Chapter fourteen already… wow…

Enjoy!

THE LIBRARIAN

Barus got off the bed and put on his coat, smiling sickly. He always smiled that way. His smiles, apparently, were naturally sick. Like he cared, anyway.

He walked out of the room and down the stairs humming to himself a cheery Azuritian tune. In the reception he saw the priest having a tea and reading a book. He approached him tranquil, thought he knew how much the priest loathed his company. He was just so fun to tease.

He placed a hand on the table close to the tea cup the other fist in his waist, leaning forward to be in the man's face.

Anderson lifted his face, annoyance clearly showing in his jade green eyes.

"What do you want, Barus?" he asked irritated.

"I'll go drop a visit on Kazuhiko and company now. Wanna come?"

"I rather not. I'm not too keen on spending time with you."

"Oh really? You hide it well." Barus replied, unharmed.

"You are a seriously disturbed man Barus." The priest commented going back to his book. "You should get help."

"What do you suggest? Should I get into some particular religion?"

Green eyes shot up to glare at Barus. He was stepping on dangerous grounds. But as we can see Barus wasn't the kind of man that took notice of the danger signs on someone's body language, so the Azuritian kept pushing the buttons.

"I don't know of any God that worries a lot about what goes on down here…"

"Watch your tongue. Before you loose it." Alexander growled low so no one else would here the threat.

"Wanna bite?" Barus asked smiling. Alexander felt disgusted. He closed the book, got up and pushed him aside to walk upstairs without looking back.

Barus smiled and made a sound with his tongue, sardonically. Then he left the hotel.

break+

Walter was walking on the corridor, taking care of his duties as always. He was just coming back from the basement after leaving the usual blood packs for everyone. He was on his way to the kitchen, to prepare the night tea for Sir Integra.

A door opened to the right and Lt. Colonel Gingetsu came out of his room, looking fully awake and perfectly recovered.

Walter gave him a slight nod. "Good evening Lt." he said. "You must be rather hungry after your sleep. Should I prepare something for you?"

The butler had learned that Gingetsu was squarely opposite from Kazuhiko. Gentleness and informality were wrong things to use with him. So he was as polite and respectfully distant with him as he was with everyone else.

Gingetsu nodded shortly. "Thank you." He said coldly.

Walter nodded and walked on.

"Walter" Gingetsu called out. The butler turned to him politely. "I'm sorry about the way I treated you before. You didn't have the entire fault."

"Thank you. I accept the apology." Walter said more warmly. He turned and kept walking, troubled but not showing it. Just when he thought he was starting to understand him, Gingetsu flipped him right over. Kazuhiko was right. He could be gentle if he wanted.

Gingetsu went down to the basement, knowing for sure that Kazuhiko would be there with Niko. They met in the corridor.

"Ah! The sleeping beauty!" Kazuhiko said smiling widely. "I was going to check your breathing right now."

"…" Gingetsu walked beside him, back upstairs. "How long have I slept?"

"Take a guess." Kazuhiko said optimistically.

"…"

"Fine, be like that. I see why you don't sleep. It makes you grumpy. Well grumpier. Alright you slept three days."

"You should have waked me. We lost precious time."

"I was going to, but my self-preservation instinct kept me to it." Kazuhiko replied naturally. "You should eat something."

Gingetsu nodded. "We need to fasten work. I doubt you've been doing anything while I rested."

Kazuhiko scoffed irritated. "For someone that grew up in a lab you are quiet sure the world spins around you." He commented glaring. "For your information I have been researching and making reports." He added proudly.

"General Kou said some general things, I want you to give me the full report now."

"You already spoke to Kou?" Kazuhiko said surprised. "You don't loose time huh?"

"Yes I do." Gingetsu muttered, upset at himself. Kazuhiko made a sound with his tongue.

"Nobody blames you. Everyone needs some hours of sleep a couple times a year."

"Don't start." Gingetsu rolled his eyes behind the visor.

"No, I won't. I know it's wasting time." Kazuhiko replied naturally.

It remained a mystery to Gingetsu how his friend could be so nice, and yet leave no doubt about the fact that he was scolding him over something. The blonde glared at Kazuhiko and kept walking mutely.

Kazuhiko told him everything he knew so far about the demons and the rest. Gingetsu didn't say a word while he ate in the kitchen, listening carefully.

"Get Niko. We're going out." He said afterwards.

