Chapter 11 "Start of Something Bigger"

I woke up in a heavy sweat, dreaming of memories I struggled to repress for years. A marshy swamp with faded dark grey moss-covered the muddy landscape as well a large trees with exposed roots so big that they could hide a fully grown man. My skin was annoyed because of the hardening mud that covered patches of my skin and clothes but I was to busy firing my lever-action repeater as fast as possible, trying to ignore the nearly headless corpse of the very subordinate that I took the rifle from. I repeated over and over again for the non-chakra fighters to keep moving but maintain a loose circle around the encampment. While the chakra-users would do their best to reinforce walls, eliminate groupings of enemies or assist the riflemen. But these pieces of shit were "subconsciously" backing away from the front lines as the fighting continued. If it wasn't for my squad, who forced them back in formation, we'd be dead by now. I thought angrily as I turned to my right to estimate how many soldiers were left standing after the last volley of lightning ninjutsu and instead saw one of my closest friends twitching on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds and burns covering their torso. Horrified I heard a I humans sound that resembled only one other sound I ever heard. I turned to meet the origin of the sound, grit my teeth and tossed the rifle aside before pressing the button attached to my team radio and yelled, "Phalanx Formation! Remember to go for the joints! We got an Artificial Tailed Beast coming in!

I shook my head to dismiss such thoughts when I noticed a foul smell in my mouth and nose. A smell that resembled rotten milk and caused me to leap from bed to gag into a trash can. I looked around with watery eyes and noticed that Katsuye had decided to sleep beside me and was looking at me with concern. I suddenly felt the familiar sensation that preceded when I had to vomit and fell to my knees in preparation. I felt like something was wriggling in my stomach causing a huge sense of violation and fear to come over me. . With one last painful lurch the wriggling substance emerged from my stomach, I identified it as human flesh. Dark grey skin that coated deep purple flesh, the worst part was that the flesh wiggled as if still attached to a living organism. I ordered Katsuye to retrieve Walter, Integra or Alucard, I had to know the after effects of eating ghoul flesh. I cleaned my chin as I noticed how sore my body was with a shiver, especially my limb joints and spine, I guess the human bone structure isn't prepared to run on four legs at high speeds, who knew. I sat on the floor as I felt that my spine of all things was going to give out from the exhaustion and breathed deeply as I tried to look for something to direct my mind's eye to anything besides my aching body. "I feel like shit…I better not turn into a Ghoul or something…" I muttered out loud only to notice I got a yip in response. I looked between my legs and saw Miso's little head popped out from under my bed. I assume he slept on the floor and wanted to see what was going on or just fell asleep under the bed. "ugh…hello Miso." He gave the animalistic equivalent of a smile and replied with a high pitch squeak. I noticed red sores along the top of my right forearm as I sat with my legs crossed and immediately hissed in pain. The outer side of my right leg had similar sores, I got sores like this after that battle I had just dreamed of, I was told they appeared because I stayed in bed all day recovering for several weeks. "How long have I been out? I just remember…winning…no details just that I did what I had to do. Damn it! I don't hear Katsuye at all, she should be back by now." I wheezed out before searching my desk for a calendar or something, I didn't even know what the words for the days of the week are in this language or how their timetable works at all. I heard quick, light footsteps bolt down the hallway before Katsuye reappeared with a wet washcloth and plopped it on the back of my neck before turning the ceiling fan up a notch. "Only the older blonde woman and the servant are hear, the hollow ones aren't. I don't know why because you sent the person that I doesn't speak their language you idiot." She said while she rubbed dust from a watery eye. I shook off the insult as I replied, "Older one is named Integra. Butler is Walter. The male vampire is named Alucard and the female, Seras. Sorry I was throwing up ghoul so I couldn't hold you hand, dear." She let out a small laugh. I thought silently to myself with my small moment of respite from the abdominal cramps. "I wonder where they are."

