Disclaimers: Hellsing is not mine but Hirano-sama's. Demented idea of this fic is mine but not intended for anything illegal. :wink:

A/N: Another re-written part. Me and my editing muse. ;

Chapter III

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Her powder blue skirts flowing behind her, she looked like a warrior queen about to face her greatest battle. Alucard's lips twisted with mischief as he watched Integra from the glass panes as she passed on her way to the receiving room. Tendrils of blonde hair framed her pale face, the moonlight softening the rigid lines of her proud features. It was then Alucard realized with mild interest that her usual round spectacles are nowhere to be seen, making her ice blue eyes appear bluer. And yes, more vulnerable. He decided to show himself to her, to needle her into showing that fiery temper of hers. And to admire her openly.

"I hope you wear women's clothes more often, Master. You are a sight for these sore eyes of mine."

She turned her head sharply in surprise as he materialized from the glass panel. Alucard took in the opportunity to flash her a toothy grin as he bowed formally and took her gloved hand to bestow a courtly kiss. He boldly stared up at her guarded eyes, as if challenging her to charge his insolence as he murmured, "You are a vision of loveliness tonight, Master." He straightened, still smiling as he awaited an irate outburst.

But to his surprise, it never came. His mocking smile vanished as he glanced at her. His eyes narrowed as she smiled serenely—a rare event for as long as they knew each other. "How kind of you to say so," she said sweetly as she curtsied. "I hope it doesn't blind you, Count Dracula."

Alucard threw back his head and laughed. "Very sweetly feminine," he chuckled approvingly. He thought he saw her eyes dance with girlish pleasure. "Speaking of eyes, what happened to yours? It is a wonder you can see in the dark now." Alucard's voice sounded so clueless that her lips curled with amusement.

"That is, I believe, because we have things we call contact lenses," she said in voice tinged with laughter. Sobering, she commented, "I'm pleased to see that your courtly behavior is still present even it had been five hundred years since you've been in court last."

"I've never been in court during the old times, my Master. My life was spent on wars and later on, in the darkness. But I had my rare times with your Queen." He ignored her surprised look as he eyed her critically. "Why such trifles now, Integra? Does the prospect of being a duchess more appealing?"

He saw her flinch, the easy laughter that gleamed in her eyes vanished, and replacing it with ice he knew so well. "That is none of your business, Count. And I believe I had told you to stop delving into my private thoughts."

He was too busy probing with her thoughts that he realized that he missed something that he should have noted first.

For the first time since they met, Sir Integral Wingates Hellsing—his master, took painstaking care of making herself look in her best feminine appearance tonight. Gone were the delicious musky scent of her cigarillos, the shapeless masculine suits and her tired paleness, in spite of her dusky complexion. He suddenly became aware of the delicate scent of lemons and the subtle scent of powder that human females put on their faces. Her usually pale cheeks looked flushed, accentuating her cheekbones. Her ice-blue eyes looked softer and wider. And her lips looked tender and ripely feminine. Her blue dress molded her slim but unmistakably womanly figure. The sapphire necklace winked in the soft moonlight, resting on the delicate collarbone. Her wispy blonde hair made her look ethereal.

She was a delectable sight. And if he could breathe again, she literally took his breath away. Another thought occurred to him with some surprise. He realized that he had gone too far in needling her, enough to insult her sensibilities. He knew her better than that but he knew he couldn't take his words back. "My apologies, Master. That was unforgivable."

She accepted the apology with a cool nod. She realized he was still holding her hand and his scarlet eyes had a strange expression. She pulled her hand out of his grasp and said formally, "I thank you for the kind words earlier, Sir Vampire. Now if you would excuse me, it is time I face my guests." She continued her way down the hall, her proud head lifted high but he knew he touched a sensitive chord.

"Does this mean you've chosen to participate in this farce?"

She stopped but did not turn. "I don't have any choice, servant." Her voice held a wealth of bitterness.

He veiled his scarlet eyes. "Very well. Good evening, Miss Hellsing." She continued her descent down the sweeping steps down to the foyer. Alucard instantly regretted his probing. His master is a proud one, to be sure, but maybe he'd been more of a monster than human to be sensitive of other people's feelings. It surprised him at the same time, galled him. Since when did he ever become sensitive of any human being?

Only towards this woman.

He watched her descend the steps down the foyer. When she vanished in his field of sight, he retreated in the shadows.

OoO

Long after Sir Integra had left, Seras realized that her mouth was still hanging open. She shut her mouth and slowly began to pick up the clothes that had scattered on the floor. However, her mind is still at the questions Sir Integra asked her.

"Seras? Do you think I am beautiful?"

"Do you think then that I can be loved by someone and that someone would want me not because of what I am but who I really am?"

She had been caught unaware by that question that she whirled in surprise, stunned incredulity written all over her face. Her brain raced furiously. What would I tell her? She was about to blurt out, yes! There is someone there who loves and wants you the way you are!