Kazuhiko nodded and they both left the kitchen.

Gingetsu headed to his room, but in the way changed his mind. He went upstairs to Sir Integra's study. He knocked the door twice and came no response, so he figured she would be maybe sleeping or doing something else. Then he had an idea, and following an impulse, something he rarely did, he went up to the roof.

She found her there, in the same spot she had used the first time. Gingetsu made a sound on the door to announce his presence. He was absolutely silent when walking and he didn't want to look like he was sneaking on her. It was rude.

Sir Integra turned, a half smile on her beautiful face. "A long time, Lt."

"Yes." Gingetsu walked to her. He stood besides her looking at the city lights. London was so gorgeous in the night…

"Perhaps you should start listen to Kazuhiko's advices and sleep more."

"Perhaps." Gingetsu responded looking at her. Remembering suddenly, he took off his visor and placed it on the wall.

Sir Integra looked at the visor curiously, wondering how it worked. She had never seen something like it before Gingetsu.

"Do you want to try it?" Gingetsu asked suddenly. Integra stared at him.

"I'm sorry. It's non of my business."

"I told you I would answer…"

"This isn't a question."

"So ask one." he replied coolly.

There was a silence.

"Do you think you hate them?" Integra asked, getting comfortable with his company. She signalled to his wrist, where the Tattoo was.

Gingetsu didn't answer immediately. He inhaled deeply, thoughtful. "Hate, love… they are strong emotions I am not familiarized with. I do not recognize them when in front of me. I don't believe I hate, in general. My deepest disgust for a person is shown in simple indifference."

"What about vampires?"

"No." Gingetsu answered. "I don't hate them. It would be irrational, like the deer that hates the wolf. Hunting us is in their nature."

"But you hunt them." Integra replied.

"I hunt them not out of hate but because I am powerful enough, and because it is my kind they hunt, in a way… " Gingetsu turned to face her, taking his visor in his hands. "If I hated vampires for what they are I wouldn't be different from the ones that did this to me. They hated what I was born as."

"It is squarely different Lt." Integra replied. "Vampires are made out of choice. You didn't choose to be what you are."

"No human wants to die Sir Integra." Gingetsu replied. "Vampirism may be a coward way, but it is one to escape death. Only people like you or Walter don't fear death, Sir Integra. You are too sure of your respective places."

The visor made a little sound as Integra stared at the man in front of her. Gingetsu placed the visor on his eyes and listened.

"Understood. Take my cape. I'll meet you downstairs." He said shortly. He gave a slight nod at Integra and turned to leave.

"Lt." Integra called out. Gingetsu half turned to look at her. "Are you not sure of yours?"

"Yes, I am." Gingetsu replied. "At least, I was… but I believe I'm starting to move upwards." He added thoughtfully. "Thing is, there's no place for me up there."

"So make one." Integra replied with her practical logic.

For her surprise, Gingetsu laughed a short, cynical laugh. No humour in it. "I don't fight battles I know I can't win unless I absolutely have to." He said.

Integra blinked. And he left.

break+

Kazuhiko took Walter's arm and practically shoved him behind a metal counter, shooting rounds of laser as he fell almost on top of him. The younger man rolled to the side, landing on his back, beside the butler.

"Let me say for the record Walter" he gasped. "You're definitely not as sharp as you used to." And he laughed. Walter glared.

"I was busy with the other side of the room. Thought you were taking care of that one." he replied coldly.

"Well, I'm sorry. Anyway you should have seen…" he was cut off by a light in his left glass. "I hear you."

"Where are you?"

"We're under attack in a room in the left wing of the old house. These are pet humans. Confirmation?"

"Acknowledge. Clean them." Came the reply.

"Acknowledge." Kazuhiko went to his knees. "We're clear to kill Walter." He said shortly, rising to his feet.

Walter imitated him shooting out his wires. By the vibrations on the thin metal monowires he knew he was killing his targets. The laser blasts that Kazuhiko kept firing lightened the room almost as in day time continuously.

Walter turned to look at the young man standing beside him. He looked at his face. Kazuhiko was comfortable with what he was doing. He didn't regret his actions, or the killing he was making. Walter wondered if it was because he was following an order, or he was just as used to killing as he was.

A minute after the room was clear. The temperature had gone up various degrees out of the lasers and the only two mean that remain standing could still hear, in their heads, the sounds of killing and death.

