Hey! Chapter thirteen right here. I'm so sorry it took me so long, I was waiting to hear from my editor, but that hasn't happened yet so I'm posting it kind of crude. Sorry about misspellings and little details you might notice, but well… my editor didn't answer. She just entered high school, so, you know, the poor thing…

Well I hope mistakes are not too bad, and that you can enjoy it. Read on!

Kazuhiko sat in the bed, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He reached for his night table and put his glasses on. He moved the marc to clear the signal. Finally he made it.

An old lady with kind face looked at him, bright green eyes sharp.

"Kazuhiko Faye Ryuu."

"Don't call me my whole name. You know I don't like it. General Kou." He grunted running a hand through his hair.

"You have not reported to us in two days." She scolded.

"Um… Two already? Look at that… Time flies around here." He commented coolly.

"Where is the Lt. Colonel Gingetsu, Kazuhiko? He is not answering his personal communications."

"Don't bother… he's sleeping and it doesn't look like he's gonna wake in a while…"

"He's sleeping… good." The old Magi showed truly relieved. "I was thinking in making his use drugs…"

"I'd like to see you tell him he has to inject something…" he muttered cynically. Gingetsu didn't react particularly well to needles…

"He would do it if I commanded him…"

"A dog would eat grass if he had to, but it doesn't mean he likes it." Kazuhiko softly replied. Kou lowered her head. Kazuhiko thought it was a shitty analogy, but it would make her understand so…

"How is the mission going?"

"Not too well. Not too well at all actually." Kazuhiko responded straightening in bed. "We've found we have a lot more troubles that we first thought… there seems to be a demon involved… you know. Thingies with demons, blood rituals, Angels as hostages and that kind of stuff are never cute innocent games…"

"You must find out more about this demon, Kazuhiko."

"Yeah right I'll go ask him right now." He mumbled ironically. "Wait can't you use your powers to know something else?"

"No actually. Good try though." She replied dryly.

"It never surpluses." He grinned… he knew she could see him, even without an image transmisor.

"When Gingetsu wakens tell him to report to me immediately. I have things about Barus he needs to know."

"Barus?" Kazuhiko's smiled faded. His eyes sparkled hate and he suppressed a grunt. "What's with Barus?"

"Things I need to discuss with Gingetsu as I said." Kou replied calmly. "By the way I want you away from him."

"From Gingetsu? Ok…"

"Stop playing Kazuhiko. I mean Barus."

"No."

"Do not push this Kazuhiko… You know I have no worries about bringing you up to a Court Martial for indiscipline…"

"When you asked me to take Suu you said I had shortened your life because of those things… You're getting the crappy end of that bargain, I must say." He said coolly.

Kou sighed at his attitude. He was such a child so often… "I mean it Kazuhiko I don't want you to get hurt."

"You can't have Gingetsu taking care of me for the rest for my life, Kou…" he said quietly, tenderly. "I need to take Barus on my own, you know this. It is personal… he's mine. You owe me that much."

Silence.

"How is Niko?"

"As cool as always… literally, too." A small, throaty laugh.

"Good…" the old Magi nodded, eyes closed. "Good bye Kazuhiko. Try not to get killed."

"Um… yeah sure, I can do that."

She opened her eyes and gave him a thoughtful look. "You know Kazuhiko you have a terrible bad luck… but maybe this time the ending won't we as always."

"Gingetsu told me you said the same thing when I took Suu…" Kazuhiko replied arching an eye brow. "Clearly your powers don't include forseeing…"

"You know they don't."

"About Gingetsu's powers…" Kazuhiko started lowering his voice.

"I know." Kou cut him off. She moved her eyes up and down. Kazuhiko understood… it wasn't a safe line.

"Alright then…if you don't need anything else…"

"No. Good bye."

Kazuhiko cut the communication and took the glasses off, thoughtful. So she knew…

Kazuhiko had recently come to notice that Gingetsu's powers were actually increasing…when they were supposed to vanish. He was a rather low class Clover and his powers should have started evaporating with age… but there was something wrong and they weren't following the common rule. The Lt. was getting more and more powerful over time and those same powers he was acquiring were starting to mess with his balance… it was more that what he was used to handle. Not using his newly gained powers made him have…. Some kind of an overload, and that was making his nightmares worse.

They had talk about it a couple weeks before coming to London. Gingetsu had said he didn't know how to control those new abilities. He said he was starting to hear the Low Waves… when he was only supposed to feel them flow.

Kazuhiko got off his bed and dressed. He went to the gym and started training against the bigger punching bag. Hitting something always helped him… that was strange. He started thinking over the things he knew.

