Chapter 17!

HARD LUCK TEAM

A hand on his shoulder waked Gingetsu. He looked at the man in front of him. It was Nakajima.

"We're here, sir." The man said politely.

Gingetsu nodded shortly.

"Are we staying, sir, or should we go back to the base?"

"Go back." Gingetsu stood and left the van. He didn't want to upset Integra making his men stay on the Hellsing compounds. It was enough with Kazuhiko, Niko and himself.

He shook his head a little to clear his thoughts and went over everything that had happened that night. He looked at the sky. The sun would rise soon.

He remembered everything suddenly. Oh, Walter… Gingetsu lowered his head, taking a grip of his frustration. How could he have not seen him? He was a recognisable figure! How could he have not recognised his movements, his wires? God, his wires had made cuts all over his body and still he hadn't figured them out!

His hands turned to fists and he thought he was feeling angry again, but he breathed in and calmed himself, eyes closed. His mind turned cold again.

He opened his eyes and saw Kazuhiko getting off the ambulance. He was pale and serious, confused. Gingetsu didn't want to talk to him right now. He turned to get in the manor. He knew Kazuhiko was looking at him, but he stubbornly ignored him.

The Lt. got to his room and closed the door behind him. He leaned against it, very tired. Taking off his visor, he sat in the chair and put it on the table, rubbing his eyes. Running a hand through his blonde hair, he allowed himself five seconds of panic as he remembered everything that he had done that night.

At the edge of horror he realised he was loosing control over himself. His powers were overruling his self-control. He coaxed calm into his mind and analysed the situation as thoroughly as he could.

The conclusion of his thoughts came before he even started thinking.

He was a Three Leaf.

Blinking, he looked at his tattoo trying to understand. The tattoo marked him Two Leaf. But somehow he had evolved into something higher. Something much more powerful. His right hand made a fist.

He needed to learn to control his powers before anyone else got hurt. He could live with the fact that he had killed fifty Necromancers in one night, out of revenge, but if he ever hurt someone close to him again, he would simply kill himself. After all it was the most obvious action, considering his current position. He knew the Clover Leaf Project foundations would never allow him to live on, knowing his powers were developing…

"Maybe it's time to break free," a deep voice. Gingetsu kept still as his blue-green orbs diverted to Alucard's blood red ones. He was serious, though. No mockery in his eyes or in his voice.

"Why were you reading my mind?"

"Because I can..." Alucard simply answered. "You are exhausted, so I took my chance."

"Stay away from it." Gingetsu said coldly. "You won't like what you'll find."

"Surely you don't believe I will be scared of your twisted mind…" Alucard replied indifferently.

"That's not what I said." Gingetsu replied coolly. "However I find it convenient that you came to me right now."

"Oh?"

"I need your help for something."

Alucard raised his eyebrows and looked at the blonde man very surprised. Gingetsu didn't enjoy his company, it didn't take a genius to know that, but apparently he had decided to accept it. It took a mature mind to do that… but from there to asking his help?

Alucard sat on a chair in front of him and looked at him, serious. Gingetsu didn't joke around. He could act adult with him for a while. It wouldn't hurt.

break+

Shamshiel smiled to himself, hearing the conversation taking place in a room, far away form his warehouse, in a certain great manor outside London.

He should have realised Gingetsu would do that. That Clover never took unnecessary risks. However, the fact that he had asked Alucard's help did puzzle him. He could easily do it himself, so, why ask the vampire?

More startling was that Alucard actually accepted to do it.

Humans, or once-humans minds were utterly annoying. So messy and disorganized, so pathetically convinced that they had control over everything that went on. How could they not see how Demons and Angels ruled their lives? Could they be so blind they couldn't see the path already set before their feet?

Shamshiel shook his head, grinning that mysterious smile of his. He directed his mind's eye to the sky outside the warehouse. It now was open day. But not for long.

It had always amused him how incredibly easy it was to fool humans. So confident in their world of science knowledge, so trusted of their awareness of the Universe movements. So, again, easily fooled by their own trust in these facts they believed to know so well.

He counted in his mind and his grin now turned into a big, firm smile.

Hours now, and the eclipse would give him the power.

break+

Integra was standing before the window, looking outside at a bright blue sky. It was unbelievable that the sun could shine so much, if he was supposed to die forever tomorrow. At least those were the Demon's plans. But she would make sure that someone stopped him. She had powerful people beside her after all.

The phone started ringing. Integra turned to see it with dislike, feeling very disinclined to pick it up right now. Who was calling her at ten o'clock in the morning? She was supposed to be drinking her tea.