Earlier That Morning

I woke up a bit groggy and my eyes burned, as if some dust got stuck in them as I slept. I angrilly threw my comforter to the floor and walked to the small, some what rusty sink by the corner of my room. I I turned the flimsy handle and water flew from faucet in an awkward matter, it seemed the old spout was corroded since water spew from it in an irregular spread. Causing the hem of my shirt to become wet, thoroughly waking me up as well as pissing me off. The liquid caused my flesh to become irritated and feel like it was being eaten away slowly, I hurriedly removed my shirt as well as using the dry bit to absorb the water. Frustrated, I then threw the garnet on he ground before leaning against the sink, staring at the light emanating from the cellar style window on the far wall. "I can't even touch water..." I said solemnly before letting out a dry laugh. Figures...I kinda knew that the sun would be a problem to get used from now on and so would the need for blood "I can't even pretend to be normal anymore huh…I can't even bathe…how is a vampire supposed to blend in with humans if they smell so bad all the time. " I mumbled before one last morbid thought crossed my mind. "Maybe I shouldn't have let myself turn into this. I'm a monster now...if anyone I ever knew found out what I was...oh yeah they're all dead. Well...if anyone found out they'd sic the cops on me and eventually I'd end up dead one way or another." I thought fidgeting with my hair in anger as a small tear streak leaked from my right eye. I was knocked out of my daze by a small knocking sound. I looked to my door and saw a concerned Walter opening my door just enough to stick his head through, he was looking at the wall and didn't look at me directly. "Pardon my intrusion, Ms. Victoria. You have been summoned by Ms. Integra to come to Mr. Uzumaki's room." He said in his usual aloof, but kind, polite tone. I wiped my face and stretched my arms before responding. "Ok. I'll be up there in a couple of minutes, I got to get dressed." I said moving toward the top drawer of the small dresser. "Alright then, I'll let Ms. Integra know and by the way, I don't think you made a mistake, . If you weren't here we all could have died yesterday. Please try to remember that when you debate on why you live." He replied with a smile before slowly pulling the doorknob and disappearing slowly. Saying one last thing that had a somewhat unfitting and dark for him. "If you refuse to drink life blood, or your inferior blood packs, you will become no better than a ghoul. Don't act so petty and cause such a thing to happen." I literally swallowed hard in fear, something I though was a ridiculous cartoon trope but the most terrifying part of the matter was what caused it wasn't Walter's cold demeanor. The mere mention of the word blood causing me to feel a writhing pain settle in my stomach, I felt like I was starving and dehydrated at the same time. "I guess I'll head over the medical room then and raid the fridge. I got to accept this eventually." I said with a determined look, not noticing a large figure appear over my shoulder. "First word of sense you've uttered in a while, Police Girl." Alucard stated happily, well as happily as that monstrous voice could sound. "T-thank you, Master! How've you been?" I said in a wavering tone, I still haven't gotten used to the whole transporting through shadows and walls thing. "Very good, it seems the weak blooded idiots that invaded the mansion though a mere 50 armored ghouls could get rid of me. I'd rip them apart for such a blatant insult but it seems you and Whiskers did that in my stead..." He said in a voice that obvious held alternative ideas but were well hidden. I physically flinched at his words, expecting a harsh chiding was imminent. "You may make a decent Draculina at some point after all." He said with an emotionless face. While others may this offense I was...happy for a lack of a better word. I didn't disappoint my master and for some reason that brought me joy and this emotionless face was the most serene I had ever seen him to boot. "As soon as you decide to drop this little rebellious tirade and drink someone's lifeblood maybe you should learn a thing or too about close quarters combat as well. I won't have any thrall of mine be so weak." He said in a dignified and instructive manner causing me to give him a pouty face. All of a sudden Integra herself busted in the room, which was rare as usually Walter summoned us to her office. "That fool revealed they relocated a battalion of Nazis to Brazil shortly after the end of the great war. You two are going to the country's capital city, Rio de Janeiro, and looking for any possible rumors of their whereabouts. You two will leave in the afternoon so get up and get dressed. This is a scouting mission, do your best not to be discovered and you are allowed to use whatever release states you wish for the given circumstances. Master grin he had shrunk to a neutral face upon hearing he had to stay in the shadows but nonetheless he bowed at her feet and said, "You wishes are my actions, Master. We will need to think of a way to transport the Police Girl since she is in such a sorry state." I scoffed, not getting what the big deal was. Well actually one of the problems of being a vampire that refuses to drink blood like I am is that it is very hard for us to cross natural sources of water like the ocean. But sleeping on the soil of the vampire's native land should preserve a starving vampire's remaining strength and most do so on trips by taking it with them. But that doesn't matter at all right? I mean that's an old…

