Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Hellsing, by Kohta Hirano.
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Mouse bowed to her as she got out of the car. Integra stood and Mouse smiled. Her master never wore dresses. She hated them. But god when she did, she was stunning. Years of physical training had carved her into a gazelle. Long legs, beautiful abs, taunt buttocks, well formed and very supple breasts, a long slender neck, and the face of a goddess all came together to make Integra Hellsing one very beautiful woman.
"Mouse." called Integra, as she fell into step behind Mouse.
"Yes master." answered Mouse, escorting her as any bodyguard would.
"Tonight, you are Kalle." insisted Integra. "And don't call me master; call me sir or Sir Hellsing.
"Yes, sir. Sir Hellsing." acknowledged Mouse.
As they walked into the palace, Integra noticed that Mouse wasn't wearing her street clothes. Integra had gotten used to Mouse's wardrobe of baggy pants and tee shirts. But tonight, as occasion demanded, Mouse was wearing a black Hellsing soldier's uniform. The blue ones were for her human soldiers; but the black ones were for her vampires. However, except for Seras, not one of her vampires ever wore them; they preferred their own clothes.
"Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing." announced the doorman, as Integra entered the room.
"Thank you Kalle that will be all." said Integra.
"Yes, sir." bowed Mouse.
Mouse left, by the door; but Integra knew that she hadn't left at all. And all though she could no longer see her, Integra was sure that Mouse had just gone invisible. She was probably still right behind her.
Integra descended that stairs into the ballroom. The palace had been decorated for a birthday gala. Bright lights accentuated the proudly displayed pink and blue party streamers and banners. Everything was polished to it brightest hue as the lights sparked off each surface. Any woman would have been awed at the amount of work that had gone into making her special night perfect. But Integra wasn't just any woman. Her life had taught her otherwise. To her, the brighter it shined on the surface, the dirtier the reality that it hid.
Integra stood on the bottom most steps as she watched them dance, and eat, and enjoy her birthday. She felt like an outsider looking in on a Normal World, that she would never be able to join. Integra snapped out of her lonely contemplation as she heard that she was being addressed.
"Integra." the voice called happily. "Integra Hellsing. So glad you could make it, this time.'
It was Sir Wright Sr.
"True, she doesn't usually make it to these functions out killing something or other is her usual excuse." added Sir Hipwood.
"A loyal subject of the crown never disobeys a Royal Order." answered Integra, coldly.
"Well, if it takes a Royal Order for Integra Hellsing to enjoy herself, then I think I should be made a Royal Decree." a new voice joked.
Integra looked at the owner of this new high spirited voice as he made his way over to her.
"Ah, here you are John. Sir Hellsing may I introduce my son to you. John, this is Sir Integral Hellsing. Sir Hellsing, my son Sir John Samuel Wright." beamed Sir Wright Sr. as he introduced his son.
"Sir Wright." acknowledged Integra.
"Sir Hellsing." he said with a bow and a gentle kiss of her hand.
Integra raised an eyebrow at this. She knew this is how gentlemen greeted ladies. It just seemed so unnatural to her for anyone to greet her this way.
"May I call you Integra?" he asked, politely.
"No." said Integra.
"Play nice with the others kids Integra or you won't be allowed any cake." Sir Wellington Sr. chuckled.
Integra growled inwardly at him. How dare he treat her like a child? She just wanted so much to choke the life from him. She imaged herself killing all the knights and standing atop their dead bodies as king of the mountain; their blood flowing freely like a waterfall of death.
"Well, my I have this dance then?" he asked, still trying to be cordial at this happy occasion.
Integra snapped out of her thoughts and gave him her hand.
"Yes." he consented.
If nothing but to get away from these arrogant and self righteous bastards.
Sir John Wright was a great dancer. Why shouldn't he be? After all, that's what he'd been raised to do. Integra fell into step with him as a proper lady should and Sir John carried her gracefully around the dance floor. She listened only with mild interest to anything he said. She was trying to assess and calculate what kind of man he was by his manner.
Sir John Wright was five foot, eleven inches and was of medium build. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and smelled of rich cologne. According to him, he was CEO of the BBN (British Broadcasting Network). It was a job that his father had, and now it was his. It was his job to keep Hellsing activities out of the news.
"Slipped up there didn't you when you aired Sgt. Ferguson's death?" accused Integra, as she allowed him to spin her outwards.
Sir John Wright was none to gentle as he spun her back into him. She thudded against his chest. He looked deep into her eyes.
"Don't judge me by my father's actions." he said coldly.
But then his frown turned back into a smile, even if only on the outside.
"I know my duty; but just like you, even I must answer to someone else." he added.
