Disclaimer: No more disclaimer guys… I mean, after nine chapters, c'mon.

Chapter ten yay!

Seras sat down on the chair smiling. Kazuhiko was finally getting off bed after a whole week. He was quite the annoying kid when he was bored.

Kazuhiko sat up in the bed and put on his shirt grimacing a bit at his sore back. He still wasn't fully recovered, but Seras and the others had the sensation that the doctors really wanted him out of the infirmary…. And they understood them.

Niko gave him his black turtle neck over shirt and put his coat on the bed next to him. Kazuhiko smiled at her attention. He was so spoiled lately…

She glared and went to sit next to Seras. The cherry haired blonde couldn't help a small smile. They were just so cute together.

The door opened and Gingetsu came in, face emotionless.

"Oh hey" Kazuhiko greeted, smiling. "Where have you been? I was wondering why you weren't here scolding me about getting out of bed."

"I took Walter out to get some information about this matter."

"Ah, the great Angel of Death. How did that work out?" Kazuhiko stood to put on his uniform coat.

"Barus attacked him."

"Oh, so he's dead." Kazuhiko grinned maniacally.

"No I stopped Walter. I thought you wanted to kill him."

"Yeah, but it's alright if someone else does too." the Captain smiled as he buckled the belts and buckles in his chest to close the coat. Then he moved to the big belt on his waist. Seras thought it was quite complicated to put on and take off if you had to go through all that work every time.

"I'll have that in mind." Gingetsu replied.

"What did you find out?"

"Not much…"

Kazuhiko grinned again, an eyebrow arched. "Oh, the Lt. rudimentary communication skills failed him again? How sad…"

"If you're in the mood I can show you some of my skills." Gingetsu replied coldly. It was quite the serious threat but Kazuhiko didn't really worry.

"Sure if you have the time we can sit and I'll teach you how to communicate with people." He said playfully. He was in a taunting mood apparently. Seras and Niko looked at each other, amused. It was strange how Gingetsu interacted so naturally with Kazuhiko or Niko but was just the ice cube with everyone else.

"I was thinking more of a blade and a lot of pain." Gingetsu remarked.

Kazuhiko made a sound with his tongue, unharmed. He shook his head, like thoughtful. "Sorry Gingetsu. We're not that close."

Gingetsu dropped the issue before it got under his skin.

"Barus huh?" Kazuhiko trailed off after finishing with his uniform. "I just knew we were gonna bump into that guy sooner or later."

+break+

In the other side of London, in a quiet hotel room, many men were gathered discussing different things.

In the centre of the room, around a large round table there were five people sitting and talking.

"I'll need help to get rid of the Clover." One said lazily taking his thumb to the cut in his lip. "Anyway after we eliminate him the Prince will be less than a bother. He's still recovering from many injuries. I can deal with him."

"We don't care how you handle your matters with Kazuhiko Faye Ryuu." One of the men said. "We need Lt. Colonel eliminated as soon as possible. He's too much of a danger to us now."

"I have some tricks to get him off balance." Barus answered grinning. "He has this heightened senses of his that can easily be turned to our advantage. Still I would rather him living…" Barus trailed off thinking in how beautiful the damn Lt. Colonel was. And just how powerful.

"I will assist in his capture." A voice with thick Scottish accent said. The incredibly tall man dressed as a Catholic Priest stood by the great window looking out to the city light's in the night, his back to them. "He is an abomination of nature."

"Not more than you for that matter." Barus replied lazily. The priest turned to him sharply, green eyes bright.

"My skills are a gift from God." He said low.

"Nah, they were something you were born with. The same for him. You should be rather happy you grew up in a Church instead of a lab. Not even your pretty little God knows what the Clover Leaf Project would have done with you…Besides didn't someone technologically help you with those cute powers of yours?"

Father Alexander Anderson gave a step to Barus but someone stepped in front of him, between them. "Stay right there Priest, and you Barus, quiet." The man said with an unquestionably authority. They both obeyed. "I did not call to you so you would kill each other, no matter how much I would like that. You can kill one another after having done what you were called here to do." He stared ad the both of them alternatively. "Kill the three vampires, and the Lt. Colonel. Ryuu has no relevance to the matter. You can keep him kill him or whatever you want after you do what you are told. " he said to Barus.

The Azuritian officer grinned insanely and Anderson seriously wished to kill him. He thought it was very sick to give him a man as a reward for what he was doing… but then again the Ryuu was not innocent if he had relations with a female vampire and a creature such as this Gingetsu. For what he cared the Clover Leaf Project should have killed the abomination when still a child.

Had he known what Gingetsu had gone through he would had been utterly enraged to the Project. After all, Alexander was a kind man.

However what really had him worried was that Asian vampire, Niko Nagisa. They're first encounter had been rather unsettling. He couldn't find within himself the rage to destroy her, to go against her and erase her existence. He didn't have for her the feelings he could easily bring back at the sight of the Hellsing Hound. That worried him. He feared he wouldn't be able to kill her.

