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Author's note: A very sincere thank you to all the readers that are following this story (although you remain mum) and another thank you to the reviews – as they make the writing better. As always, enjoy.

Chapter 28

Nearly a full week after the Hellesdon incident, the sun rose over the Hellsing mansion, bathing everything in its golden glow. It promised to be a beautiful day. As the morning warmed, birdsong filled the air and a gentle breeze swayed the branches of the trees and rustled the leaves. Not even a puffy white cloud marred the perfect blue of the sky – and Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing had never hated a day more for being so perfect.

To her, the day should have been dark; the sky filled with towering black clouds driven by stormy winds, while thunder raged loudly enough to shake walls and lightning flashed so as to blind the eyes of man. Rain should be slashing down, making everything feel as cold as she did now.

Instead the sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, causing bright spots of colour to bounce off the uniforms and mourning black that filled the pews of the Hellsing chapel. It coruscated off the glass of the many framed portraits that were standing in front of the altar, and glittered on tears.

Inwardly she raged at the obliviousness of the people that had been protected by the very men that they were now honouring the memories of. She wanted the nation to stop for one moment and appreciate the blood that had soaked into the ground to ensure the safety of them and their families. She wanted the very world itself to know what had been given, what price had been paid for its protection – but it never would.

Reigning in her tempestuous thoughts, she focused once more on the minister as he delivered his words of comfort and hope. She had already delivered her portion of eulogies and the memorial service was nearly over and she knew that she would be expected to leave first. Eventually the words ended and she rose to walk slowly down the centre aisle with her entourage, followed by the families and then the soldiers that had been well enough to attend. Walter had told her that there had been several arguments between the doctors and the patients about being fit enough to attend. And even if there were some bandages here and a cast or two there – they were still the exceptional fighting force that she was so fiercely proud of.

Lurking in the passageway that ran between the chapel and the mansion, Alucard could feel the riot of emotions that were plaguing his master and he wondered if she would ever become inured to the losses of war. And then he realised that he didn't want her to, because that would mean that she had lost the very humanity that he admired.

Walter was always comforted by funerals. It was a feeling that he hid from most people, as it would discomfort them to think that he was enjoying himself. He wasn't, but he always left a funeral or a memorial service with a sense of satisfaction and peace. The ceremony provided a finality that was a necessary reminder to the living that that they were still there. He enjoyed the symmetry of it all, a ceremony for the start, middle and end. Perhaps it was because he had attended so many in his time – who could say? Either way, he was comforted.

Using the self-same passage in which her master was loitering, Seras had ignored his mockery and participated in the service for her fallen comrades. She didn't like funerals, but she knew that going was the right thing to do. Standing, she watched Sir Integra pass by with her expression as stony as ever. As Seras waited her turn to leave, she looked around at her friends and comrades. Josh was to her right and Hector was on her left. She had been glad to see Joshua there, and although the mood was sombre, his smile of greeting had been genuine and his eyes were once again the warm brown that she had grown used to.

With Sir Integra went the upper echelons of the round table, Walter and Major Ferguson. The families followed and then came the rank and file. She had been surprised that Jane had not been with Josh, and she hadn't spotted her amongst the families either. Eventually she found her standing right at the back, wearing an unfamiliar uniform decorated with badges that clearly weren't Hellsing issue. Her attention changed course as they began to move and when she looked again – Jane was gone.

Joshua hated funerals. He hated the hidden hypocrisy of it all as the dead were lauded and praised, often by the same people that had spoken ill of them at other times. He hated the formality of it all, stiff and stilted and most of all he hated that he had lost someone that was close to him.

Major Ferguson stiffened as he saw Jane at the back wearing her old uniform. She had every right to it – her discharge from service had been honourable. Despite the efforts and sacrifices that had earned her badges, the fact that she was representing a rank that had not been given through Hellsing service, made him uncomfortable.

Jane kept her expression impassive as Ferguson went past, disapproval showing in every line of his posture. She knew it riled him that she had rank – even if it was retired, and irregular to boot. It had been a hard decision to pull the uniform out of the closet – but in the end she felt it was the best way to show her respect to the fallen – especially to Tim.