Integra felt genuine surprise. That was the first honest thing that he had said all evening. They continued dancing as a graceful couple until the music ended. Integra had barely time to get a drink, before she was introduced to another potential fiancé. Sir William Wallaby, son of some Lord of something. Integra wasn't interested in him. He was too tall and a pot belly was beginning to form. She could already tell this man was lazy and loved to be served. However, she gave a gracious nod and again allowed herself to be whisked away.
Now, while most of the guests of the party mixed and mingled, the Knights of the Round Table kept to themselves.
"Do you think she'll actually pick on this year?" asked Sir Island Sr.
"She has to." said Sir Kent Sr. "It's a Royal Order."
"It's always been a Royal Order." reminded Sir Hipwood Sr.
"Yes, but this time the Queen means it and Integra know that." said Sir Milton Sr.
"I wonder who she will finally choose." wondered Sir Island Sr.
"I don't know, but we've taken great pains to "stack the deck". So no matter who she chooses, they will obey us." said Sir Jeffery Sr.
"She'll choose Michael." boasted Sir Morse Sr. "I'm sure of it."
"What makes you so sure?" asked Sir Scarlett Sr.
"Because I've studied Integra." he informed them, with pride. "Since the day she joined us, I've made it a mission to know everything about her. I know her likes and dislikes. I know her disposition and manner. I've bred my boy to be her perfect man."
"I wouldn't be to sure Sir Morse." said Sir Jeffery Sr., amused by all Sir Morse's "hard work". "Women have been known to throw awry even the best laid plans. Don't think for one moment that our little Miss Hellsing will be any different."
"You fear her too much Sir Jeffery. For all Integra's pretense at being male, she is still very much a woman." retorted Sir Morse Sr.
"That she is." echoed Sir Milton Sr. with shameless interest, as he watched Integra dance with Sir Morse's son. "That she is."
"Now, now old man." said Sir Hipwood Sr., shaking his head at Sir Milton's obvious interest. "She's too young for you."
"Are you so sure of Michael's success tonight?" questioned Sir Wellington Sr.
"I am." crowed Sir Morse Sr.
"Care to make a small wager on it, then?" he asked.
"Right, I'll wager 100 pounds that my son will win her hand." challenged Sir Morse Sr.
"I'll take that wager." said Sir Kent Sr.
"As will I." said Sir Scarlett Sr. "My son is a soldier and we all know that Integra is more comfortable around soldiers."
"Yes, if you studied Integra so much, how come you didn't put you boy in the military?" asked Sir Hipwood Sr.
"It's because she's so comfortable with soldier that I didn't send him." said Sir Morse Sr. "Integra's personality easily dominates soldiers. Were my son a soldier, he'd be her lackey, not her equal, and not her superior."
Sir Scarlett Sr. frowned. He hadn't thought of that.
"Still want to take my wager?" asked Sir Morse Sr. with a haughty spirit.
"Yes." said Sir Scarlett Sr., not backing down on inch. "In fact, I'll wager you two hundred that she doesn't pick your son."
"Now, gentleman…" interrupted Sir Wellington Sr. with a sly smile."Let's keep this friendly. After all, we aren't enemies…"
Sir Wellington turned and looked at Integra as she danced with Sir Morse's son, Michael. His eyes got narrow and his voice got dark.
"She is."
Integra had finally had enough of dancing. When the last dance finally ended, she thanked Sir Brian Holt for his company, and left to get some air. She stood out on one of the balconies and looked up into the night sky. It had gotten colder. The wind was blowing now. In the distance, she could hear the rustling of trees. A storm was defiantly coming. Integra's skin began to tingle with the coldness of the wind as it blew across her skin. Right now, in this moment of silence, she felt alive.
"I wonder what Alucard and the others are doing right now?" she wondered.
She didn't like leaving them home alone. God only knows if she'd have a house to go back to. However, Alucard had promised that all would be right when she returned.
"Sir Hellsing." called a whispered voice.
"Yes, Kalle." said Integra, looking in the direction of the voice.
Mouse appeared from out of the shadows and stood by Integra.
"I could create a distraction and you could slip away." suggested Mouse, looking at the party in full swing without Integra. "I don't think they would miss you."
"They wouldn't, but the Knights would." stated Integra. "And they'd never let me forget it."
Integra stood near Mouse and leaned against the marble railing.
"No, I've survived other birthdays and I will survive this one." assured Integra with a weak smile.
"Why do you put up with this, Sir Hellsing?" asked Mouse, taking a seat on the rail, her back against the wall.
"Because it is my duty to." answered Integra, with no feeling at all in her voice.
"You are a noble woman with a name and lineage greater than any of the people here tonight, save the queen. Why should you cater to them?" asked Mouse.
"It is because of my noble lineage that I am a servant of the crown." said Integra, now looking at the crescent moon.
"Master, even the knights of old, though servants to the king, were still in control of their own lives. They bowed to no one." reminded Mouse.