I sighed as I struggled to control my panic attack caused by being stuck in a mud-filled, from my swampy ass home village, coffin sealed by chains and stuck in a plane….in the air. I began to pray silently. "I'm sorry for being a vampire, God. So please…"

"GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

Present Time

"Well at any rate I can't just sit here and cry about my tummy. Give me some help and Miso you better come too. I got a weird feeling." I said before reaching an arm out for Katsuye to assist me, which she did immediately. We made it a couple of feet down the hallway before we ran into Walter who had come to check on me since Katsuye must have obviously try to tell them something. "Mr. Uzumaki, I'm happy to see you up and moving around." He said in a rather cheerful tone. "I threw up and found ghoul meat in the bile. What happens now?" I asked as I struggled to hold in my no doubt smelly burp that was assaulting me. "You should have died by now then. Perhaps your…demon helped you." I nodded to the negative. "He can't really help with poison, that's up to my nervous system. It must be my Uzumaki blood that's keeping me alive. Well at least I can assume I'll get better. How long have I been out? Where's Seras?" I asked. "Brazil." He answered quickly. I looked at him with a puzzled expression. "A country on another continent they were sent for information gathering but the enemy revealed itself and instigated an attack from the local police. They're fine. You've been out for over four days." My eyes widened. "Integra wants to see you." I looked at my vomit stained, white T-shirt and noticed my stomach pains had died down and I knew why. "Let me get changed and get rid of the leftover ghoul flesh. I'll be up there in five minutes." I replied, Walter agreed without skipping a beat and walked back the way he came. I had Kat walk me to my room and let Miso in before telling her to wait outside. She began to protest but she then realized she'd just get a snappy response so she relented. I ripped my shirt and pants but decided my underwear on for now until I take a shower later. I slipped on another pair of black slacks, a belt, boots and a black undershirt. I then walked out with my yellow dress shirt and tie over my shoulder heading to the nearest bathroom. Katsuye followed me all the way to the door until she realized what the room was and she leant against the nearby wall with a growl, causing me to giggle. I walked up to the nearest stall and immediately poked a finger down my throat and I felt the familiar lurch I felt minutes earlier. After emptying the contents of my stomach I felt much better within a minute or two. I grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser and cleaned the remnants of the vomit off my chin. I then washed my hands before washing my face and wiping sweat created by my troubling dreams from my brow. After drying the limbs I put on my shirt and tie hurriedly as I exited the restroom, grabbing Kat's hand and leading her towards Integra's office. "Let's go. Miso, come." I stated. Upon arriving at my boss's office I was met with the sight of Integra dressed and ready to go out on the town apparently. "Good to see you're ready to go. I'll explain current events in detail along the way to the royal palace." I frowned. "We're going to see the Emperor?" I asked causing her to laugh. "No. The Queen." I stepped to the side to allow the pair to walk past me only to see two of Pip's had walked up behind me at some point. "Another car ride? Wheee..." I said in a monotone voice.

20 Minutes Later

"Finally...I never thought I'd miss cold, clammy old Britain! Brazil is too bloody hot for me!" I exclaimed as I made sure my extra under shirt I got fit properly, the other was stained from the dirt, mud, ridden coffin I stayed in. "Yes, the climate here is quite enjoyable but Brazil has its own merits as well, Police Girl. And you Bernadotte, what do you thing of our fair country?" Master asked the Frenchman, not that I cared, the answer was practically redundant. "It's nice for a soggy boot but the people are a bit stale compared to back home." He said. I laughed it off as we walked toward the ride waiting for the Master and I as Pip had his own ugly brown truck he insisted to bring. I entered the car quickly after he held open my door. "Yeah the people don't smell enough, right?" His curses were cut off by my slamming the door with a giggle. My Master let out a laugh of his own before ordering the driver to get moving. If I knew the destination I probably would've bothered to shower on the plane.