Walter looked at Kazuhiko again. He was looking pretty laid-back. He was standing straight in all his important height, inches taller than Walter, his left hand ravelled in steam form his laser, completely still. His eyes travelled around the room in front and around him, which lay in ruins.

They heard a sound from behind. Instinctively, both of them jumped to the sides, finding coverage.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are…" a voice.

"Damn it Barus, won't you just die and leave me be already?" Kazuhiko barked in irritation.

"That would be boring…" a soft chuckle. "Com out, Prince, so we can play… I even might let your annoying friend live…"

"Like you could kill him, anyway…"

"I mean the old guy."

"Stay away from him Barus, if you know what's good for you." Walter saw Kazuhiko summon a long sort of blade that seemed to have a feather shaped shield on top of it, protecting the arm.

"Oh… everyone's caring about the grandfather… I think I might have some fun with him too later…"

"I challenge you to try…" Walter replied coldly.

"What do you think your chances are against Walter and me together Barus?"

"I'd rather say good." Barus answered.

Kazuhiko looked at Walter. Seeing the butler smile, he smiled himself and went to his feet. Both of them jumped to Barus' swords without another word.

break+

Walking calmly, Gingetsu went out to the corridor and walked in the direction his visor indicated Kazuhiko's position. He knew Barus was there with him and Walter. Had it been Kazuhiko alone he would be worried, but having the butler there with him made him sure Barus would have a hard time getting his Prince.

He usually wouldn't have trusted his friend's life to anyone, but having read Walter Dolneaz files over and over again, he found him fitting to the task.

He found the hidden door at his right, very well concealed in the wall. Studying it attentively, he found the mechanism to open it. The door disappeared into the wall. Gingetsu, gripping strongly his sword just in case, scanned the dark stairs on front of him, leading down.

He found nothing too worrying. Some security systems he had no trouble in taking off. Going down the stairs in a steady, moderated pace, he monitored everything around him, silent as dead man. Well, most of dead man anyway.

He found himself flowing into an open space. The floor was covered in sand. A line was drawn across the room, leading right in front of him. Gingetsu looked around and scanned the place again, this time deeply.

Right. There were two werewolves taking care of the place. One at each side. They were held by big, powerful chains. He could hear their breathings. They were starving, and they could smell his blood.

Quickly deciding they shouldn't be a problem, chained like they were, Gingetsu started walking over the white line.

It didn't take him much to know he had made a miscalculation. One of the werewolves took a grip on his cape and the other had jumped on his neck, had it not been for the chain. Getting upset Gingetsu moved his blade n a circle, separating the first werewolf's head from its fury body. Next the other werewolf had a blade through its forehead, showing off his jaw. Gingetsu ripped it off the flesh and stood.

He kept walking over the line and reached a door. A heavy, oak and metal door. It had various drawings unscripted in wood and metal, but fortunely Gingetsu wasn't susceptible to any magic or religion barriers. Crosses, necromancy, or alchemy did him no harm.

He used his sword to open the door, pushing with his shoulder too. The door shoved open and hit the wall. Gingetsu stepped in a small, very dark room. It smelled humidity and dirt. Gingetsu looked around with his visor.

"If you're going to kill me, do it fast!" a voice screamed. A man jumped to him with an iron bar on his hand. Gingetsu used his left hand to take the bar and get the man close to his face.

"If I were here to kill you, I would have done it already." He spat coldly, shoving the man away, but kipping the bar.

The small man, balled and wearing half moon glasses, looked at him frowning and fixing his tie.

"Then what are you here for?"

"I need a book." Gingetsu answered, throwing the bar to a side. "A very particular book."

"Oh, in that case, you came to the right place." The man said smiling. "What was it that you needed?"

For a man that counted with that much security he was quite tranquil in the sight of someone able to easily kill him. Although he had fought Gingetsu, he didn't seem to be afraid of death, either.

"A bible." Gingetsu answered, looking around. "The Clair Bible. Have you heard of it?"

"Certainly. It is a very difficult book to find… and very expensive to acquire…"

"I'm not paying you anything." Gingetsu cut him off icily. "I had to kill people to get to you. I don't care killing you if you make me."

"You'll never find the book here without my help." The man said arrogantly.

"I know some interesting way of forcing you help." Gingetsu commented in a dangerous tone, rising the tip of his sword."