There were the facts: a) there was a demon in this dimension; b) the demon had co-workers helping him in whatever he was planning; c) he had called to Anderson and Barus to keep trouble off his way; d) he had the three pieces he needed for the ritual; e) he had chosen Integra Hellsing to use her blood as a opening key; f) he had some way of repelling vampires with magic.

He threw a back kick at the bag.

Only necromancers had the ability to repel a vampire such as Niko. So there is one more: g) he has necromancers as co-workers.

Now why the hell would a necromancer help a demon in a ritual as the one he was planning? No human was stupid enough to not understand what he was up to… even if he didn't share it like with Integra.

Kazuhiko straightened and threw one fist punch at the bag making it rock back and forth monotonously. He stood making his knuckles crack, frowning in thought.

They knew quite a lot… and yet they knew nothing. There had to be a particular timing the demon wanted… a particular place too, maybe. There had to be something he was missing, otherwise he wouldn't be delaying other stuff… he could have taken Integra that night and he didn't, for example. But why? What else did he need?

Kazuhiko had heard something about rituals being better at a particular time of year… or something about planets being in a straight line… maybe some particular time of the day… he frowned deeper and hit the bag again absently.

"Deep in thought, Kazuhiko?" a soft voice. He turned. Walter was walking to him, smiling.

"Yeah, it happens from time to time." He replied cheerfully.

Walter chuckled. "A penny for your thoughts." He added sitting on the bench crossing his legs.

"Wow… have free time, Mister Butler?"

Another soft chuckle from the elder man. "Surprisingly enough, I do." He said arching his eye brows. Kazuhiko laughed and turned to face him, tightening the fighting bandages around his fists.

He had his torso naked and was a bit sweaty of the training, but Walter couldn't but admire his perfectly balanced body.

"I was wondering…" Kazuhiko started, very serious. "if this demon of ours didn't slip when he entered Integra's room."

"What do you mean?"

"Well maybe he made a mistake."

"It doesn't look like the kind of creatures that makes mistakes often." Walter replied. "I believe there was a reason for his visit."

"Yeah but Walter think about it." Kazuhiko reasoned thoughtful. "He's spending many resources in keeping us on a certain track, like those guys you and Gingetsu found when I was in the hospital wing and that man we captured some nights ago. He's going through a lot of trouble to keep us busy on something… and then he goes around and shows himself to Integra just like this… why?"

"I admit that has been bothering me too." Walter said. "It is as if he was challenging us to be ready for him."

"Great. A dare." Kazuhiko scoffed. "I know of one female vampire that likes them a lot."

A chuckle from the retainer. Then he adopted a thoughtful look. "I must say Niko is a lot more than what she looks like at first sight." He commented.

Kazuhiko chuckled and raised his shoulders walking to him.

He suddenly sent a punch to his head. Walter moved faster than the eye and hit the fist away. He looked up at the younger man, scolding him both for hitting him and thinking he would actually be able to hit him.

"I just officially proved nothing's like it looks at first sight Walter." He explained coolly, sitting now beside Walter on the bench.

Walter shrugged. "There are manners and manners you know."

Kazuhiko looked at him calmly, studying him. Walter submitted to the exam, staring into his chocolate eyes. Kazuhiko smiled dimly. A kind, warm smile.

"It's rare the man that is known for what he truly is Walter." He commented lightly. Walter arched his eye brows. "There is a lot of misjudgement in the world. My first impression of you was a strong reminding of my grandfather… and you're the exact opposite. That's a compliment by the way." Walter chuckled. "I know I can be the pain in the ass most of the time, but really Walter, what I said earlier was honest. I like you."

Walter nodded, his eyes warm. "I know. I'm honoured. I like you too."

"Good then I declare you officially my friend." Kazuhiko shook his hand happily. "You're the second I have in years. Male at least." He added later.

"We stand in the same place about that." Walter muttered.

Kazuhiko looked at him with soft eyes. "It's a shame you haven't have time for anything else than vampires and company, Walter. A man like you would have a lot of friends."

"And you base your statement on…?"

"You're really interesting to talk to!" Kazuhiko replied. "You're not like those boring old guys that kept chatting of their lives…"

"Had I not been dedicated to vampires and company I wouldn't. Sir Hellsing took care of me since I was a youngster and saw to my education. I owe everything I am to this family."

"No." Kazuhiko shook his head leaning against the wall. "No you owe them a lot I'll give you that, but they didn't make who you are. There is a difference, a big one for that, between what you are taught and what you instinctively know." He looked into his eyes, chocolate orbs warm. "Particularly kindness is not something you acquire through books. Using your reasoning Gingetsu would be a killing machine."

"Is he not?" Walter muttered un consciously.