But Sir Integra had accurately but imprecisely read her reaction. Her soft laughter had not masked the bitterness her heart tried to conceal. "It was a rhetorical question, any way." That smile chilled her the most. It was not her usual frigid and sardonic smile but a defeated smile of someone who had realized that she had been a fool.

"Thank you for being honest with me."

And Lord Integra is certainly no fool. Merely…

"…Excruciatingly innocent and idealistic in spite of her coolness. Isn't that right, police girl?" Her master's gentle voice echoed in her mind. Seras stood up in alarm. "M-master!" She sputtered as she searched the room warily. "H-how long had you been here?"

The low baritone of his laughter lacked its usual sardonic and teasing quality but merely of pure amusement that sounded foreign to her ears. "Long enough to realize what a fool we've been."

"And?"

The vampire's voice was still amused. "'And' what is?"

Seras nearly cried in frustration. "What are you going to do about it, Master? All of us know what she exactly feels about this farce! What this parody of choosing a husband is all about while we all know she was practically coerced to do something she truly detests." She looked up from the canopied bed, as if beseechingly to her absent master. "Honestly, I think this is another perverse form of their punishment to her-- it was kinder to let her rot in that prison than letting her be a prisoner in this gilded cage." She paused, expecting her master to comment on that. When none came from him, she almost seethed with frustration. "Master," she clenched her fist, crumpling the silky clothing on the bed. "I know, although she tried so hard to hide her feelings. It…" She hesitated the plunged on in a tight whisper. "It is enough to break any one's heart, seeing defeat on her proud features. She doesn't know how to deal with it, you know that!"

Her master had still not replied. Thinking he had disappeared, she stood and woodenly began the task of tidying up the room. After five years, she had known her master very well, especially anything that has to do with the Lord Integra. He had always treated her with sardonic amusement but beneath that, there was a deep concern, an unexplainable gentleness, protectiveness bordering to possessiveness and affection that shone in his scarlet eyes. She saw that many times, especially the times Lord Integra's life was in peril. Although she had been jealous—after all, at first, she fancied herself being a little in love with the vampire who gave her the gift of immortality. Later on, she had now understood and even accepted that the ties that bound her monster master and his master were more than just a slave-master relationship. He never admitted it but she knew. Call it feminine intuition.

She smiled sourly. Even becoming undead, she hadn't lost that intuition. But now, what she just couldn't believe and puzzled with her master's lack of concern this time. "What is wrong with you, Master?" She sent in telepathically, almost irritably. "Didn't you care, after all?"

"What makes you say that?"

She nearly jumped with the sudden reply but her temper was wearing thin with her master's evasions. "Please, Master. You very well know what I am talking about! What happens now? Or was I wrong?" she demanded.

"What do you want me to do? Stop her?"

"Master!"

No reply.

"Master?"

He was silent for too long.

Heaving a disgusted sigh, she rolled her eyes and muttered. "This is just great! The great Alucard has gone coward now?"

"You are becoming too impudent, fledgling," Amused irritation tinged his voice but he sobered, all of the traces of amusement were gone from the low baritone, as he said coldly. "That is none of your concern, police girl. Integra can handle herself."

"But—"

"I said it is not your concern. Obey me."

The girl hesitated, almost considered to defy her master but she merely shrugged and continued her unfinished chore. As an afterthought, she murmured, "Master? Forgive me."

"For what, police girl?"

"For insulting you. And not trusting you."

There was a pause.

"Because I do not believe you will let her down. You simply care too much for Sir Integra. Forgive me for doubting you."

He laughed softly. "Incorrigible as ever, fledgling."

Smiling now, she continued her task but her mind still churned with thoughts of her master and her master's master.

oOo

The duke awaited on the salon, slapping his gloves against his thigh with impatience. He detested waiting but it seems like the arrogant, prim and virgin knight he was supposed to woo intend to keep him waiting. It had been three hours since they stopped at the Hellsing manor. He scowled, his arrogant lips curled as he said to Walter, who stood at the door calmly. "Did the Lady Integra receive the message that we are waiting for her arrival, servant?"

Walter Cumm Ddollneazz was not feeling particularly charitable with their guests. His nerves were already frayed with irritation, worry and tension but he struggled to remain calm as he answered the duke blandly, "I believe that Sir Integra will be coming down any time soon, your grace." He emphasized the Sir with steely resolve as the Duke of Lancashire met his gaze with surprise. He almost smiled when the duke seemed to redden with anger at his audacity. Walter glanced imperceptibly at the door and the Queen's retinue. The two messengers looked about them expressionlessly. They were here to ensure Lord Integra's compliance after all and nothing more, he thought bitterly.

The duke of Lancashire equally hated the house, the butler and even the Queen's messengers who served as his escort. Hell, he hated wasting his time on this little foible! He did not understand why the Queen was so eager to foist the Hellsing chit on all of them, the court buzzing with scandalous gossips beginning from her looks, sexual orientation and the nature of her duty in the realm. There was even talks that she was a necrophiliac and that the vampires under her wing were her pets for amusement. What amusement, he did not care to know. He glared at the snotty butler who regarded him with thinly veiled amusement at his discomfort. The old man seemed to know his apprehension in this house. "Well?" he snapped irritably. "Can't you see what keeps your mistress, butler?"

