet it looked like he was coming out of a pool and the water dripped down his long cape.

Kazuhiko still didn't answer. Gingetsu was really worried this time. The stupid vice commander of the Secret Colours Battalion hadn't contacted him for the last ten minutes and the interference was getting him nervous.

Finally he picked up a signal. There was no image, but the sound was intelligible, though barely.

"Commander, sir?" a voice cried. Gingetsu froze.

"Kinomoto? Where's Kazuhiko?"

"We don't know sir. We found his glasses here and his handgun, but no trace of him. There's blood everywhere sir. I fear the worse."

"Get in position for a large search." Gingetsu immediately started running. "We are not leaving without him." Or what is left of him… he thought to himself.

He kept running full speed through the dark alleyways listening with his hypersensitive hearing, trying to find anything that would lead him to…

He stopped dead in his tracks. He had heard a noise in an alley close to him. That old neighbourhood was a spider web of passages and squares. There was a square quite close to him and that's where the noise came from.

Gingetsu pressed his back against the wall, left side ahead, and started walking to the square. Then he heard another noise. It was a like a punch followed closely by something falling against what seemed to be a large trash container. The Lieutenant Colonel got to the edge of the wall that hid him and took a look.

Kazuhiko was a on the ground. He had his back leaned against the container and was panting hard. Gingetsu saw his uniform soaked in fresh blood. He had to be badly injured. He held his stomach with both arms. There was a man standing next to his sitting figure. Gingetsu noticed he had to be as tall as himself and just a big. He was wearing the Azurite army uniform and was standing with his back to Gingetsu. The Lieutenant looked at Kazuhiko again considering the odds of a surprise attack on the guy and getting away with the Captain alive.

Considering Kazuhiko's look, he measured them slim. He forced his power into his blade to make it more resistant and got rid of his cape, so it wouldn't bother him in the fight.

Then he saw the tall man lean into Kazuhiko and tell him something. He was whispering so Gingetsu couldn't hear it, powering his sword as he was. But he saw Kazuhiko's eyes flame up in fury. Then those brown eyes lightened when they stumbled upon Gingetsu's visor. That light immediately turned off when the man hit him across the face. Kazuhiko, too weak to oppose, fall to his side and on his left arm. Only then Gingetsu saw the reason of so much blood. His left hand had been severed away. Gingetsu's eyes widened in shock and anger.

Kazuhiko was his responsibility. He was his man, his agent. Gingetsu transferred more power onto the blade and lunged forward without so much as a whisper. But then the man turned in awe and stepped aside avoiding his blade by less than an inch. He then adopted a defence position, summoning two long blades. He was wearing round glasses and had very short blonde hear, and a long face.

"Oh, Lieutenant Colonel Gingetsu, Commander of the Secret Colour Battalion." The man purred observing his opponent. "It is rather a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Barus. This must be important if it got you out of the Intelligence Recollection Agency in Azurite."

"Oh, well, seems like we both know who we are dealing with."

The fight was not long. Gingetsu was probably the best swordsman ever known in Japan and Barus was not the best of Azurite, although he was powerful and skilful. Gingetsu dispatched the matter quickly because he was very worried about Kazuhiko's loss of blood. But he didn't kill him. Barus got away with a deep injury in his left shoulder and many deep cuts, but nothing lethal. Gingetsu didn't follow him.

Kazuhiko was unconscious. He was covered in his own blood and very pale. Gingetsu lifted him to a sitting position and concentrated on his left wrist that kept bleeding dangerously. He was occupied with that, after calling an army recollection copter, when Kazuhiko came back to consciousness or something close to it. He opened his brown eyes, though barely, and smiled weakly.

"Thank you."

"You disobeyed my direct orders Kazuhiko. You could be dead."

"I'm not."

"Yet." Gingetsu reached into his army belt and took medicine out of a pocket. He took a pill and offered it to Kazuhiko.

