Chapter 3
The next week was one of the worst in Akiko's life. In order to officially become part of Hellsing, she had to be combat ready, even if she was supposed to only work on their computers. If she wasn't working on recovering the data she stole and updating Hellsing's software, she was at the gun range with Alucard learning how to shoot, or she was in the gym with Seras learning hand to hand combat, or she was in an obstacle course that left her with mud all over herself in places she didn't want to think about. And Sir Integra Hellsing was no help, she had no sympathy for the young hacker at all, holding over her head the fact that she could be considered an 'enemy subversive' for hacking Hellsing which meant that Sir Integra could have her killed at her discretion.
After yet another grueling exercise on the actual seventh day of her joining Hellsing she headed straight for the showers, her body covered in mud and bruises. As the hot water soothed her sore body, she could only think to herself, Why me? She heard someone enter and saw that it was Seras Victoria. The blonde vampire girl was covered in blood and looked like something from a horror movie, appropriate considering what she was. "Rough day?" Akiko asked as Seras took the showerhead next to hers. Seras looked down as she said, "There was a family, a gay couple and their four adopted kids. A vampire turned a little girl, and tricked them into taking her in. The little girl vampire killed the dads and turned their kids.
"I…had to put them down before I could get at the bitch that turned them," Seras said, anger and sadness in equal measure were in her voice. Akiko swallowed and thought about all the times Seras beat her when they sparred. Every time she landed a blow or got her in a lock, she'd tell her, 'You're dead'. Akiko had thought that she had only been mean, that everyone was being hard on her for no reason. But after hearing Seras' story, she was starting to realize how serious the Hellsing Organization's mission really was.
"Is that why Sir Hellsing is such a hardass?" she asked Seras. Seras nodded, "Look, I know she's been hard on you, but look at things from her point of view. She is responsible for millions of lives. Ordinary soldiers, unless they get very lucky, die in droves against vampires, and she only has two agents who consistently survive against them. She's struggling to keep this Organization afloat, and in comes some random woman stealing valuable data for God only knows who. To be honest, I was surprised that she let you join at all."
Akiko thought it over, "I guess she really wanted someone who knows computers on her team." The two of them were quiet, focusing only on getting clean and drying off. Akiko and Seras headed for the dungeon. There were enough rooms that Akiko could take one next to Alucard's. She quickly got dressed in her pajamas and did a little cooldown stretches. She heard a knock on her door and said, "Who is it?" An unmistakably deep voice said, "It's me." Akiko opened the door and barely recognized Alucard on the other side. She had never seen him without his sunglasses and fedora, the effect when he wasn't wearing them was…mesmerizing. "Ahem," Alucard cleared his throat, making the kitsune realize that she was staring at him. She was blushing as she let him into her room, and he took the only chair in a corner. "So…uhh…what can I do for you?" Akiko managed to ask. The vampire said, "I'm curious about you and your kind. I've been away on missions, and I don't enjoy walking in the daylight, so I've never had a chance to talk to you aside from your training before."
"Oh…well then, ask away," Akiko told him. "Tell me about your kind, how did you come to be? What powers do you possess? And finally, why are you so far away from home?" Akiko nodded and started, "You need to understand, there are two kinds of kitsune in Japan. There are the zenko, good foxes who help and protect humans, and the yako, mischievous foxes that trick and steal from humans, sometimes even kill them. I am from a family of Yako. I don't know if this is true, but I was taught that the very first kitsune came about when a fox survived one-hundred years, and gained the wisdom and intelligence of a human. He used this to learn magic from the gods and spirits of Japan, granting him many magical abilities.
"The First Fox shared his knowledge with his kind, and many more kitsune were created over the centuries until they were naturally born. For every hundred years a kitsune lives, they gain another tail, and if they live a thousand-years they will gain a ninth tail and become Kyuubi no Kitsune, turning their fur pure white, and they become all knowing, like a god. Now, as for a kitsune's powers: I can shapeshift, but I can only assume a human form and my fox form, I'm only twenty-five, I won't be able to do more until I'm fifty. I can do small illusions, but nothing too great, as you probably figured out. That's the extent of my powers I'm afraid. Other kitsune can transform freely, look like anyone they want, they can fly, cast fox fire or even lightning, enter your dreams, become invisible, I've even heard legends of some powerful kitsune who could bend time and space to their will. That's all I know about powers."
The No-Life King nodded at all of this, looking at her as she spoke like she was the most fascinating thing he had ever encountered. Akiko then stopped and said, "I don't think I know you enough to get personal right now." Alucard stared at her for a minute, not moving, blinking, or even breathing Akiko realized, reminding her that he was indeed a vampire, no matter how handsome he was. "Family troubles then?" Alucard asked. "Something like that," Akiko said, "And I'm not saying anymore." Alucard nodded at this and got up to leave. "Um…" Akiko tried to think of what she could say, then tried something off the top of her head, "Are you busy, tonight?" The vampire answered, "I will have to ask my Master before I may leave the grounds. Another night would be best." With this he left, leaving Akiko wondering about his relationship with Sir Integra, and her own place in the Hellsing Organization.