Chapter 13 "What Happened?"

A Month After Seras' Training Session

Seras leapt forward taking extraordinarily large strides as she made her way though the forest, eyes darting to the shadows cast by the tree. She was looking for leaf shadows that were filled in considerably, potentially revealing a human hiding. She punched the ground and a dark substance that was as fluid as water flowed across the ground and consumed the tree before constricting it, causing the wood to be cracked into pieces. "Heartbreak." Was all she muttered as she drew her arm back from soil and continued looking for her target: me.

"Come out! It'll be easier on you later." She yelled trying to call me out of using but I knew better. "Note to self. Don't train females you insult on a regular basis to the point where she is able beat you. . .badly. No matter how attractive it makes them." I thought to myself as I shifted my legs slightly to try and get feeling back in them before returning them back over the tree limb for camouflage. "Good thinking, Vicky." I thought with a snicker, it took a while to find the nickname that got under Seras' skin as badly as Whiskers did for me, cow tits was too on the nose and the rest were too shitty to mention. "The nerve of her, cow tits is actually a bit of a compliment when you stop and think about it. I relaxed and let my body release all tension, my mind started to hop around a mile a minute and my train of thought went insane. I eventually wondered how much authority and work do the police have here in England, judging from Seras' raw skill I'd guess not much and especially not if they don't even have military police. "Military police huh?" I muttered before reminiscing my own time as an officer remembering how often I criticized the philosophy of Konoha life all the time and complained like a child. "Oh yeah, I still do both of those things...I haven't really matured much at all now that I think about it. I matured early when I first fought in the war but that's it, no other "grand" step step in life like birthdays mattered much. The only excitement I felt came from movies, video-games or fighting. But the real world...is too boring and scary. I've spent a while around honest to god monsters and they are leagues ahead of most people in politeness than the common idiot walking down the street. " Were the words that flowed through my mind as I breathed shallowly, doing my best to be silent.

"Why'd they have to cut the grass today!" I whined mentally as I felt a drip of mucous slowly climb down the inside of my left nostril, torturously making my nervous system have a fit, overreacting to the rather simple stimulus. I tried to bear it since I had a high pain threshold but this wasn't the same, I'd been stabbed and burned, but this wasn't external, a reaction to a physical thing, my mind was flipping out and even I had to react. I rapidly scratched my nose, clearing the obstruction from my nostril with a happy sigh.

"Boo." Was the only warning I received before the limb I was rested on wilted away and devoured by a magical substance, causing me to fall to the ground. I stared up and was greeted with the sight of the fair-haired undead woman giving me a look that guaranteed death so I did what came naturally. I rose so I was rested on one knee and pulled something from boy pocket. Seras blushed at looked at me with a hard blush, "are you proposing to me!?" She asked with a shrill voice, not filled with malice but embarrassment. She then noticed my hands were empty and I held my arms open, as if asking for a hug and exclaimed. "Will you motorboat me?" She just stared forward, the dark substance surrounding her forearm dissipated from her lack of concentration giving me to escape or so I though. I jumped to my feet and sprinted throughout the forest, desperately trying to fight my way through the foliage to sanctuary. When the in erased amount of light from the tree line was feet from meeting my face I received a hard smack to the center of my back with the blunt side of her bladed Tonfas. I looked at the weapon that dealt my cursing blow with fear, they resembled short swords but had a small grip coming out of the handle of the blade at a horizontal angle. She held them by the horizontal grip and aligned the tips of the blades behind her, they wobbled to and for as she walked closer to me. I smiled and said. "You pass! Congratulations Seras it's time to stop now though." But she kept coming, showing no sign of slowing or acknowledging my words at all. She took a big step forward and kicked me in the face causing my Kage Bunshin, a clone that resembled me in every way except for my hardness...durability, to disappear in a puff of smoke.