"I don't like that. Makes me sleepy."

"Take it or bleed to death." Kazuhiko managed to make a dim smile and took the pill with a trembling right hand. He was sweating and shaking hard. Gingetsu got to the alley and brought his cape to cover him with. Kazuhiko's eyes were heavy as the noise of the copter got nearer to the pointed position.

"I knew you cared about me." Kazuhiko suddenly said. Gingetsu stared, in shock. He got up to signal the copter but Kazuhiko caught his hand, keeping him leaned forward.

"Don't worry. Won't tell." He said cryptically before falling back to unconsciousness. Gingetsu stared at him still, very confused. That was the first time anyone ever spoke to him like that, or even smiled at him affectionately.

End flashback.

Gingetsu shifted on bed, very upset. That was one of his worst memories, besides the night his father had abandoned him in the Research Lab. Kazuhiko had been very close to dying and only lived because he was just too freakin' stubborn to die.

That had been nine years ago. Six years later he remembered something else. He remembered getting off his car on the Takishawa Stadium, where the police and the firemen were gathering, and seeing his friend standing cold under the rain. As he got near him, he saw he was shaking weakly because of the rain, the cold and the impression.

He remembered touching his shoulder and seeing his empty, dead brown eyes looking back at him but not entirely recognizing him. He still held in his hand the cage with the bird that was Oruha's birthday gift.

Gingetsu turned his head and saw two men taking out of the Stadium a stretcher covered by a sheet soaked in blood. Out of one corner he saw a long stock of curly black hair. And he knew that was Oruha's body.

Kazuhiko was sitting on the kitchen with Walter. Neither of them could sleep. Everyone else was, but they just couldn't. Kazuhiko was sad. He had been having too many memories lately, specially after tonight's episode in the warehouse. It was that wound. It wouldn't heal completely. It wouldn't let him forget.

Walter observed him hiding behind his newspaper. He hadn't seen him so sad before and he wanted to help, but didn't know what to say.

Then all of the sudden Kazuhiko lifted his eyes and met Walter's. There was no mock in his eyes, no humour now.

"I look like a sad puppy don't I?" he asked ironically. Walter smiled without humour.

"I guess you do. May I ask you, is there something I can do?"

"There always is isn't there? Well I'm not good on either silence or listening, so… maybe you could ask something. Speaking clears my mind."

Walter smiled again and thought a moment.

"I've been wanting to know, the Lieutenant said that you asked to be transferred to his unit, correct? Why was that?"

"Well, Walter, after the seventh Court Martial, in the army they gave me an option; I was either going to be assigned some place I could be controlled, or going to be let go of. And I decided that if I was going to be put with some guy that had to give me straight follow-or-die orders, at least it was going to be the best in the army. And the Secret Colours Battalion is kind of a mystery in the army, so Gingetsu was naturally the best choice."

"And you two became friends."

"It wasn't easy Walter." Kazuhiko said shaking his head, remembering. "You should have known Gingetsu when I knew him. He was a machine. He only lived for the army, he had no friends, hand no others interests apart form following his orders. I am not going to tell you about his past, because it is his own, and only he can speak of it, but let me tell you, it was horrible. And he grew up to be an ice cube. Nobody helped him not to turn into that, no one cared. I guess I helped him a lot, because he is really changed now, but he still has many scars. Niko and I are the only ones that understand him a bit. There used to be someone else… Ran." Kazuhiko stopped dead, gathering his memories and searching for the words. He needed to speak anyway, and he liked Walter. "But Ran died a year ago. The first months… I thought Gingetsu was back to what he used to be before we met, but then he started getting better and now he is something like he used to when Ran was alive. Still he has moments in which he looks like he was smaller out of the pain." Kazuhiko looked confused a bit, and his eyes got moist.

Walter felt very sorry for him. He could look as light-hearted and happy as anyone could be, but inside he was screaming. They both were. And they were the strongest men he had known yet.