Sir Hugh Irons' Residence

"Why is everyone here so needy. I swear if one of these freaking whites isn't complaining and fussing over something they'll die." Yumie growled mentally causing her "friend" to gasp. "That's extremely offensive Yumie and hating others is a sin." I retorted as she crossed her legs on her seat, fidgeting uncomfortably. A nervous tic from her childhood that decided to stick way past it's welcome. "At least we learned to stop say itadakimasu before every meal, that was retarded." Yumie chimed in once more. "Our culture isn't retarded Yumie. It's what makes us what we are." I said in a slightly sterner tone of voice, an uncharacteristic action for my timid self. Yumie dropped the discussion after that and I was able to return my attention the hallway bustling with people dressed in pressed, dark clothing. "Servants." I muttered, catching Heinkel's attention. "You say something?" She asked, lowering her bagel from her mouth. I nodded my head no. "Why are we even here? We have enough manpower to take a country and these freaks haven't even spilled blood on believer's soil! Who cares if these heretics burn?" Heinkel said in a groggy, tired voice. I jumped when somebody plopped down in the seat next to Heinkel with a content sigh. " I agree but ya wrong about the first part. Your guys' part of Ireland got hit too, Alexander got the vampire and we got the ghouls. There was too many for one and didn't die with him." I informed her. Her normally aloof visage became a bit more serious and she just looked down and kept eating her bagel. "Eh? I expected a fight but it's good to you see you two have some sense. I'm too tired for that crap anyway." He said rubbing his closed eyes before stretching. "I gotta go take a shit. Bye." The Hellsing agent said before rising quickly and walking as quickly as possible one way. I just sat with my jaw dropped. "That guy is fucking nuts." Yumie, my second personality exclaimed in a rather sincere voice. I just nodded and leant back further in the uncomfortable chair keeping an eye on Maxwell, grateful for the moment of respite from Yumie's incessant comments on everyone. "Some of his hair is slipping out of his ponytail…looks like he just woke the fuck up. Why does he get to be in charge if he can't even keep from looking like an idiot?" Yumie said, starting a rant in my head. I sighed heavily, and muttered. "Nevermind."