"Marvellous." The man commented cynically. He walked through a corridor between book shelves that reached the ceiling. He started humming a quiet tune as he walked. "So, the Clair Bible… the bible of all Heaven, Hell and earth rituals. You don't look like a man that studies bibles… what do you need it for again?"

"I didn't tell you." Gingetsu replied coldly.

"I could be helpful"

"Just find the book." Gingetsu warned.

"Of course… here it is."

He stretched to get a big book from an upper shelf. But he couldn't reach it. After trying a few more moments he turned to Gingetsu, that was much, much taller than him.

"Would you mind?" he asked finally, smiling. Gingetsu looked at him without moving.

"It better not be trap, or you will regret it." He said. He reached with his arm and easily took the book off the shelf.

It was a large, black leather covered book with the name of the book unscripted in silver ink in the centre of it.

"That's the one." the little man said. "It is a rare book." He said, fixing his glasses on his nose. "I hope it helps you."

"If it doesn't, you'll know." Gingetsu said emotionless.

The little man scoffed. "What a rude young man you are."

Gingetsu didn't even bother answering and left the room, with the book under his arm.

The little man watched him leave, smiling dimly.

Behind him, darkness twisted and shivered to form a figure. The man stepped out of the shadows, brushing a stock of white hair off his face.

"Did you give him the real Bible?" he asked silkily.

"As you ordered, Master Shamshiel."

"Good. They will play with that silly thing for days." Shamshiel chuckled low. "You can leave now. I find you no further use."

The man nodded and lowering his head, he turned into ashes and dust.

Spectres. What a perfect work hand they were.

break+

Kazuhiko stepped back, laughing out loud. Barus was laughing too. Kazuhiko used his right sleeve to clean a trickle of blood down his face from his eyebrow.

Walter was standing behind him, to his right.

Kazuhiko jumped to battle again, blade pointing up and with a wild laugh. Barus received him smiling as he repeated his nickname again.

Walter didn't like that man at all. He was twisted and sick. His way of fighting was unpleasant, full of traps and back hits. All he cared about was hurting Kazuhiko. Or doing something else to him that Walter found particularly revolting.

Walter knew what it was to have a male obsessed with one, he knew Alucard since he was fourteen, but Barus's attitude was very different. While Alucard had tried to seduce him, and Walter had refused, Barus didn't try to make Kazuhiko desire him, he merely tried to get a hand on him to play himself. He didn't care about what Kazuhiko felt. Walter didn't make illusions thinking that Alucard had done it, but at least Alucard would have never raped him like Barus wanted to do to Kazuhiko!

Walter now fully understood why Gingetsu never left Kazuhiko deal alone with Barus.

Kazuhiko suddenly backed away and touched his glasses.

"Gingetsu's got it." He mumbled. He had to twist to dodge Barus's attack and he fell to the ground, immediately rolling to his side. Stepping in, Walter hit Barus in the stomach, giving Kazuhiko time to get up.

He didn't anticipate that Barus would be that strong… until he received a hit in the side of his head that send him backwards.

Finally regaining his balance, Walter prepared to step in again, but something stopped him.

A hand in his shoulder, and a dark figure handed him something, pressing it to his chest. "Hold this." Gingetsu's voice.

Walter nodded stunned and stood still, holding what seemed to be a leather covered book.

The elderly butler watched amazed as Gingetsu and Kazuhiko fought with Barus as a dance in a speed he could only imagine. He didn't see the punches, the turns or the circles, he could only see the light that reflected in the blades they were using.

He figured that even in the middle of the day, and in the sun, he would have problems dealing with that Barus. He felt somewhat useless, though he knew he was far from being it.

Suddenly he saw something else. Three violet, feline orbs looking at him. His green eyes widened as a Cheshire smile appeared under the eyes.

"Oh but you did well, my good little butler… you did very well." A deep voice in his head. It wasn't Alucard's… it was much more cruel, much more evil…

He stared at the eyes, hypnotized by their supernatural glow. Then, one by one, the three of them closed and disappeared slowly.

Walter kept staring.

"Walter." Suddenly, Gingetsu's voice. The butler raised his eyes to his visor. "Are you badly Injured?"

"No, no… No, I'm fine."

"You're pale." Kazuhiko said. "Something wrong? "

"Give me the book." Gingetsu said looking around.

Walter obeyed and took a hand to his forehead. "Nothing's wrong… just a little stunned."