I blinked quickly before shaking thoughts of a mud-covered boot sole attacking me before adjusting my grip on the barrel of the gun I was holding. I felt the hand of my instructor smack my back causing me to let out a small squeak. "What's wrong? Is this the first weapon you need help adjusting to?" He asked looking at the weapon he showed me, an AK-74U, a type of weapon known as an assault rifle, though u was told it was more like a hybrid of a assault rifle and a submachine gun. It was mostly black, had a nicely fitted stock but I couldn't help but think the magazine was shaped wrong. "No I like it, just had a weird thought to through my mind. I like this more than the L85A1 you showed me, rounds are a caliber more comfortable to me and easier to dual wield with a knife. Also it doesn't kick me like a woman." I explained causing him to laugh before noticing I was completely serious. About all of it. "You aren't exactly a ladies' man are you?" He said. "I'm nobody's man. I just work here." I said flatly before unloading half the magazine's worth of rounds into the cardboard target's would be heart and forehead with semi-automatic fire at an impressive pace. He visibly cringed at my words and follow up actions before looking at his watch. "Well those are the weapons we use most of the time and you learned about them inside and out. You learned about our Norinco Type 84Ss, L85A1s, AK-74Us, AK-74s which would you prefer we save for you on the battlefield?" He asked as he took out a small dirty notebook that could fit the average back pocket of a pair of jeans. "AK-74U and if you're out of those a regular AK or Norinco. If all you got left are L8s I'll just grab some rocks instead." I replied as I unloaded the rifle I tried out. He shrugged. "To each his own. Now I think I heard from Pip that Alucard wanted to see you." I nodded and thanked him for his instruction before retrieving my Adder from the nearby table and placed it in my holster along with my revolver in my other one. "Oh you're a fan of revolvers too?" He asked noticing my piece. I raised an eyebrow. "Revolvers are still I'm use?" I asked hiding my eagerness. "Yeah and while I'm not a fan, Pip is. He keeps a Single Action as a back up to this day." I nodded take in the info. "He may be a bit enigmatic but he has a good choice in weaponry. " I thought to myself as I briskly walked to my room to change my clothing. My day off was over as far a I was concerned.

I made sure my door was closed and locked upon entering my room. I ripped off my black T-shirt and light blue jeans before fighting to get my socks off. "I hate this brand, they always leave like half of a fucking sheep between my toes and stick to my feet!" I exclaimed as I cleared out said lint from between my big and middle toes. After that battle I debated mentally whether I should change my underwear, these grey boxers were comfortable but in a fight boxers are annoying. But briefs are like too small..."Boxer briefs it is then." I muttered before removing my underwear and throwing it into the pile of clothes in front of my closet. I pressed a hand against a seal on my chest and flared chakra into it as I grabbed a pair of black boxer briefs from a drawer. I made sure to catch the duffle bag that burst into existence as I finished pulling my underwear up to their proper place. I unzipped the bag and began removing the contents within. Multiple pairs of Shinobi leggings and muscle shirts, an assortment of ninja tools, armor and...my old mask. I grabbed the mask from the bag slowly, feeling the cold seeming emanating from the porcelain like material. It resembled a human face except with a mouth or nostrils, it was the basic shape but had no carvings besides the kanji for nine in the center. The filling was covered in red paint which contrasted with black stripes that adorned the cheeks and eyes. I placed the mask back on the bed along with my mask used to...hide my face. I put on the Shinobi clothes along with the armored shin and forearm guards and thigh armor with holsters attached to them. I then stared at the masks, one told everyone what I was...or at least what the soldiers saw me as and the other was the face the people saw, what they expected to see. A person with these eyes can't look like my dad. It'd make them feel bad for treating me this way. I can't look threatening with my face markings or let everyone see a my body that had been hardened for war only my pitch black eyes were allowed to be seen. A thin kid with black hair and eyes and short stature was all the people were allowed to see for their comfort. Because that was what they could make fun of, if I didn't look this way they might feel bad...how sad. With a sneer I tossed my fake face in the bag and grabbed my Nine mask before placing it on quickly. I decided that my hair color changing in five minutes may have a negative effect on the mental well being of the military personnel, so I made my hair appear black for their sake before exiting my room.