"I guess all we have right now is each other, and Niko. We both lost the most important people of our lives and had to keep on moving. The pain is just terrible, but you realise, life goes on. If you get caught in the spider web of pain and regret then you leave your life behind and live on thinking on how it was when you had both your hands." He said. Then he laughed a bit, sarcastically, and raised his left hand. "Literally, too." He lowered the hand again and put it on the table, back up. Walter observed the strange gold metal sign on it. It was a circle with many strains inside, and a smaller circle attached to it. Kazuhiko caught his gaze.

"It's a modem. It's used by the army to summon all kinds or war weapons. They usually give it to the high operations officers and the commanders. The Secret Colours Battalion though is allowed to have one for each soldier. We have little crowns. Anyway my whole hand is an army weapon now. Nothing better than an army weapon for yourself. Great place to get shot, too. "

"What about that tattoo on your right hand?"

"Oh this." Kazuhiko took off his glove and showed him a green oak leaf tattoo on his palm. "This is a code. It's designed to be an access key to a certain place. It was a thing given to me on a mission I took from the army in the brief period I was a civilian detective. It was supposed to disappear when the mission was finished but I've had it for the last three years. I don't know what to make of it. Whether the mission is still on, or they just lied to me. Then again General Kou has never lied so…"

"Can I ask what the mission was?"

"Ah, but that story is for another moment my dear friend." Kazuhiko answered, eyes glowing in fun. He was back to being the same Kazuhiko as always. "Tomorrow, same hour, same place. Maybe. I'm going to bed."

Niko stretched, still sitting in her coffin. She yawned and ran a hand through her hair. Then she looked around.

She gulped in awe. Alucard was sitting there next to the table, with a wine glass full of blood in his hand of long fingers. He didn't have his glasses or his hat on, and he was really charming, smiling softly to her. She climbed out of the coffin and made her clothes appear. A pale blue turtleneck, long armed shirt; and blue jeans, then her tall boots. She sat next to him and took the glass of blood he offered her.

"Everything OK, Vlad?"

"I was just thinking." He said calmly. Nothing of the madness and cruelty he showed Integra and the rest of the Hellsing members he showed to her. "Do you miss the time we used to spend together, Niko?"

"Yes, sometimes I really do. I miss how you always knew what I wanted without even reading my mind, and how you hugged me out of nowhere. I miss us a bit."

Alucard nodded and offered her his gloved hand. Niko put her small fingers between his long, strong fingers. He didn't want anything. Just to touch her gently. After so much time, they were back to being strangers. Confidence had to be regained. Alucard softly caressed her fingers with his, absent look on his red eyes.

"Vlad, are you alright?" she asked after a while, a bit troubled about his lonely attitude. He looked at her as if wakening from a deep sleep. He nodded silently. But Niko knew him better than that.

She stood and got close to him, looking down to his red eyes, and stepped between his legs. Alucard seemed confused and nervous for a moment until he got his calm mask back on his face. But again, Niko knew him better. He looked down a moment, then looked back at her, and his eyes were a bit moist.

"Why did you have to leave, Niko?"

The Japanese girl stared a minute, very troubled and confused. His attitude was strange, as if stalked by a great pain. Niko had an impulse and attracted him to her chest to hug him strongly. He ravelled his long arms around her skinny figure, silently letting his pain flow down. Still, it wasn't just about his memories with Niko. There were more things to it.

"I couldn't drag you to a war that was not yours Vlad. I would have been unfair." She whispered stroking his silky black hair as if she was his mother.

They stood like that for long minutes. Neither of them wanted to let go. The feelings and memories long stored in their hearts were just too strong to put in words, but until they were ready to speak them out, they could offer each other the comfort of each other's warmth. The body's memory is different from that of the mind.

"Now Vlad…" Niko broke the hug cradling his face in her small hands. He was so serious, so sad… "I have something else to do tonight. But I won't leave this country before we talk about things."