Although the sorcerer's magic apparently had diminished her power greatly, now she should be not greater than a young vampire. That was interesting because it meant it would be a short fight. Shorter meant easier. Less thinking, more action. Fast death for her and to Heaven you go. Or Hell. Hard to tell.

Of course nobody in that room knew Alucard had been feeding her with his own blood… she was actually more powerful than before.

Barus grinned seeing that the priest again fell into deep thought and went to the window. Barus usually liked blonde guys. This one he did not. Too… chaste. Maybe it had something to do with him being a priest…

The Azuritian reached to the inside pocket of his trench coat and took off a small device. It was off now, but soon enough it would come in very handy.

Ultrasound. He smiled imagining Gingetsu's pain when he turned it on near him. He should be easy to defeat once off his usual balance. And then the Prince would finally be his… and maybe Gingetsu too. He gave a very, very sick grin and received many glares around him.

+break+

Alucard sat on the chair close to the table. He was in his complete attire, minus hat and glasses. He was thoughtful. At first he had though he could help Niko get to Kazuhiko, but after seeing that heartbreaking image of the both of them in the infirmary a couple of nights ago he was quite sure she didn't actually need any help.

The door opened and Seras stood in the doorway, looking at him stunned.

"Oh hey Master… what are you doing in my room?" she asked coming in and closing the door.

"Just thinking Police Girl." He answered. "I would like to ask your opinion on a certain matter." He added suddenly surprising even himself. Her eyes were ready to fall off her face… he was asking her opinion? Alucard rolled his eyes. "No there's nothing wrong with me Police Girl I just wanted to ask you something. If it's going to be so much of an issue I'll go get Walter…"

"No Master wait!" Seras said stepping forward. She flushed a bit and sat in the edge of her bed looking at him. "What did you wanted to ask me?"

"Well Police Girl I am aware that you have been spending time with Niko and the Captain up in the infirmary, correct?"

"Yes…" Seras didn't get where he was going but she decided to be patient.

"I have been wondering what you take out of their relationship?" he asked seriously. Seras blushed some more and thought deep in what she had been seeing of them. Alucard waited patiently.

"Mmm… I think they're very cute and sweet… they understand each other very well and communicate easily… sometimes they don't even need to talk or read each other's mind to know what the other needs… I've heard them having these conversations about life, about things that need of a lot of thought and they agree or understand the other's thoughts. I think Master that they complement each other… well… I think." She finished blushing again.

Alucard smiled dimly. He nodded. "Yes that's what I think too." He thought for a moment and looked at Seras. "But Police Girl I didn't know you noticed this kind of things… intimacy is not your strong point I'm afraid." He was pushing her buttons again and he knew it but he felt like it so it didn't really matter. He felt a punch of guilt but decided to ignore it. There you are again, a voice said in his head—his long forgotten conscience. You're being the dumb kid all over again.

Seras shrugged and let herself fall on the bed, her back hitting the mattress. She closed her eyes, not wanting to get in a discussion with Master again. He always won anyway. He always had to have the last word.

She felt the mattress sink beside her and she snapped her eyes open. Alucard sat next to her body, but politely away, back against the wall. He left his left leg hanging off the edge of the bed and hooked his right heel on the edge, lifting his right knee to put his elbow on it. He leaned his head and rested his temple on his finger, looking at her sideways, quite amused. He seemed like a large red cat stalking a little mouse.

"What is it, exactly, that you don't like about me Police Girl?" he suddenly asked.

Seras sat up staring at him with wide eyes. What was he up to now? "W-what, Master?"

"No Police Girl I'm curious, seriously."

"I—I…"

"C'mon Police Girl I know you're dying to tell me." He said grinning.

"I'm not…!"

"You always think of the things you would tell me when I scold you. So tell me. I'm listening."

Seras looked at him crossly, sideways. She hesitated… maybe he did want to know. But she discarded the thought. "Why Master? It would seem like you're looking for something to scold me about again."

"No Seras look back to the times I've scolded you… it never was because of telling me the truth now was it?" he reasoned, quite relaxed. "I'm merely trying to work on our differences Police Girl. Smoothen the rough edges as Niko says."

"So this is going to be an exchange?"

"You already know what I don't like of you, I've never hid it from you." He replied coolly. Seras frowned.

"You know what bothers me of you too Master to spend half of your time reading my mind."

"Now Police Girl you seriously don't think I have more interesting things to do than that?"

"No I seriously don't."

"Then you're quite right." He smiled at her glare. "But I'm serious about wanting to hear them directly from you." He added softly.

Seras swallowed and nodded. Then she slowly moved and sat next to him shyly, always keeping a distance, with her back to the wall too. She brought her knees to her chest and thought. "If it's an exchange" she said low. "We could alternate… one me, one you…" she waited to see if he got mad at her proposition. But he nodded in agreement.