That stupid maid was late, by the way. She shrugged, telling herself that wanting Walter back was definitely selfish and inconsiderate. But, well, Walter had her kind of spoiled… so remarkably good at his work. All of it.

Integra sighed in annoyance as she noticed the phone wouldn't stop ringing. She decided she would snap at whoever was bothering her so, but as she finally reached for the thing it fell silent. She grunted in irritancy and stared at it, sure that whoever was so insistently calling her would surely call again.

A cloud passed in front of the sun and the study got a little darker. Integra inhaled her cigar and turned to the window, deciding that watching the phone like a schoolgirl waiting to be called by "The Boy" was definitely below her level.

She frowned.

No cloud.

What the bloody hell was going on? Integra watched the sun, frown getting deeper.

The cigar fell of her fingers to the floor.

"Damn it to Hell!" Integra muttered as she stared at the little bite-like black form that was now growing at a disturbing high speed. It was literally eating the ball of light! The eclipse? But how…? It was a day earlier that they thought!

Integra hastily turned on her heels at the same time she directed her mind to wake Alucard's sleeping one.

She hadn't even given a step when she stopped dead in her track. "What the bloody hell?" she demanded, anger growing within her.

"Ah, ah, what a rude little girl you are!" the Demon said, smile spreading across his smooth face. His eyes were closed. The one in his forehead was fixed on hers.

"What the devil do you want now?"

"I though it was rather obvious, since I already have my eclipse…" he said. His smile grew wider and Integra willed with all her mind for Alucard. But she couldn't reach him! "No, no, my beautiful maiden, Vlad is asleep. We don't want to bother him, now do we? No… you and me are making a trip. Alone."

"I'm not going anywhere with you." Integra hissed as she reached for her side gun, eyes sparkling with hate.

"I'm afraid you don't have a say on it." He said sadly. He moved faster than she could think. He gave one step to her, took the gun from her hand and pressed her to the window with inhuman strength. He was just about as tall as she was, so they were now looking into each other's eyes, as he had opened his to give her a vague, pleasant look.

"Such a wonderful spirit you have…" he commented. Integra struggled to free herself but it was hopeless. "I understand Alucard once wanted you as his mate. He has good taste for women. You definitely honour your family's bloodline, little one."

That was the last thing Integra heard before a mind clamped over hers, pushing her forcefully into a heavy sleep.

Shamshiel collected her slim body into his arms and used his powers to slowly drift Alucard back from his heavy sun-induced sleep. He expected the vampire to have a full conscience of what was going on the moment he was awake.

Alucard was, after all, the most powerful vampire currently alive. As he thought of that, Shamshiel chiselled his name on the wall opposite to him, making sure he left behind him, as he left, a trace of black energy strong enough to make Alucard dizzy. He wanted him to know what he was dealing with, in case he still didn't.

break+

Alucard slowly emerged to the surface of his deep, death-like sleep. Growling in disappointment, he turned on his side, stubbornly wanting to go back to his sleep, but something wouldn't let him. Annoyed at an extreme level, the ancient vampire used his control to lift the lid of his coffin bed and sat up running a hand through his soft, uncurled hair.

What was keeping him up? It was early… although he didn't feel the sun's usual heat at this hour he knew that much. It was probably cloudy out there, that was common in England after all. Still… something was different.

He looked around and saw no blood pack. Of course, it was early for that. Oh, and Walter was at the hospital wing still, too. Apparently the maids didn't dare getting in Alucard's room. He smiled wickedly to himself. He got them pleasurably scared.

Alucard got off the bed and put on his jacket, thoughtfully. What now? Walter was asleep, Integra was dangerous lately, Gingetsu was always dangerous… who to bother? Kazuhiko? Mmm… no, probably not a good idea. Niko was sleeping and so was Seras… ah, ah, ah, ah. Mmmm Seras.

Alucard smiled maliciously. He slid through the wall towards Seras' room and stood beside her coffin. Using his powers he pressed the control and opened the lid.

Seras was asleep, curled on her side, peaceful as a child. Alucard hesitated. She was so lovely, lying there like a little child with no worries…

He smiled tenderly and sat beside her, playing with the tips of her hair, thoughtful. More out of routine than anything else, he scanned the manor with his mind powers.

Yes, Walter was in the hospital wing, but he was awake. He would pay him a little visit later. Gingetsu and Kazuhiko were both working on the computer. Niko was asleep. Integra…. Integra? Alucard frowned. Where was she?

He started getting worried when he called her with his mind and came no answer. Getting increasingly troubled, Alucard got off the bed and phased to Integra's study.