"What are you doing tonight? I haven't been told of a hunt."

"I'm not hunting." Niko stepped away and went to her chest, near the coffin, to get her hair brush. "I'm going out."

"Where?" Alucard took the brush out of her hand and started brushing her long hair himself. That was something they both used to enjoy when living together. She closed her eyes and almost purred in pleasure.

"Ah, I don't know. Seras and I are having girl's time alone." The brush stopped. Niko opened her eyes slowly. Alucard seemed thoughtful, and was frowning. Niko turned and gently pulled the brush out of his fingers. "Someone needs to explain her what she has become." she said accusative.

Alucard chose not to answer. He disappeared into a cloud of mist without any comments. Niko frowned, upset.

Seras was dressed very nicely. She had a red kilt and a white shirt and a red beret, and black boots under the knee. She was looking really nice and Niko was very happy about it, because that would make the youngest vampire feel confident.

"Seras-san I love it! You look beautiful! It's just your style, Seras-san!"

"Y-you think?" Seras asked shyly. Niko took her hand.

"You'll see. Come with me."

Niko leaded her to her own room where Kazuhiko was sitting on the table clearing her report. She sucked at writing reports.

"Look Kazuhiko-kun!" Niko cheerfully said. The tall man turned and looked at them both. His eyes widened and he whistled. Seras turned bright red.

"That's very good looking Seras-san, it's really nice to see you off your uniform. I knew you were beautiful but this is definitely…"

"Zip it Kazuhiko." Niko barked. Both him and Seras looked at her surprised. He smiled evilly.

"Well now Niko, you look pretty yourself. I didn't think I needed to tell you that. I mean, you know I always think you're gorgeous."

Niko turned red too and left the room still holding Seras's hand and hearing both his chuckles and her's.

Then she took her to Alucard's room. Seras fought that one. She was very afraid Alucard would make fun of her. But Niko was sure he wouldn't. He better not. For his own sake.

She knocked the door twice and called him. Nothing happened, so she did it again. Seras was bright red and had her head down.

"Yes, come in." Alucard soft voice sounded.

Niko turned and gently raised Seras' head, taking her by her chin.

"Now look at his eyes, Seras. That is what he likes."

She opened the door and went in first, but holding tightly the girl's hand. Alucard was sitting next to his table, his booted feet on it, arms crossed. His head was down. He was thoughtful. Niko had to clear her throat to get his divided attention back to the room. He raised his head.

"Yes?"

"Look at this." Niko said stepping aside so he could see Seras. The girl immediately lowered her head and Niko cursed to herself. She was almost too shy for her own good.

But at least what Niko was expecting actually happened. Seras caught Alucard's attention. He lowered his legs and stood slowly, looking at her carefully.

Seras remembered what Niko had said and suddenly had the heart to raise her head and look into her Master's eyes. He looked back a long minute. Niko was happy. Just happy.

"Well?" Niko thought almost aggressive. "Say something, you dumb Romanian median."

"Well well well, now Police Girl you look like a whole woman. Very pleasant indeed. It is an interesting change."

Alucard slowly rounded her studying her figure. He realised he had never noticed how attractive she actually was. He saw she was still holding tight to Niko's hand. He smiled and saw Niko's warning in her red eyes. He shook his head calmly. The danger disappeared.

Alucard took his hands to the beret and leaned it a bit to the right. Seras gulped on the touch and stiffened. He put his hands on her shoulders to calm her down.

"That's better Police Girl. You look lovely. Have fun, both of you."

And he faded into nothingness, leaving a very red and happy Seras and a very proud and thankful Niko.

He did care. He cared a lot. He was confused on her innocence and her attitude, but he liked her a lot. Niko could help them with that. He could help them both.

Niko and Seras sat in an Irish bar called The Temple Bar in East London. They were sitting in front of each other in a table rounded by a couch, right on the back wall of the bar. There were a lot of people there and the atmosphere was cheerful and noisy. It was good for both of them.