Kazuhiko glared at him angrily for a second. Then he turned calm again. "You don't know him well. I do, and I know he is as kind as gentle as everyone when he wants to. He was the only one with me when I lost Oruha Walter, I mean the only one that got to me. Surely someone like you knows that sometimes you don't need words to ease your heart. Gingetsu is the kind of soothing presence you need when you are pained in your soul."

"You speak of him as of your brother." Walter said softly. Kazuhiko smiled.

"He's somewhere between my father and my brother." He said. "He's better than both the real ones I assure you."

Walter smiled. There was a long silence between them.

Kazuhiko got up from the bench with a fluid movement. "I have a wild idea." Said naturally. Walter arched an eye brow looking at him suspiciously. "Come and show me what you can do what that old body of yours."

"I suggest you take it easy Kazuhiko. You've just got off the hospital bed."

"Ah, ah…" Kazuhiko looked surprised, mockingly. "Seriously think you can take me that easy, old dog?"

"I must say I am not as sharp as I used to." Walter answered calmly.

"Oh stop being difficult and lift your sorry ass off that bench Dolneaz." Kazuhiko said. "I know perfectly that you like fighting as much as I do, so would you drop the act already?"

"Oh? You seem to be very confident on how much you know me." Walter commented coolly.

"You can always prove me wrong. If you get up."

Walter smiled wildly and did so, going to the centre of the room with him. If Kazuhiko wanted a fight, he was always up to it. He took off his wire gloves and threw them on the bench.

They both smiled wickedly at each other as they assumed fighting positions.

+break+

Seras stirred and stretched in the coffin. Yawning she searched the control and opened the lid. She sat up, running a hand through her messy hair and looking around.

Niko was sitting on the chair, legs crossed, hands folded in her lap. "Hi Seras-san." She greeted smiling.

"Hi Niko." Seras said, getting up.

"Here, I have your blood pack."

"Oh, thank you." Seras took it and sat on the other chair.

"Seras-san I thought it was time to teach you some things of vampirism. I mean feminine things, the kind Alucard doesn't know. Oh well he knows, but he's not too keen on talking about them. Surely you know by now that he sucks as a father figure."

Seras giggled. Then she turned serious. "I do have some questions…" she blushed.

"Alright I'm hearing." Niko declared encouragingly.

"Um, I… I've… for the last year I haven't…" she muttered, turning a deep red.

"We're talking about menstruation here aren't we?" Niko interrupted in a practical tone.

Seras blushed deeper and lowered her head.

"God Seras-san you're like a little kid in many things… menstruation is something girls can openly speak of. I'm sure that if you as Walter he'll explain you quite naturally…"

"Oh God no!" Seras covered her face. "I would never ask him about this!"

"Well, seeing Alucard is anything but accessible and Integra is not an expert in the sharing department he would be rather the obvious choice…" Niko commented coolly. "After all he did raise a teenager girl. Integra wasn't born self-sufficient you know?"

"Actually I thought…"

"Don't be silly Seras she was a child once too. That she refused to stay one that's another matter… anyway back to the thing in hands. I know you haven't been menstruating and that's because vampire females can't afford to loose so much blood in so little time. Vampires have different organisms. You will menstruate once a year, in what is called your blood month. It's common that you don't have it the first few years of vampiric life, though so don't worry if you don't."

"Only once a year?" Seras asked thoughtfully. "that's so weird… I mean, one's so used to every month…"

"Yes I know." Niko said smiling. "Oh, naturally you can do as always, wear tampons or use…"

"I never wore tampons!" Seras muttered turning red again. Niko blinked.

"Never? Not once?"

"No! they scare me."

Niko cursed in her mind. If she couldn't put on a tampon she was definitely going to have trouble with Vlad's… male needs a few years from now. She made a mental note on telling him to go easy and very… very very slow.

"Oh? Anything else I should be recommended about?" a deep voice interrupted. Seras straightened in a gulp. Niko glared.

"Actually I'll recommend you not to listen to our conversation, Vlad or you'll lose a very important part of your male anatomy…" she warned. Amu7sed, she thought that would be rather helpful for Seras…

Alucard appeared through the wall chuckling.

"And none of your guns will keep you safe." she finished.

"Really? Um… I don't know… I'll allow myself to remind you I have pretty big guns…"

"Oh? Funny… I don't remember them being that big…" she adopted a thoughtful look, mockingly.

"Well, that wasn't your position a few years ago. Assuming you remember that position…"

"Yeah well, that position…" she used his exact same tone. "you speak of is no longer on my priority list, so you can start cooling it down right now."

Seras blinked. She was completely lost. What were they talking about? And why those weird tones they were using and those looks between them?