He froze. The dark energy there was so thick he felt dizzy for a moment. Pushing back his nausea, he looked around and read the scriptures deeply engraved in the walls.

"Come get her, if you dare, King of the Dead. Shamshiel."

Alucard's blood boiled in his veins. He immediately spread out his powers to everyone able to listen to his call.

Niko and Seras immediately rose from their sleep. Walter turned around, alarm written in his face and stormed out of the hospital wing. Kazuhiko's head snapped up, eyes wide, and he too shot towards Integra's study, Gingetsu closely following him.

Niko and Seras were, naturally, the firsts to come to him. Niko froze, eyes wide, looking at the writing in the wall. Seras gasped and clutched Alucard's arm. Kazuhiko and Gingetsu got there shortly after. Minutes later Walter joined them.

"Look at the sun." Kazuhiko was the first to notice, looking out the window. Everyone turned that direction.

Alucard growled, anger rising within him. How could he have not noticed! That had wakened him! The sun, getting dimmer, disappearing!

"It's started." Gingetsu turned his back to the window. Integra being gone, he naturally assumed the role of commanding officer. And as everyone there was more than used to following orders, his role was naturally accepted. "Alucard, find your Master and lead us to her. I don't care how, do it. Walter, get all the Hellsing men and organise them to be ready on the double. Kazuhiko, call our men, get them here right now, fully armed and ready for anything." As everyone quickly obeyed orders, Gingetsu turned to the two female vampires. "Nagisa and Victoria, both of you go and drink as much blood as you can take in less than half an hour." As he saw Seras hesitate, Gingetsu looked at her, severely serious. "Drink it or stay, Victoria. I'm not taking a weak vampire to a possible war. That is final."

And he left. Niko took Seras' hand between hers and they both phased down to the kitchen, where Niko open the fridge and offered Seras a blood pack. The girl didn't even doubt.

She wasn't leaving her friends alone in war because of her stupid human morality.

break+

Alucard focused all his will and powers in finding Integra's scent. Nothing mattered but to find his Master. Though he tried to calm himself down and be as dominant over his powers as he could, rage kept running through his veins, with the blood, like venom, eating him from inside.

He had failed. He had failed to protect his Master. Not only this, but he had failed Integra, who was to him not only his master, but a friend, a companion through long years of recovery after decades of being alone and in silence. The only friend he had besides Walter and Niko. His adoptive daughter.

Swallowing hard to bite down his rage and his frustration, Alucard closed his eyes and released all the power he could without making the seals silence him. They reacted automatically to the action, burning him, hurting his flesh and his soul, but Alucard clenched his teeth and sent his shadows out across the distance that meant nothing to his power, up on the sky, crossways the city in new, unnaturally long darkness.

This was his kingdom. Night was his reign. He ruled over it, it was his world, it was his element. Nothing could stop him in it.

And yet, his powers hit something and were stopped. Frowning, Alucard turned his attention to that particular spot.

A warehouse near the river. It was surrounded by a dark energy that was not his.

And there, in the dark, surrounded but a wall of impenetrable shadows, a faint, familiar light. And Alucard's eyes flashed a darker shade of crimson.

break+

Twenty minutes after they found Integra was missing, all Hellsing and Secret Colours Battalion men were gathered at the state. Getting ready for whatever would come next.

Gingetsu went in the manor closely followed by Kazuhiko who had obeyed his orders remarkably good. Gingetsu could feel Alucard's presence near, he felt it in the back of his head, but he decided to ignore it. Alucard knew what he had to do. Despite the desperateness of the situation, Gingetsu stood his ground on the matter.

He believed Niko had an idea of what he was going to do. That was Alucard's problem, though. That's what they had decided.

When they got to Kazuhiko's room, Gingetsu didn't feel Alucard watching them anymore. He was gone. Gingetsu was sure that he was with Niko, or near her.

Pushing away all his hesitations, Gingetsu made up his mind, and gathered strength and will.

"…I don't think the men will be of much use…" Kazuhiko was saying, as he carefully studied his modem to make sure it worked perfectly fine. "This Shamshiel doesn't seem to have organised an army to back him up. Not like he needed it."

"Kazuhiko."

"Yeah?" Kazuhiko turned and gulped a little. Gingetsu was so close to him they were almost brushing. Arching an eyebrow, the Captain looked at him inquisitively. What was he after?

"I'm sorry."

"About…?"

Gingetsu didn't even answer. He shot his hand to the nape of his neck so quickly Kazuhiko didn't have time to react to it. And when he did, it was too late.