I was lead into a wide open room with a long table in the middle and a throne of sorts of the far side of the room. But given the number of chairs, the long table seemed unnecessarily long. All the seats were filled I recognized most of the faces from the conference on the night of the Valentine assault noticing the looks Katsuye and Miso had. Since one was dressed in a black, untucked oversized dress short and leather pants while the other was a giant fox I decided to tell them to wait outside with the residence's security. I then walked over to the wall behind Integra and leant against it beside Walter. "Who are these guys." I asked looking at the ages faces of the suited men. "These people are members of the Round Table, people that run the country for the Queen. The man at the head of table is Sir Irons, the owner of this mansion and one of the people that are in charge of making major military decisions. Ms. Integra is the head of the organization." I nodded before noticing movement by the door in my peripheral vision. It was Seras, Alucard and Pip. "Looks who's up and moving around causing a ruckus. How you feeling?" Pip asked before leaning on the wall beside me with his arms crossed. I shrugged and he nodded. "I've been there before. Took half of the pellets from a 12 gauge in the shoulder and got knocked out for weeks. You woke up disorient, aching and with a raging tentpole didn't ya?" He said in a hushed tone causing me nodded until he got to the last part. I laughed but noticed Seras had a strange look on her face that resembled guilt of some sort. "Can we talk later?" She asked. I nodded. "I Don't remember much about the fight I need you to fill me in on the details." I responded. "Hopefully somebody's getting filled. HEY-OH!" Pip added elbowing Seras' shoulder. She just gave him a red eyed glare before her eyes returned to their cerulean color and stared at the table. I snapped out of sociable mode and let my battle bred blood do its job. I mentally listed strategic factors. "We are in an allies residence, filled with guards. Unknown if they are any hired mercenaries, formal military or volunteers. Dependable? Unknown. I am armed with a dozen kunai, thirty shuriken plus my adder and three magazines. Halls are wide with column like stilts along longer hallways, can cover approximately two men from small arms fire. Area of effect ninjutsu and explosives would be dangerous. I should probably only use wind this time, ice is too taxing, water gives an unwarranted environmental factor that affects unit stability and fire could break these old walls. Though shockwaves could be equally as devastating. Iscariot has three guards for their representative, we have five including me and the other members of the Round Table have none. That can be seen. Do they assume we will protect them?" I pondered. Saying the last sentence to Walter. He looked confused. "The other Round Table members don't have any guards present. The waiting staffing obviously are armed and trained but that isn't the same." Walter just looked at me surprised. "They don't need it. This place technically doesn't exist. Even military surveillance drones are not to see this estate on their cameras. What did you mean about the wait staff be- " Walter started before a man in red clothing, navy blue pants and absurdly large black fur-lined hat came and made an announcement. "All rise in presence of her Majesty." All the people in the room stood at attention and I even heard Seras and Pip make a small squeak of surprise. I hesitantly stood as well. A small frail woman wearing a white, frilly dress and bearing a shining, silver crown entered the room and took her place on the throne. All but the Iscariot members and I bowed. An outraged Integra berated us with Alucard, who entered the room quite dramatically at her side. "Who are you not to bow in her Majesty's presence!?" Alexander stepped forward and said, "Our Lord is the only true ruler in this world, all others are merely blessed with being born to lucky parents." She scoffed as Maxwell clapped before turning to me. "And you?" A certain female's blank mask and Shimura's smirk as he was seated at the head of the Unification Day parade filled me with bitterness. I then thought of the insignia on my belt, a fan with the Uzumaki spiral emblazoned on it colored burnt orange and white. "I bow to no one." I said coldly before leaning against the wall once more. Integra looked kinda like broken. Sat there with her mouth agape and a hard blush. I found it actually somewhat cute but I'd never say so and if I did here she'd have Alucard kill me for sure. Alucard laughed hard before stepping forward and kneeling at the Queen's feet before kissing her hand. Explaining that I was a dumbass that doesn't know his place before whispering some flirtatious banter I didn't care so I tuned it out. After the customary worthless greetings were over and one the meeting truly began. All incidents suspected to involve this new organization were accounted for and why they were a threat was mentioned. Integra, with a her composure reconfigured, cleared her throat to speak. "The biggest threats of this organization, dubbed Millennium by Jan Valentine in his final moments, is that they are able to send agents anywhere undetected by traditional law enforcement and infect people with a vampire strain that can turn anyone into ghouls regardless of virginity and gender. If one of these altered vampires was to infect multiple people in a large populace, like London or Dublin, we'd have a potential epidemic on our hands. We must use all contacts, resources and search through our information archives for the smallest hint of who these people are and what there motives may be." Maxwell cleared his throat and removed multiple folders, containing a multitude of documents. "We had some scribes search the records and came up with something you impulsive, disgusting heretics would never have discovered. We knew