"You start." He said. Seras nodded.

"I… don't like it when you scold me in front of the rest of the troopers because I do things wrong…"

"I merely try to make you stronger police Girl and anyway you shouldn't care about what they think…"

"Why do I care? You asked me and I answered." She barked at him. Alucard grinned but nodded.

"Ok, ok. You're right. No arguing this time."

There was a silence. Seras looked at him.

"What about you?" she asked shyly.

"Oh just the regular things Police Girl… not drinking blood for example."

"Now I'm drinking." She replied quickly. He looked at her amused.

"Oh so you can defend yourself and I can't… quite fair really… did we agree that?" Seras blushed.

"You're right. I'm sorry Master."

"It's fine. Anyway I know you're drinking and that makes me happy Police Girl."

Seras smiled at his compliment but added: "I don't like it when you call me that… you know it, I've told you."

Alucard nodded. "I do know that Seras but I'm too used to it by now. What if I asked you to call me Alucard or Vlad? It would be difficult to adjust."

"I could call you that if you wanted…" she said softly. Alucard smiled and patted her head caringly.

"But I like 'Police Girl' anyway. Sorry. That's just not changing yet." He replied looking at her eyes. He seemed like he was having fun. She shrugged.

"I don't like your uniform." He added suddenly. Seras blinked. "It's too… it shows a lot of you." He said at last after trying to find subtle word, to no avail.

"Sir Integra gave it to me…" Seras said. Alucard… shrugged? Seras blinked some more.

"I know that. Rather irritating by the way." He rested his chin on his palm looking at her with curiosity. "It makes you look like something you're not, you know?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look… oh nevermind." He said at last.

"What? No tell me!" Seras pushed his shoulder. He smiled playfully but shook his head. "Master! Don't…! Oh fine be like that then." She shrugged finally hugging her knees again. "I hate it when you tease me like that." She said more to herself than anything else. She was surprised to hear him laugh out loud. A true laugh, not that wicked/maniacal/insane laughter so common in him.

"Alright Police Girl, I'll tell you. That uniform of yours surely does provoke some comments in the men, if you know what I mean…" he said looking at her smirking. She stared confused. "Which you don't… " he added in realisation, kind of surprised. "Because you've never even been close to a male in that way." 'Sometimes your innocence just flips me Seras' he thought to himself.

"What way Master?" she asked, her eyes quizzically.

"…" Alucard decided she didn't need to know that yet. She glared again. He just seemed to love making her angry. Alucard looked at her, chin on his palm again. "You remember what I said when I kissed you the first time Seras?" he asked suddenly, surprisingly gently. She stared at him, blushing fiercely. "No? I told you I thought you to be very beautiful. It's true you know."

Seras blushed and looked away. But he didn't look away. He kept looking at her. "Don't do that Master." She whispered. Alucard blinked surprised. He searched in her mind…

"Police Girl… you don't think I'm lying do you?" he asked quietly. She didn't look at him. Alucard moved and gently reached for her chin, turning her face so she would see into his eyes. "Seras… I meant your mind." He whispered. "You have a beautiful mind. So caring, so selfless… so loyal. That's what I meant." He saw tears in Sera's eyes and smiled at her stroking her cheek. "I don't think I've ever known someone capable of loving as deeply and truly as you do Seras. It's been long since someone felt care or worried about me. Niko taught me that I needed to let people in… I never could though. Walter slashed his way in… he made himself close to me by winning my respect, by offering me the one thing no one could back then… understanding. My bond with him is strong but not near as strong as the one with you. Walter, Integra, they understand, they accept what I am. But you see who I am. It's different. It's… "He trailed off trying to no avail to find the words. Finally he smiled wider and raised his shoulders. "Thank you… I guess."

Seras smiled tenderly and put her hand over his in her cheek. "That's what I like of you Master." She said softly. "You can be so nice when you want to…"

Alucard chuckled. "That I can." He whispered.

He stopped his stroking of her cheek and his eyes gain a far off, distant look. Seras knew quite well what that meant and cursed in her mind.

"My Master calls for me…" he said lowering his hand and getting off the bed. "Police Girl… if I were you I would watch those thoughts… Integra won't like it if she ever finds out."

"Sorry… but how would she find out Master?"

"Oh that I don't know Police Girl…" he replied grinning. "I won't tell her if you don't."

He disappeared followed by Seras soft laugh. He loved that soft chuckle of hers. He hardly ever heard it.

He reappeared in his Master's office still with his content smile on his face. But he quickly washed it away and replaced it by his maniacal grin.

Integra never noted the difference in his eyes, in the light that lingered in them.

There it is. That's nice little Barus. Not even Anderson likes him.

Sit tight.

Kisses and hugs

Namariel out!