I stopped in my tracks immediately though, remembering something, I stared at the pair of swords I removed from inside my mattress with a strange expression. I felt a mixture of feelings whenever I remember Mom's sword now belonged to me. The purely objectively part of my mind was grateful to get my hands on a masterfully crafted blade but...my heart I guess broke when I thought of such things. I always viewed my Mom as all powerful and rightfully so, she was as great a fighter as Dad but...she lost. She was killed because we...I wasn't fast enough to protect her. No lying to myself about that, she could have lived and she didn't because- no FOR us. "Damn it." Were all the words I could muster to express all my grief and anger. She probably wasn't even buried, they most likely just threw away my mother like a rotten apple. "Well that is how they see us...not just my family...everyone that doesn't act progressive in their eyes, like Amaya." I exclaimed as I paced the room full of hatred. "As soon as I get out of here they will pay. It's what's right and until then my mother's blade won't kill anything but those weeds." I thought darkly as I hid the Kusanagi once more and placed my Ninjatō in one of my forearm seals. Then I reclaimed my composure, ensured my clothing were in proper order with a quick glance in my mirror before slowly closing the door to my room. I activated the seal I placed on Integra's bed frame and appeared in front of her door, not wanting to have to deal with anyone while my I was in the mood to fuck up bitches. I walked in and bowed lowly. "You wished to see me?" I asked before raising my head. If she was surprised by my drastic change in attire she refused to show it. I guess breathing fire makes a wardrobe change seem insignificant. "I am going to send you on a simple assassination mission. Do you accept? Can you take a break from training Seras to do this?" She asked as she pulled out a package. I nodded before saying, "I'll leave a shadow clone for every day I'm gone to train here. She'll be fine. I accept." She cut open the package with a letter opener and placed several papers on the desk. A blue print of a large, complex building that was larger than the Hellsing estate. Pictures of multiple men, women and children, all bearing almost translucent skin and burning red eyes. These weren't mugshots or family portraits, it seemed as if the photographer took them from high up. "They are vampires?" I asked causing the woman to nod. Eyeing the children once more I had to ask something. "Can Vampires breed? Give birth to other vampires?" She nodded to the negative. "A person must accept the blood of their own free will. An infant us unable to feel enough despair or even be able to answer the blood'a call. Vampires cannot bear children. These 'children' chose to become these monsters and are to be treated as such...will this be a problem?" She answered going into great detail to make sure I fully grasp the situation. I grimaced. "I have to kill kids again." I thought glumly. "No, Ma'am. Just don't like doing this again." I answered causing Integra's expectant look to falter. "Again?" I looked down, somewhat ashamed of my own country. "Shinobi first enter the battlefield around 12-13 years old as a Genin. Though they don't exclusively gift other Tweens. As an adult I had to kill a couple of Genin on missions. I know what's expected but I don't agree with it." I stated before taking the pictures. "But I'll do as you ask. If they are able to become these creatures they must have endured a lot of pain. So I'll end that agony. It's the least I can do." I explained before sitting down to hear the rest of the mission parameters such as location, climate and resistance.

After the briefing I was told to go to the garage of the estate where I was met by Walter. "You've come to see me off?" I asked as I walked up to him. "Not quite I've come bearing a gifts." He said before stepping aside showing me a rifle that was laid out on the rear end of a limo with care. "This is the Enfield complete with a suppresser, a high optic scope as well as iron sights. It's loaded with blessed, hollow point rounds so you can take out a couple of targets at a distance and, most importantly, quietly." He explained causing me to smirk as I walked closer to inspect the rifle. "I understood everything but the suppressor part, what is a suppressor?" I asked causing Walter to point to the fat cylinder attached to the end of the gun's barrel. "This attachment significantly lowers the sound of the gunshot and let's you be able to use the rifle and preserve the element of surprise at the trade off of range. I'd also recommend that you choose the distance and placement you choose to fire from as a vampire's sight and hearing far exceed a human's." He pointed out causing me to think over his words. "Badass. I'll take your suggestion into thought as well. Thanks for the help, Walter. He simply bowed and said it was his duty.