Millennium's location because we are the one who provided them safe passage! But...alas, negotiations have broken down so we are prepared to give you the number of troops, weapons and higher ranked officers in their organization. The fools didn't think we'd log ever single resource they have and what materials they have received for the last couple of decades." Integra's eyes narrowed. "She is unsure if he can be trusted?" I whispered to Walter. "No. She is cautious of what he'd want in return. The man is insane." He replied just as quietly. "What do you want in return for this information Maxwell." Integra asked with her fingers locked and her elbows resting on the table. "Nothing...Millennium must be sto-" Maxwell started before a loud crack resonated through the air as Maxwell's head exploded as another Round Table remember received a bullet wound to the chest simultaneously. I drew my pistol, aiming towards the door of the wall where the gunshots originated, forced Seras and Pip to the ground. I then got in front of Integra and roughly brought her to the ground as well I turned to see Alexander was by Maxwell's side kneeling. I tuned out Integra's indignant screaming staring at Alexander. I heard movement behind me and turned to see it was only a servant who appeared to be a teenage boy, 14 at the oldest. Seeing he was no threat it turned only to hear a click and reflexively turn back around with a kunai positioned under his throat, his strangely shaped pistol inches from Integra's head. "You got me! I surrender." He said as all the waiting staff withdrew weapons attached beneath their serving trays. Integra rose to her full height and straightened her jacket, unafraid, as a young woman with lower back length blue-black hair walked into the room with an archaic flintlock rifle in her hands. My eyes narrowed. "You guys Millennium?" I asked. The boy nodded readily as he removed the cap from his head, revealing...cat ears? "Yes and since we failed to kill all of you it looks like we have to make this messy." He said as he made a gesture. A waiter with a push cart nodded and moved to remove the cloth revealing a TV set. He then turned it on and the blank display cut to a slight overweight man with pale skin, blonde hair and green eyes. He spoke with an accent similar to the boy. Speaking of the boy I turned to watch him only to see him flirting, and failing at doing so, with Seras. He may look like some kid but I could tell from the way he seemed excited by mentioning killing us that he was disturbed. With a scowl I stopped paying attention to the man on the monitor and tapped on the kids shoulder. "What's your name." He held his hand out saying happily, "Schrodinger. Why'd you want to know? Interested...?" He stared insinuating something as he got closer to my chest placing a hand against it. That actually made me smile and laugh. "I am not necessarily against that idea but I think your mom hates my dad. We can't do this sweetie." I said pointing towards Integra and the heavyset man before flicking his left ear, making him take a couple of steps back. He laughed and walked past me. "I'll see you in the battlefield yes?" I nodded with my pistol still trained on his head. It seemed right about then the major finished his spiel and Integra was done with this shit. She looked at Alucard and he stepped in front of the queen before she look met over at the guys and I. I immediately got the message, "Clear the room." I emptied the magazine of my Adder into multiple staff members only to see they had no effect. Alexander charged with his bayonets at the ready. "They're vampires!" I frowned tossing aside my weapons and gathered chakra before doing a couple of hand seals. "Wind Style: Tempest Stream!" I shouted before ghastly sky blue chakra appeared in between my hands, I spread my hands to either side of my body and the stream grew longer and wider at the ends. Resembling a double-bladed sugar cane knife I made a punch like motion I the direction of some vampires and grinned as the stream struck forth like a snake and sliced a vampire's upper portion of his head in two. I frowned at the amount of chakra being used for poor results. "Back up." I said before calling back the wind and shaping it in a crescent moon shape I did more hand seals and used the Dragon Flame Jutsu, which used to light objects but not attack, with a little chakra and the crescent burst into flames. I gathered raw chakra into my fists and pushed the burning half circle with my open palms yelling, "Scorch Style: Harvesting Crescent." The the burning wave expanded from the increase in oxygen as it reached the other side of the room and managed to hit and decapitate most of the waiting staff. All of the people in the room where rather quiet, I guess a Jutsu is never common place in a world without it. The only enemy left began to cheer at my performance, I turned to see Schrodinger jumping up and down excited about my combination jutsu. I began to wonder how we were going to deal with him but Seras decided that for everybody, she swiped Pip's pistol from him and unloaded several rounds into the back of his head and neck. The kid having been dealt with I turned to Integra and lowered my head. "Int-…Ms. Hellsing, I apologize if my actions cause you any distress or humiliation. I merely wanted to ensure you weren't hurt. I accept any and all punishments once we are back at the estate safely." I said, she kept her statuesque visage and shooed me back to my position by the wall. The Queen beckoned the remaining members of the table to listen. "Destroy them. These type of people can't and won't be negotiated with. We lost many young souls to the mortal monsters that these parasites sprung up from like some rash, we will not allow it to spread and kill our country. Show no hesitation nor mercy." The Queen ordered before giving her deceptively sweet smile. I shrugged. "I like her a bit more now." Causing Pip to laugh and Seras to face palm.