Finally Alucard laughed out loud and leaned against the wall. Niko laughed herself.

"I'm afraid we have lost you have we not Police Girl?" he asked smirking.

"Don't mock me Master!"

"Oh come now Police Girl… just healthy fun."

"You're the only one having fun with that."

"Um." Alucard smirked.

"I'll leave you two, I have to go do something." Niko said smiling.

"Wait…" Seras started but Niko was no longer at her side.

"What Police Girl?" Alucard asked sitting on the chair and putting his booted feet on the table, crossed at the ankles. "Don't want to be alone with me?"

"Did your hangover go away already Master?" Seras asked shyly.

Alucard laughed out loud and nodded. "Yes it did. Was I that insufferable?"

Obviously, Seras didn't answer, but as everyone already knows Alucard had a thing with scanning her mind, so she didn't really need to.

"Oh well." He shrugged. "Try drinking sake after almost two hundred years of drinking nothing but blood and then we'll talk." His eyes travelled around the room and sat upon the shelf. "What about the dog Police Girl?"

"Huh?"

"The dog… wasn't it for Niko?"

Seras looked at the shelf blinking. "Oh! You're right! Oh, damn I always forget!"

Alucard smirked. Seras glared at him scowling. That only made him smirk some more. Oh great, he was in taunting mode. Seras rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"You're so nice when you get upset that I just can't help myself Police Girl." He pushed her buttons again. Seras glared some more. And of course, he chuckled.

"Stop that!"

"Make me."

Seras glared really mad this time. "You know I can't."

"You could if you wanted." Alucard replied. "You want me to shut up, so make me." His logic, of course was overtaking, but saying it was quite easier than actually doing it…

Seras blinked in realisation. He was leading her again. She arched an eye brow and got off the bed.

No, not this time. He was acting like a total ass and she wasn't just going to do whatever he wanted when he wanted. She wasn't his toy. The expression booty-call came to mind although she didn't understand it and it didn't make her any happier.

She went for the door.

But when she was walking past him he moved faster than lightening, extending his arm and bringing her to him. She ended in his lap, red as his coat and without one chance of getting off his grip around her waist.

"Master!" she yelled at him.

"Calm Police Girl." He said calmly. "I can be as patient and kind as you need me to, but I won't take a no for an answer." He said seriously. "And I'm not using you as my toy." He added irritated.

"That's what it seems like right now!"

"Stop fighting me Police Girl before you get me really angry." He warned serenely. Seras sighed and remained still. She was lightly blushed for the position she was in, sitting over him, but she was more angry than ashamed.

"First of all Police Girl you seem to be getting the idea you and me are equals… we're not. Not until you agree to finally drink my blood."

"Is that what you want? Fine…"

"Don't interrupt me, and stop being so stupid. No I don't want you to drink my blood right now. I'm making a point. I'm explaining you that you are still under my command and my will, and as much as you dislike it you actually don't really have a saying on this… I'm being kind enough already."

"From where I'm standing at present I feel like your toy." She commented ironically.

Alucard blinked. "It seems like I'm not approaching the matter correctly…" he said quietly. "Alright let's try a different perspective. How do I get through that thick skull of yours that I care about you? Hmm?"

Now it was Seras's turn to blink.

"Judging on your thought apparently this is the right way to make you understand…"

"Don't read my mind!"

"Watch your tone." He warned.

Silence.

"Master… what is it going to be?"

"Meaning…" he wondered.

"I mean, what do you want? Seriously?"

"Right now I want you to understand. Earlier I wanted a kiss but I changed my mind. Of course if you'd like to take the initiative there I won't have a problem…"

"You always end up leading anyway."

"Just for this once I'll let you lead." He offered chuckling.

"I don't know how…" she whispered.

"Go with the flow. I already say I can be patient about this."

"You mean I do what I feel?"

Alucard felt like a big brother giving advices all of a sudden but he pushed back the thought and nodded.

"Yes, why not? Be wild. Explore, be adventurous…" he got cut off when Seras leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips, surprising him.

Alucard slowly closed his eyes and let her do what she felt like. It wasn't like he was in a rush anyway…

Seras started by sucking on his lower lip. It was a nice sensation between her own lips and he didn't pull back, so she kept if for a while, from time to time switching to the upper lip and then, suddenly she got bold and deepened the kiss into his mouth.

Alucard, surprised and pleased by that sudden courage of hers, tightened his grip on her waist and stroked her hair.

He had to admit to himself… she was a fast learner. Well at least in some things.

A/N:

Arlight. That was chapter thirteen. Not a lot going on lately I know but next chapter will be quite moved. So stay tuned to see what happens.

Thank you all!

Namariel out!