They had drunk some drinks of tequila and other stuff, and were cheerful themselves. Then they were doing a Japanese drink game when a girl fell down next to them. Niko stretched and held her up. The girl had blonde curly hair and deep blue eyes, and was pretty drunk. She sat on the couch next to Niko laughing hard.

Then her friends got to them. They were three, two of them obviously Irish, with their reddish hair, emerald green eyes and freckled faces, twins, and a third one beautiful as a little doll, pale skin, red lips and water green eyes.

Niko invited them to sit with them so they did. Those were Seras's first friends ever since meeting Alucard, apart from Walter. It felt great.

The blonde one was Melfina. The twins were Ada and Bianca, and the brunet was Karolina.

"…so, so" Melfina hit the table with her small tequila shot glass and kept telling her story. "He comes at me and tells me he had been wrong, and he was willing to have me back. He was willing to have me back! Do you imagine? And I was like, you left me asshole, I should have you back! And he pulls of this like, no one's going to want you but me, and I was like, I can have whoever I want! Figure that! He would have ME back! The bastard!"

"Well at least ye got him off yer back Mel." Ada said taking a sip of her beer. "I always thought he was kinda dumb ye know?

"I know! And you were right!"

"Yeah…" Bianca gently let down her glass of chocolate liquor and looked up at Niko. The vampire was using black contact lenses so nobody would see her red orbs. The Japanese median smiled at her. " I have an idea." She said suddenly, her blue eyes lighting up. "Let's play I Never, huh? What de ye reckon?"

"I'm in." Niko said looking forward to have some fun with them and Seras.

The other girls agreed too, and Seras tagged along.

"I have a better one." Karolina said after a minute. "Forget I Never, we'll play that later on. Let's go for Truth or Dare!"

"Oh! Loved that one!" Niko said looking at Seras. The younger vampire flushed slightly. Then she nodded.

"Ok, so, as I gave the idea, I start." Karolina thought for a moment. Then she turned to Niko. "So, Truth or Dare, Nippon?"

"Oh, well, I'll go for Truth."

"Very well! I get to ask you three questions and you have to answer with the truth!" Karolina gave herself a moment to think. "Let's see. How's your love life?"

"Um, kinda dry actually. We're on dead gear I'm afraid."

"What? Why?"

"Which is your question? Oh well, my pairing is still mourning someone else, so… We're "stuck in a moment" as Bono very well said."

"Now that sucks." Ada said frowning. "How long has he been mourning her'"

"About… three years now."

"That's too much! He should be over her already! I mean, come on, bloody hell, just how much does someone cry over a shed milk?"

"Now Ada, I think she was the love of his life."

"Well, of you clung to someone in dead, he or she will take you with him right?" Bianca said softly. "Like me and Jamie. I had to let go before he turn to cause my death."

"I guess so." Niko answered as softly as Bianca. Then she looked at Seras, wicked smile on her beautiful face. "Now Officer Victoria; Truth or Dare?"

Seras took another shot of vodka and looked at Niko with blur eyes. The alcohol was starting to hit in. Niko didn't thought that a completely bad thing. Alcohol does, after all, help you unravel.

"Truth." Seras answered. She was obviously still too scared of what might happen if she ever said Dare.

"Wonderful." Niko smiled evilly but her eyes were full of care. "Do you or do you not find Alucard attractive, Seras-san?"

So the time to act Miss Match had begun. And she had never failed in a match.

Wel well well… I do not know what we have here. Many of the ideas are taken from my editor (thank you girl!) I don't like a chapter too angst or too funny dumb, so I'm mixing in the two. Oh, in next chapters… watch out Alex Anderson's lovers! And there will be some more telling about Gingetsu's and Kazuhiko's past, too. I know I have you dancing there.

Until next week (I AM posting a chapter a week, so you have to admit, I am behaving myself pretty well.)

Namariel out!