He was paralysed. His chocolate eyes widened in astonishment at was being done to him. His body went numb and didn't obey him anymore. He fell forwards into Gingetsu's arms and realised he wasn't able to move one single muscle. The only thing he could do was breath normally.

He managed to somehow stay clear of panic, but as Gingetsu laid him on the bed and carefully placed the inactivated modem on the night table, he started getting hysterical.

"Calm down." Gingetsu moved his fingers in his neck again. The numb started fading, but he still couldn't move. "You know how this is. Stay calm and it will be better." Gingetsu stood straight and looked down to him, towering over his laying figure. "I can't let you come with us. It's the same thing as killing you myself. You know it. This is the only way I can make sure you will obey me this time. I am sorry." He added low.

Kazuhiko blinked and a tear rolled down his face. It was a tear of both anger and sadness. He was being betrayed, but he felt stupidly touched by it. That made him even more furious.

"Why do you always have to be alone?" he thought to himself, in a desperate, ridiculous hope that Gingetsu would hear him. "You're not fair with me, Gingetsu."

Gingetsu stopped by the door and looked over his shoulder, not trusting himself if he turned. He could easily take him out of the paralysis, but he wouldn't.

"In case I break my promise" he said in a low, monotonous voice that made Kazuhiko sure that he was faking his calm. "Forgive me."

And he left, slowly closing the door behind him, quietly.

break+

"Let go of me this instant!" Niko twisted her wrists, but it was pointless. Alucard's grip was just too strong. "Vlad, LET GO!"

Instead of obeying, Alucard moved and grabbed her arms, pulling her close to him, her face inches from his, both pairs of red eyes flashing anger.

"If I let you go, you will go to him and release him." He said low in a calm he most certainly did not feel.

"Of course!"

"Are you stupid, Niko?" he hissed. She glared.

"What are you saying?"

"You unintelligent little vampire, if you take him with you he will die!" he roared to her. "Or do you believe yourself powerful enough to protect him? Will you stand by him all the fight? Babysitting him? No, Niko!" His voice turned softer as he shortly shook her with his hands, emphasising his words. "No. Kazuhiko will not live through this fight and deep inside you know it. Leave him here, and maybe, if we succeed, at least he will live to see another day. Maybe not with you, but he will live. Take him and he dies tonight. Is that what you want? You want him to die with us?" he rocked her with his hands, seeing her tears roll down her cheeks.

Niko looked down, anger fading completely, and nodded. She understood. Kazuhiko would live. He would live for both him and her.

No more lives lost pointlessly. Not because of her.

break+

When Gingetsu got outside the manor, all men were already in the vans and jeeps waiting to leave the estate and into the warehouse near the river. Alucard knew, as well as Niko did, that Shamshiel had a number of vampires and FREAKs ready to fight the Hellsing men.

The Japanese Lieutenant Colonel sat in the van, next to Walter, and in front of Seras. He was serious and silent. Cold.

All the way, the fifteen minutes it took for them to reach the place, he was silent and distant. Walter looked at him once and saw him rubbing the tattoo on his inner wrist, deep in thought.

Seras had never fed that much in one night. She had drunk three bags of medical blood, as Niko. Alucard had drunk five. They were all satisfied and full of energy. Seras sat in front of Gingetsu, and held her Harkonnen anti-FREAK cannon close to her body.

Walter carefully shifted his rings on his fingers, thoughtfully. If anything went wrong, maybe there would not be another day. Walter turned his fingers into fists, firmly deciding he would not allow anyone to hurt Sir Integra. It didn't matter if he had to die in the way, he would save her.

He could trade his old, long life for hers. It would be a fair trade.

break+

Everything was in silence. It was as dark as if it would be late in the afternoon now. And it kept getting darker.

Gingetsu looked at his watch, frowning. He knew that the paralysis he had pushed Kazuhiko into would last for about two hours before he regained control over his body. Seeing how things were going it was improbable that this situation would end in less than two hours. But, with some luck, for the time Kazuhiko could move not only he wouldn't know where they were, but also the battle would be advanced enough for him not to be badly hurt in it.

Gingetsu only wished he could be aware of whether he was well or not. The Manor was practically empty, for they had left only enough soldiers to keep it on its basis. Gingetsu had tried to leave Walter there with Kazuhiko, because his injury was still quite bad, but the butler had refused categorically to be left behind.

As they slowly advanced on the warehouse perimeters they were suddenly attacked by many kinds of dark creatures. That not only included vampires and FREAKs, but also werewolves, demon hybrids and other creatures that the men did not usually fight.