"He hit you in a bad angle." Gingetsu said, carefully touching Walter's temple. The man grimaced in pain. "Go get that checked out when back in the manor."

"Yeah… Sir Integra will have us both impaled if something happens to you." Kazuhiko added arching one eye brow.

"Barus?" Walter asked, a bit confused.

"He withdraw." Gingetsu answered. "Let's go."

Walter blinked. Everything had been so fast he didn't register every fact. Barus was gone, yes, they had the Bible yes, and he had, apparently, seen their demon. And he had the strong sensation that Kazuhiko was wrong… that demon did not make mistakes.

break+

Alucard leaned forward slowly, stroking Seras's hair with feline delicacy. The fledgling purred low. Alucard chuckled silently. So sweet when asleep…

He lightly touched her cheek. Seras moved in the coffin bed and slowly opened her blood red eyes. She sweetly smiled at her Master. Alucard returned the smile.

"Master… you let me sleep late." She said, stretching.

"Yes, as there doesn't seem to be any reason to be awake lately. We have nothing to do."

"Thank you." Seras sat up and ran a hand through her hair. She looked at Alucard shyly.

"Hmmm…" Alucard purred leaning back in the chair. "I sense a question coming."

"Yes… can I? It's a bit personal…"

"It's about Niko and me, is it not?" Alucard asked smiling in resignation. "I must say I expected it. You want to know why she left me, don't you?"

"It's alright Master if you don't want to tell me… I don't have a right to ask… it's non of my business."

"Why not?"

"Huh?" Seras blinked.

"Why is it non of your business?" he asked again, softer.

"It's… something very personal… between you and her, I don't know… I guess it would bother me if my fledgling asked me about it…"

"I'm not upset. I thought we were being honest…" he almost sing-songed. He tilted his head a bit to the right, observing her, red orbs amused. He was such a big red cat right now.

"Can I ask then?" she asked sheepishly. Alucard didn't answer, he just kept staring at her, head sideways, eyes glowing.

Finally he blinked, closed his eyes and turned his head to look at her straight. He lowered his head, thoughtful.

"Niko loves her country, Police Girl. Loves it more than you would ever understand… her traditions are very different form mine or yours. She was raised in a world of rules and behaviour you would find oppressive and asphyxiating… and she was taught in it that her country was first than anything else. She was, too, raised in a certain time… in a certain moment of Japan in which traditions were the priority. She already said she was born around 1700, in Tokugawa Era. Well in 1868 Japan went into a civil war, a fight between the ideals of samurais that then ruled Japan in the feudal order, and the new, democratic ideas that kept spreading like a virus around the world and somehow reached the island. Don't ask me how. Back then we were leaving in France. As you know, France has always been particularly interested in revolutions… and the news of the civil war in Japan reached us quite fast. It was a struggle between the old ideals, the traditions and things Niko had been raised to believe in, and the new, radical believes of the new generation of young Japanese idealists. Niko couldn't stay out of it… so she left me and went into a war defending the things she believed in. the order she trusted in…"

There was a long silence and Seras observed Alucard's features carefully. There wasn't pain in his face, even though his eyes were half lidded and he had an absent attitude to him. She was starting to recognise his expressions… He was sitting on a chair, legs crossed, hands on his lap. Seras shyly put one hand over his.

Alucard smiled sadly and toyed with her small, delicate fingers, eyes still half closed. Then he slowly opened his eyes to look at her.

"It's alright Police Girl. It doesn't hurt anymore. I am glad that she followed her heart. I wouldn't have taken it any other way. It is who she is."

"We are very different aren't we?"

"Hmmm? You and Niko? Not at all Police Girl you are quite alike."

"How?" she blinked.

"Um, I believe I will leave that for some other time. I have already taken enough of your time. Drink you blood."

"Yes master." Seras answered sheepishly. "What will you do now?"

"Mmm… I'm bored… I think I'll go tease Walter a bit." He smiled wickedly. "So fun to get him pissed."

"Don't get your head chopped off Master." Seras sighed, in resignation as she got up from her bed.

"Oh, you take away all the fun Police Girl." Alucard chuckled wildly and disappeared.

A/N:

Wel well well… I just got to get some A/S thingy there. Next chapter there will be some revelations and some OCxOC surely you know what I mean for those who asked. And seeing I'm stretching this thing like a chewing gum, I better say the end is coming. I have a lot of other ideas messing in my head so probably there will be other stories from me… even a sequel maybe…