"Well, Kalle. Times have changed." said Integra sadly.
"Yes, they have." agreed Mouse. "May be its time they changed back."
Integra looked at Mouse. And though she had been looking at the stars, Mouse was still looking at the party guests. Mouse's eyes burned with hatred and contempt as she looked at the pompous, self-aggrandizing, and vain revelers. Times may have changed, but the spirit was still the same. Some nobles showed off their wealth and power by holding fancy balls. While others showed their power by oppressing and ruling over others. The more Integra thought about it, the more she realized that the only thing that had changed was the style of dress and that was all.
"Kalle." called Integra.
"Yes, sir."
"Play me something." said Integra, wanting desperately to drown out the sounds of the party.
"Yes, sir." said Mouse.
Mouse materialized a guitar out of thin air and began playing it.
"I'm not a perfect person. There's many things I wish I didn't do. But I continue learning; I never meant to do those things to you. And so I have to say before I go that I just want you to know. I've found out a reason for me. To change who I used to be. A reason to start over new and the reason is you.
I'm sorry that I hurt you. It's something I must live with everyday. And all the pain I put you through, I wish that I could take it all away. And be the one who catches all your tears. That's why I need you to hear. I've found out a reason for me. To change who I used to be. A reason to start over new. And the reason is you. I've found out a reason to show. A side of me you didn't know. A reason for all that I do, and the reason is you." sang Mouse, softly.
As Integra listened to Mouse sing, she'll couldn't help but feel the lyrics; like this song was being sung just for her. Mouse always sang with such passion and clarity of voice, that her songs always enriched the soul.
"Who were you thinking of?" asked Integra, as Mouse made the guitar vanish.
"My father." said Mouse. "He loves you, you know."
"In his own way, I suppose." said Integra, not believing Mouse.
"In every way." said Mouse. "He knows how to love as well as to kill. It's just that all you ever ask him to do is kill."
"That's because this is all I need him to do." said Integra, as she though about Alucard.
He had made sly passes at her before, when she was much younger. But now, not at all. They had a purely professional relationship.
"You are a strange person master. You would deny a man who would love you forever; and instead choose a man who is not only beneath you, but one that wants only your death and your organization in his hands." told Mouse.
Integra said nothing to this. The "relationship" between her and Alucard was a professional one; one of master and servant. But lately, it seemed more. At times, she valued his company and if he ever left, she would…she would miss him.
"Speaking of the men beneath me." spoke Integra, finally. "What do you think of them?"
"There are only two I would consider worth of you master." informed Mouse.
"And they are?" questioned Integra.
"Sir James Wellington and Sir William Scarlett." answered Mouse.
Integra considered Mouse's choices. Sir James Wellington was a Colour Sergeant in her majesty's British Army. He was a very successful leader and had survived many bloody campaigns. It was said that he played as hard as he fought; and had led his rugby team to many championships. He was well liked by his men and well trusted by his superiors. However, he and his father did not see eye to eye and they had many heated debates in public. James wasn't hot-headed, but he was passionate about his beliefs.
Sir William Scarlett was his father's son. He had lived the life of lavish excess. He has gone to the best schools and graduated from the Oxford Business Academy. He was more CEO than soldier. He'd be a good replacement for Walter; but that did not mean he could run her organization.
"And the others?" asked Integra, seeking to see what they truly thought of her.
"I read their minds as I moved among them. There are three that would consider you a "trophy" wife. Someone they could show off as an added bonus to their prestige and power." informed Mouse. "Two of them, I would consider a threat. They plan to keep you around only until a child is born that can control Alucard. Then they plan for you to meet with an unfortunate accident."
"Really? So they plan for me to meet with an accident, do they?" fumed Integra. "Maybe I should let Alucard pay a "respectful" visit to his future master."
"Oh, sir. You are evil. He'd kill them, just for thinking about your death." Mouse chuckled.
"Yes, he would, wouldn't he?" Integra grinned.
Mouse smiled.
"And the others?" she asked.
"They are of no consequence. They do what their fathers tell them to do. I don't think any of them could do what must be done." said Mouse, thinking of the future of Integra's organization.
"Then why don't we test them." suggested Integra, with a wicked gleam in her eye. "After all, her majesty said I should get to know them."
"What do you have in mind, master?" asked Mouse, her eyes glowing brightly at the chance of mischief.
Integra whispered into Mouse's ear what she wanted her to do.
"This is going to be fun." smiled Mouse, handing Integra her CZ75D pistol.
"Get them, one by one, and bring them to me in the side room over there. Start with the two that want me dead." ordered Integra, as she went back inside.
Mouse disappeared. Integra went to one of the side rooms. She opened the windows to the night air and sat down to wait.
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Note: The song Mouse sings is "The Reason" by Hoobastank.