Gingetsu and Walter stayed close together opening a way towards the warehouse, but they were far away from the fences that kept it safe and it proved almost impossible for them to reach across the ocean of creatures between them and the fence.

Gingetsu summoned another sword and stepping away from Walter to get more room, he started fighting with both weapons, watching from time to time how his men were doing. He saw his men fall, one by one, until they were all gone and felt relief thinking that he had left Kazuhiko relatively safe back in the manor.

As he decapitated a werewolf with his right sword and a vampire with his left he raised his eyes to the roof of a near building and saw a line of ten snipers taking careful aim. The last one of the right was Seras Victoria, giving long-range support with her Harkonnen.

His senses told him Niko and Alucard were occupied using their powers to try and break the spells and the auras that surrounded the warehouses protecting it.

Alucard was at a verge of pain. Without Integra's verbal authorization, he couldn't have access to the higher levels of his powers, with the ones he could maybe easily pierce the magic shields. He was already using powers beyond the level he was usually allowed to, and the seals produced a burning pain he could barely stand as it was. And at the current perspective, things seemed to tend to get worse, as they usually do when they are very, very bad.

Alucard backed away to reform himself into a human form, gathering his shadows and clenching tight his teeth, his fangs at full length, thinking quickly. Niko appeared next to him, her eyes a deep shade of red.

"I can't break the shell." Alucard gasped through a wave of pain coming from his hands and reaching across his entire body. He was trying to contain the pain, but if it got worse, which seemed likely, it would get to Seras through their mental link. If Alucard was having trouble standing it, it would with no doubt knock Seras to the ground.

"We need them to reach the shell at the same time so they attack it too." Niko looked around nervously. The men didn't seem to be going very well. However, Seras and the snipers quickly got the situation quite under control as they gave a very important support getting rid of the bigger creatures.

"There might be another way." Alucard said, eyes fixed on the warehouse. Niko looked at him. "If you go into full bloodlust and thrust against the spell shell while I attack at the same time, maybe…" Alucard doubted and he didn't finish his sentence. Niko was powerful, but he had never seen her at bloodlust. He didn't know if she could reach a level of power high enough to be compared to his. If only he could reach Integra's mind…

"I'll do it." Niko threw her head back and separated a little from Alucard.

She opened her arms and allowed all her power to flow through her and out of her. Her hair grew longer; her clothes dissolved into nothing and were replaced as shadows that ravelled her body, replacing them with a tight leather suit much like Alucard's. Many ribbons hung from her clothes, as well as a silk scarf loosely flung on her waist, and her fangs grew to full length.

Alucard stared, stunned. He had never imagined she could reach that much power at her age… it was incredible. As instinct took over, Niko looked around in bright, dark blood red eyes, black aura emanating from her.

After flashing a look at Alucard, she lunged for the warehouse. Alucard followed suit. He released a big fraction of the power he could reach in himself and he immediately knew the pain was hitting Seras as he reduced the protection walls within his mind, but he couldn't keep her safe right now.

Niko spread all her powers and shadows, focusing on not freeing her familiars to concentrate the power on one breaking, destroying hit.

Accompanied by Alucard and his powers she hit the spells wall with all her powers.

It shattered.

Alucard immediately lunged to the warehouse, his way now clear to get to Integra. Or so he thought.

He didn't have time to notice Niko losing her consciousness and falling down to the ground from that important height, her powers drained.

break+

Shamshiel looked delighted. The portal was opening. Integra's blood was slowly running down the engraved paths in the stone towards the portal, where it joined to the Angel's, the Elf's and the Vampire's.

The dark mouth that lead to Hell was opening. The chanting was higher, almost roaring,

Shamshiel took a deep, slow breath, inhaling the dark power surrounding them. He tasted it, he enjoyed it.

He snapped his eyes open and he looked at the Vampire. After a final shudder, the thing turned into ashes and dust.

Shamshiel narrowed his eyes in irritation.

"It seems as I made a mistake. We will need a more powerful vampire." Shamshiel felt the shield shatter into pieces and felt Alucard's presence coming to him. His smiled widened wickedly. "I know of one that could be useful."

But, how to coax him? He would never just comply to him… not even if he gave him freedom instead. Although everyone might believed him mindless and selfish, he was pretty sane.

Ah, his smile grew even wider. Of course. He knew of a certain young vampire girl that he could use as an incentive.

And soon, Eric would come back with Kazuhiko and all players would be in the court.

He disappeared.

Ok, this one was pretty long. I know. But the end is coming, so chapters are going to be longer, very likely, from now on.