Back at the Hellsing Estate

I was back in my room, my uniform was on the ground scattered across the floor. Katsuye and Miso were sleeping in my bed since it was in the late hours of the night. However I wasn't with them, I was standing in front of my dresser, staring into the mirror with my Sharingan activated, to improve my night vision. I had all my clothes except my underwear…including my mask. After my father's demise my mother ordered me to wear a mask that was unladen with seals to hide my true, more animalistic, appearance which was altered upon my becoming a Jinchuriki. At birth I had blue eyes, light blonde hair and light whiskers but after the sealing my skin became paler, my hair became unruly, my eyes a much darker shade of blue, almost black and my whiskers became thick, dark brown lines along my cheekbones. But now…I stared at the gnarled white flesh in between dark brown and yellowed flesh that was uneven, where their brands were pressed to my flesh. Some of the flesh between brands was still purple or red, displaying the fact that the tissues underneath were ruptured from the extreme heat. My face was the worst off, around my forehead they thought I'd be funny to make me more similar to my namesake so they heated the iron mold for barbed wire and pressed it around my head, forming the imprint of a crown of man-made thorns. Multiple characters meaning curse and even…product labels were also embroidered on my face. A small snake coiled and prepared to strike was burnt into the side of my neck. I…can't describe all of them, even mentally, there are to many to count to many. I swallowed hard, closing my eyes. "Damnit…I need to get stronger…fast. If they did this to me I can't imagine what they'd do to the others. I need to quit playing lap dog and find a way back. No matter what…" I said aloud. I should probably try to reassure myself, think of the positives and all that. "…Least they didn't neuter me…that'd suck. Haha." I muttered. I then felt a small tug in my stomach and looked there in the mirror to see the little tomoe with a spiral that represented the seal for the nine tails appeared shining brightly as if it were drawn of flames. I sat down on the floor with my feet crossed and closed my eyes, letting go of my surroundings. I was back in my inner realm. This time I appeared near some hot springs with the same orange tinted liquid in them. Suddenly a louder hiss rose from the ground as multiple geysers went off, spraying boiling water and steam everywhere. The mist collected in the middle of the hot spring and formed the outline of a number of large fox tails with the only other manifestation being two eyes made of boiling water in the center of the tails penetrating the mist with the light reflecting the moonlight shining from within them. "How are you holding up, Kirisuto?" Kurama asked me before gesturing to enter the hot spring with his head. I shrugged and gave in, kicking off my boxers and entering the spring. After all I wasn't really skinny dipping, it was all in my mind. "Alright just…kinda in shock still. Haven't gotten a good look at myself yet." I replied as I laid back in the shallower end of the spring and wetting my hair and ears. "Do you trust your new companions?" He asked next. "I trust Seras. The rest have ulterior motives for being here and strong personalities. Bad, untrustworthy combination." I sat back with a sigh. I smiled lightly though. "They won't hurt us though, they have good souls…I don't belong here…" I said softly. Most people would've said that I was speaking nonsense and reassure me but Kurama didn't believe in lying. Kurama thought that the cold, hard truth was necessary to sober people up every once in a while so he stayed silent. With that said I stood up and said goodbye. Kurama made a affirming noise and I was immediately kicked out of my inner realm. Tired, I climbed back in bed. Miso was in the middle of the bed leaning against me while Katsuye had her back to the wall, I wrapped an arm around miso and turned my back to the door with a yawn. "I guess I better review all the Fuinjutsu, sealing jutsu, stuff I learned from Dad and at school. With my mind made I slipped into sleep, never noticing that a certain section of my inner realm had been stained with dark violet and a part of my lower back had an ugly, bruise like mark. When I slipped into unconsciousness the discoloration came to life, turning bright red and spreading across my skin…

Chapter End