Walter decided to heed the arrogant cur of a man seated on the settee. It was taking all his patience not to wring the idiot's neck with his wire but he dared not move for the man was an important peer of the realm. Sir Integra would not be pleased to have another scandal and threat of treason stain the illustrious Hellsing name. He bowed curtly as he opened the door to see where Sir Integra had been. For her sake, he wished she had been ill or there was a call for FREAK extermination anywhere in South Africa. No such luck however, it was curious that the FREAK attack had seemed to have stopped for the meantime. In one of his desperate moments, he almost wished that she would consent to the needling of Alucard to make her a vampire. But knowing his master, she'd rather die than become a monster. Closing the doors behind him, he looked up and almost gasped in surprise and pleasure. A vision of blue was walking down the steps gracefully, waves of golden hair glinted in the soft light. If it weren't for the brilliant blue eyes, dusky rose skin and sapphire necklace she was wearing, he wouldn't have recognized her.

"Good Lord, Sir Integra!" The butler bowed deeply to hide his pleasure. As she approached, pride shone on his eyes as he gazed fondly at his young charge he had raised and loved like a daughter. "Truly, had Sir Arthur been alive today, he would have been proud to see you this beautiful."

"Would he?" Her soft voice made the former Angel of Death look at his young mistress with surprise. Although she was very feminine in her clothing and appearance, she still has the imposing aura when she is in her knight uniform. But that was not what surprised him. There was something strange with her that Walter couldn't put his finger on. It was as if she had lost the fire that made her so vital. There was a sad disillusion glinting in her eyes that it was heartbreaking to see. But he knew that she would just brush aside any sign of sympathy on his part so he tried another tactic.

"Indeed, Lady Integra," he teased, trying to coax a smile out of her. He felt heartened when she favored him with a tiny quirk at the side of the mouth. "The Duke of Lancashire awaits you with impatience, not to mention the Queen's messengers. But I think the arrogant duke would not regret his long wait when he sees you." He was about to pull the door open but Integra stopped him. He glanced at her questioningly.

Her voice was cool and devoid of all emotion. "I care naught for that, Walter. And you know it. You know why I do this"

He bowed respectfully. "Of course, my lord." He pulled the doors open and let her precede him.

OoO

Alucard was seated on his throne-like chair, brooding over the incident between him and Integra in the hallway.

No matter how impersonal she treated him, he knew his compliments pleased her. It was also the first time he saw her relax and smile candidly since she was a girl. He also knew that he hurt her more than she let him see. For that reason, he did not push her unlike before because he knew that it would not merely anger her. It would damage the relationship they had, as long they had known each other.

But what exactly is their relationship?

With this thought in mind, Alucard reverted to Seras' words and berating. "Didn't you care after all?" his impudent fledgling demanded, pushed beyond the limits of frustration. At first it amused him to pique the police girl but as each of her goading words pricked his self-possessed coolness, it irritated him. However, as she continued her barbed taunts with what he really felt for his master, it infuriated him that the police girl had accurately inferred his true feelings. The police girl's intuition is getting too sharp for her own good, he thought wryly.

Alucard did not like thinking about the result of his actions. He did things without compunction and without regret. But after centuries of being undead, he was too tired of following blindly to his instincts and being, recently, pushed around because he was bound to do things at someone's whim. It must be the time I've been doing nothing but wait. There had been no reports of FREAK attacks, not even any actions from the Section 13. The idle time in his hands made him think and reflect over his deeds. And even the unusual relationship he had with his Master. He knew that they were beyond the master-servant relationship. He could feel it in both of them but both of them are unwilling to face the fact. He had read her mind, after all. In her case, she knew and accepted it but would not concede to it. His worthy master was fighting down her feelings because of principle. He smiled wickedly at that. A little more prodding here and there, she would eventually collapse. Wouldn't that be amusing? He was taken aback with the sudden irate protest made by his conscience by battering and defeating his proud master. He almost laughed aloud. The No-Life King still had a conscience after all this time? Unacceptable! The wicked grin on his face gradually became a thoughtful frown. But regrettably, he had to admit even to himself that he could not do that.

Seeing her in feminine clothes made him burn with wanting. Instead of appearing weak and fragile like most women, she was more potently seductive and powerful than in her masculine clothes. It was advantageous that humans cannot read minds or she would have sealed him right there and then when she learned of his thoughts as he stood there, kissing her hand. He wanted her with an alarming intensity but he knew he couldn't have her. In his case, apart from the obvious, he is unwilling to accept that another human had gotten under his skin. Another woman had awakened his passions. Not only with her beauty but her strength of character and will. And try as he might, he cannot fight this wanting. He realized how long it had been. He yearned for a mate.

Beside his booted feet, bags of medical blood were being chilled in the bucketful of ice. He ripped one with his fang and began to gulp down the crimson fluid.

I need something to do before these thoughts drive me insane. Otherwise I might find myself attacking her in bed, after all.

TBC