Disclaimer: Hellsing and its characters belong to none other than Kouta Hirano.

Author's Note: The long awaited new chapter after a two-year hiatus (blame my government) is here, yay! I don't even know if people are still reading this story but if you do, you da real MVP. Now please enjoy this bit of enlightening piece.

Integra's Age: 7

Chapter 7: Can You Count The Stars?

Alucard had been… moody.

The vampire was the epitome of instability but this was truly beyond anything he'd ever seen. Alucard still did his job but it was with an undertone of petulance and Arthur, for the love of God, couldn't find the source for this behavior.

He tried backtracking, thinking that the short supply of blood might be it, but he checked and they always traveled with a huge cooler full of it. Of course there was the rising of vampire activities but it usually made the ancient nosferatu happy because he had more things to maim and, here Arthur quoted: the more the merrier. For a while he thought it was a phase, but after a month of constant sulking and one very memorable (and very traumatizing for a couple of soldiers) five days mission in Scotland, Arthur was truly stumped.

The vampire didn't even spare a second to enjoy the carnage on last night's hunt. He just shot the creatures cleanly through their hearts, not playing with his food for once, and went back to Arthur's side with an impatient glint in his eyes. Not knowing what to say about his brisk manner, Arthur dismissed him, and Alucard's spin into shadows was so ferocious it made his eyebrows rose.

But tonight, for the first time in weeks, they were free of vampire attacks or errand of any kind. Alucard had grudgingly gone into his office, awaiting orders, when Arthur told him of the good news.

"What?" Alucard blinked. Maybe their outings were getting a bit too much if it rendered the vampire slow like this. "No… hunts?"

"No reports. For now, at least."

The delight that echoed through their bond was so strong Arthur almost choked on his drink, but settled on leaning back against his seat instead, feeling lightheaded at the reaction.

"Then may I be excused?"

Arthur blinked hard, blindsided for the second time tonight, and stared at Alucard. What in the bloody hell had gotten into the old bat? He never asked for permission unless it was permission to kill or disembowel his victims.

The Hellsing director cleared his throat and nodded. "You may go."

Alucard bowed before slinking into shadows on the floor, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Arthur waited for a whole minute before standing up. He had questions needed to be answered and theories to be confirmed.

x

"—and his castle was tall and magnificent, hidden between the trees, protected by the shadows."

Arthur stopped in front of Integra's bedroom door and listened to Alucard's monologue. He knew the vampire knew he was here but the old nosferatu didn't give any indication that he noticed as he continued his story.

"But it didn't matter when he was so hideous. No one would befriend him. People were attracted to his power, to his wealth, but they ran the moment they see him. It made him lonely."

Arthur leaned against the wall and listened.

"Disheartened, he resigned himself to the fact that he'd be alone forever." A pause. "But came a beautiful lady, with her broken carriage, asking for help. He thought she'd run like the rest of them when she saw him, but she just smiled and said, You have lovely eyes. The king instantly fell in love."

"Oh," Integra cooed. "What then?"

"He welcomed her into his home. He gave her a room and let her roam his lands as she pleases. He gave her jewelries, dresses, everything and anything she wanted. But the repair of her carriage."

"What? Why?"

"Because he wanted her to stay." Alucard's voice took a melancholy tint. "He was too afraid to ask her outright."

"Why would he be afraid of her? She seems nice."

"Because he was a coward." Silence. "But even cowards knew when they made a horrible mistake. He knew he couldn't keep her forever in a locked cage. So, with a heavy heart, he repaired her carriage and told her that she could leave if she wanted."

"And?" When there was no answer, Integra called, impatient. "Alucard!"

"It's already late. We'll continue tomorrow," the vampire replied and Arthur could hear mirth in his voice.

"That's what you said last time and then you didn't come for a week!"

So that's why.

"My apologies, but duties called."

"I know," Integra mumbled, petulant but resigned. "Are you sure you're going to be here tomorrow?"

"I'll try."

Arthur placed a fist against his mouth. Letting the vampire get too close to his daughter might prove to be quite troublesome in the future. But cutting their bond would be calamitous. He might have to talk to her about it in the near-future, preferably without the vampire around.

When he didn't hear anything else, Arthur peeked inside and found Integra already asleep and the nosferatu nowhere to be found.

End Note: The little bedtime story is a piece I took from my own original story and since it aligned beautifully with Alucard's predicament, I decided to use it. If you have any ideas or prompts you want me to write, please do review/pm me.