The mass of humanity moved through the chapel grounds and towards the mansion itself. There were still the inevitable rounds of tea and condolences that always followed any funeral, and Josh was dreading every moment of it. So he decided to silently decline and as the group moved along, he unobtrusively managed to slip to the rear and vanish silently into the surrounding shrubbery. His skilful departure went completely unnoticed, except by one person.

Seras had managed to manoeuvre herself to the back of the crowd as they left, and was still standing in the chapel doorway. Reluctant to call attention to herself by using an umbrella to walk with the crowd, she had planned on taking the passageway back to the mansion where she could move around inside, away from the sun. She knew that one day the sun would stop being a danger and downgrade itself to a mere pest, but she wasn't there yet. So she was in the perfect position to watch Josh as he vanished into the gardens. Grabbing the umbrella after all, she dashed into the gardens herself, relying on her senses to point her in the right direction.

Walter was pleased to see that his instructions had been followed to the letter and he seamlessly inserted himself into the staff and slipped once more into his role as butler. He was never still, always moving, always making sure that nothing, not even biscuit crumbs would smudge the name of Hellsing.

Integra had managed to shake off the sycophants of the round table and was standing in a dim corner, quietly smoking and watching the people. She was aware that Alucard was behind her, somehow invisible to the guests and so she wasn't startled when he spoke.

"It's so odd watching humans with their grieving rituals."

"I heard that you derided Seras for attending."

"She's still trying to keep some part of herself human; she'll lose it as time passes goes by."

Integra gave an unladylike snort and said:

"You old hypocrite – you spent the entire service under the chapel yourself."

"Touché`"

Integra drew deeply on her cigar in satisfaction and after she had exhaled the small cloud, said to him:

"You may not need to sleep but I suggest that you get yourself back to the basement to rest, and take your little fledgling with you – she does need to sleep and I need both of you wide awake tonight. There are things we need to discuss."

With the last words, she strode towards the crowd, not waiting for a reply.

Josh was heading along the garden wall, making for the main gate where he was hoping to get a ride, when he heard footsteps running along behind him. He turned to see Seras charging up, hiding under a black, oversized umbrella. He stopped and waited for her to catch up.

"Josh, are you leaving?" was the first thing she said as she reached him.

"Yeah." He nodded. "I really don't do the whole tea and condolence thing."

"I know what you mean."

He didn't quite know what to say and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Shouldn't you be asleep by now?"

"Make me sound like a two year old why don't you?" she said sourly. "I wanted to come to the service. And I wanted to check in with you."

He gave her that warm smile that she was becoming so used to and said:

"I appreciate the concern, I'm fine. How about you? That was a lot to take in at short notice."

Seras was surprised that he was concerned for her and she blushed, saying softly:

"I'm fine too."

They stood looking at each other, unsure of what to say next, because they were both lying about being fine and neither wanted to call the other's bluff. Their standoff could have gone on for an age when Seras' eyes opened wide and she jerked as being pinched.

"What's wrong?"

"My master is calling."

"Ah." He said, with a tinge of disappointment in his tone. "I was hoping to talk to you – I promised you an explanation."

"Maybe I could meet you at the workshop tonight?"

"Not there. How about coming to the flat?"

She blushed again and then said:

"Wouldn't I be disturbing you and Jane?"

Josh snorted and replied.

"She hasn't been home for days now. She's been camping out in her workshop, working. She only came in this morning to get her uniform. Trust me, she won't be there."

"Oh, okay. Well, if I can get away then I'll come. What's your address?"

As Josh was scribbling on a scrap of paper, a disembodied voice boomed out.

"Seras, kindly finish with the flirting and get downstairs!"

Both of them cringed and she snatched up the paper, and ran off, her cheeks the same colour as her master's coat. Josh headed off in the opposite direction, his face nearly the same colour.

Deep in the basement, Alucard grinned at his handiwork and settled back into his coffin. His master was right, he didn't need to sleep, but it was sometimes nice to just lie in silken comfort and let his mind wander. At the moment he was thinking about the new Joshua model that had been delivered the day before. It had always been a fine weapon, but now fitted for his left hand, and re-machined in superior metals, it was truly a nice gun to use. And if a make-over of his old one felt good, he was becoming truly curious about what the new one was going to be like.