I packed up the sniper rifle in a duffle bag along with the magazines and walked around the front of the estate, where a driver awaited to drive me to a "bus stop" where I'd wait for a big ass car to take me to the closest village to the vampire compound.

Five Hours Later

I was posted in a tree with particularly large branches and a small amount of smaller, pointy branches surrounding the trunk. The perfect tree for a small fort for children or a hiding spot from a killer. I had the duffle bag nailed on top of a close branch while I was on another directly parallel with the compound's courtyard, cutting away a few leaf-covered branches so I could get as good a view as possible of the courtyard and still be able to hide.

I was not alone though, I had Katsuye to back me up with the lever-action shotgun I brought from home, loaded with blessed, silver buckshot shells. I also spent the hours left until sundown with some light conversation. Katsuye spoke up for the first time in a while by grabbing my wrist casing me to look at her. "What's wrong?" I asked as I deposited the kunai I had been wielding back into the large holster it came from. "We need to talk about a lot of things. Why are we here? What happened back home?" She demanded. I stared blankly, she stayed quiet for over a month so I assumed she didn't care. I tried to collect my thoughts and explain in the plainest way possible. "In the Uchiha Shrine there was a panic room covered in one big seal formula. The inscription said it had the power to make whoever activated the seal to become the savior of the clan. It sent me here when I used it." I started causing her to interject immediately. "Why? You would never try and use that on your own, you don't believe in that melodramatic shit!" She argued causing me to make a expression of disbelief, Katsuye did NOT curse. "That day, when I got back from the Waves mission, when I got back I found the Emperor on the way home. I gave him my report until we got there where he told mom and I that there was a traitor that wanted us dead. He didn't say it was him though." I explained, her emotionless facade turning into a face of sympathy. "I woke up in the middle of the night because I could hear the chirping of a Chidori. I ran out and saw mom was fighting three Shinobi and they were good...they were able to hurt her. We killed some and Shimura showed up and almost beat me but Shio got him to run away. Mom...didn't make it." I said as I started to choke on my words, my throat hurt and my eyes burned. Katsuye grabbed my head and put it to her shoulder. "It's ok. Go on." She ordered soothingly. "I'm okay. After that Shio and I went after Shimura at his house be he expected that, they separated us, I heard them mention Hanten and Mazeru so I know they're alive. They hurt me...I don't want to talk about it but I'll show you later. I got free at the stadium, you know where they address the citizens about new laws and shit, they were going to kill me there. They tried before but I stopped them but there they...had Mom strung up, naked and dead, that made just lose it. I killed so many of them and fought Daisuke, he believed that I killed his parents too, that I did this for power. Mom told me to go to the panic room so when I got free so when I did I went there. I couldn't save anyone in that condition, I assumed it'd have a jutsu or something that'd help me fight. But we're stuck here fighting like a bunch of dumbasses over shit we don't care about...again." I said my voice a hushed roar. She just played with my ears, trying to take in all of my story. "We'll make it back, if we can't find another way you could use Izanagi now that you have a Mangekyō Sharingan and send yourself back and summon us." She offered. I hadn't thought of that. "Yeah that could work but I'd go blind in an eye right?" I asked causing her to frown. "Yes. But it'll be worth it right? For our family?" She said as she returned to her own tree limb. "Yeah...thank you Katsuye. I needed to tell someone after all that happened and didn't know what to do." I replied as I readjusted my grip on the rifle and searched for some of the targets through the scope once more. I saw almost all of them gathered up for some meeting now that the sun went down. I brought my sight on the nearest child with a solemn expression. "When we get home we can discuss ways of getting back but right now we need to end them." I heard her move slightly, assuming it was a nod I placed my finger in the trigger guard. "Either way. I'm happy you're here." I said before releasing a trio of shots, ending three of them.

Chapter End