Japanese Whispers

As strange as it was to admit, the new quarters had begun to feel like home. When the young nun had entered the Manor's gates, she felt splinters of treason surface up under her skin. However, would it really be treason to continue her same work, her same, holy duty under another roof, especially when her original home was crumbling under corruption and vice like a house of cards? After a long, painful process, Sister Yumiko was learning to accept the new course that God had set her upon, amongst the many other changes in her life. The room given to her was private and comfortable with simple, elegant furnishings. Her blades were honed and kept in a thick, wooden case near her bedside. As a sort of peace offering, the sister was allowed to keep a small pet to ease her loneliness. A tiny, black kitten was procured from the animal shelter and named Oni. It was a curious, little thing that was all inky fuzz and big, grey not a substitute for Father Alex or Hime,*she was content enough with the creature's company.

While not quite used to the protocol and tactics of a more militaristic association, she still attended a few meetings here and there with the soldiers to understand what do if the mansion came under attack, or if she was sent as back up for an overwhelmed troupe encountering ghoul or supernatural forces. While direct contact with Iscariot was not encouraged, a few private messages had been permitted, sent via letter or e-mail. While Yumiko was not out in the field of battle with her fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, she was regularly aiding with the charities of a local Catholic church not to far off from the Hellsing Estate.

Life was different, but some how better than she had expected. The little nun was also becoming more trustworthy of her household companions, some more than others, but she had gained a new respect for the woman her former Bishop had constantly referred to as a 'little sow', or a 'miserable heathen'. The enlisted men at least stopped their vulgar chatter when she was in ear-shot, and the aged butler had been friendly, respectful, and quite gentle with her linens. The vampires were another issue all together; the head nosferatu kept his distance, but was not above shooting her lusty glances that set her cheeks pink. Some days Yumi longed to be un-leashed like a rabid dog and rip into that curling visage, flaying it from his face , flesh peeling away from bone under the razor-sharpness of her kitana. The other creature had been much easier to deal with. She was pleasant, amicable and after a few awkward attempts at being social, had even brought a cup of tea or a tray of cookies to the doorway for a spot of conversation.

Ironically, the two women had much in common: their orphaned childhood, the urge to do good in a trying world, a penchant for iced green tea, their modesty to blush at some of the troops off-colour jokes, and most strikingly, the uncanny duel nature that each one possessed, dividing them evenly between gentle and gory, friendly and ferocious, virginal and vicious. Strange as it was, Yumiko began to feel an understanding with this young girl. True, she was un-dead, but she sensed a good heart underneath -it just wasn't a beating one....

Elsewhere-

The Basement

The mercenary felt his heart nearly pounding out of his chest. Strange-he had broken into military jails armed to the teeth, dispatched himself into the pits of hell with drug cartels, and fought his way through swarms of the ravenous un-dead. He was able to keep his head calm and his heart out of his throat, but this simple act that he was about to commit, that made him feel ill, dizzy, and ready to turn back.

"Steady," he told himself,"A moment of courage and then it's over..." His hand poised at the door of his woman's master's chamber, knuckles cracking and his head pounding. The small, aggravating pitch of doubt edged into his brain.

"What if he denies you?" It questioned.

"He won't- he can't. He can't be that blind to not see how much we care for each other."

" What if there's some ancient vampire law that forbids you two getting together?"

"Then he's a bloody hypocrite- he's with a human."

"Yeah, but she's his master....." the little voice dipped up an even deeper, darker more dangerous thought.

"What if he's in love with her ?"

"Arrrgh...." The doubt chuckled

"What if she's in love with her master....or mistress....."

"It's NOT like that....though, it could be kinda hot if she was into the Blondie....."

"Yeah, keep dreaming....: What if she hates the ring?" Pip groaned.-that could be very possible. He began humming, the dull buzz drowning out the devious din diving in and out of his thoughts. The man was at the helm of the door, the great, grey iron knocker was thick and looked worn beyond a century. Pip gulped and knocked, the metal feeling like ice in his grip. Slowly, the portal creaked open, the wood groaning like an injured man. The room itself was cool, bordering on cold. The hair on the back of his neck stood at attention and his good eye adjusted to the dim light.

"You may come in.", a velvet tone permitted. The Captain made his way through the shadowy room, the temp edging into freezing as he neared the ornate carved throne in the far back. A narrow, spindly figure, with eyes glowing like cigarettes, sat upon it.

"Hello, sir, thank you for having me for lunch...." Pip stated. He thought over what he had just said, and then quickly added, " with you today." The vampire's grin widened for a moment, bearing his eyeteeth.

As if by magic, a wooden chair slid over, bidding him a seat. A small table set with two wine glasses and a deep green bottle followed suit. Cautiously, Pip sat down, clutching the little box in his mitt, heart racing. A bit of light began to edge up, revealing his audience's face. The vampire seemed calm, almost welcoming. A slight smile was on his lips, not the usual manic grin that ripped through his features, but a calm, nearly humane gesture. Alucard's dark hair was loose, brushing his shoulders and a slight mustache and beard was on his face. (With the creature's shifting abilities, a new visage could be produced at will and lately, he had been asked to be social with his woman, so this 'aristocratic' appearance had been a popular choice .) Instead of his claret coat, a simple black shirt, vest, and trousers were present. Only his gloves were a brilliant, blinding white. He stared at the suitor for a moment before nodding his head. The glasses began to fill themselves up with a rich, red liquid. Pip gulped.

"Don't worry, it's only Bordeaux." The creature calmed. "Eat , drink- we have much to discuss." A small plate of crusty bread and a hunk of yellow cheese materialized.

"Thank you." Pip stated, tasting the wine- it was lush and had a rich bouquet.

"Well, I guess you know why I'm here today." the man stated, producing the box, snapping it open to reveal the ring nestled inside.

"A sapphire- quite lovely, and a strong choice."

"I figured that a diamond is just a bit too ordinary and as you know, Vic's anything but that."

"True, very true. When I first met her, her eyes were almost the same colour as that." Pip gulped- it would have been wonderful to see her when she was human- her flushed cheeks, sky-hued eyes-

"Does that really matter to you?", Alucard quipped. He had read the mercenary's mind.

"No, no it doesn't. I'm happy to be with her just the way she is, that's why I'm here today to ask you properly. I already asked Walter his opinion, and he seems happy with the concept, but it's you I really have to be concerned about." Alucard cocked a brow.

"I see- how respectful of you. Now, tell me really , what do you want out of my ward?"

"I want to love her, live with her, share my days with her as my wife." Alucard picked up the remaining glass with feline grace and swirled the contents of the cup around.

"You are fully aware of what she is?"

"Yes."

"Does it bother you?"

"No." There was a pause of silence.

"In spite of all her faults, her fears, her pathetic clinging to the human ways she once had, Seras is a noble and very dear creature. I love her tremendously, and wish for her to be happy- if your affection is a farce, or merely a human whimsy, you will not be spared...." Pip stood his ground. .

"I understand, and I assure you, Sir, Boss, that I am completely genuine in my intentions."

" Every marriage needs up- keep and tending to, but yours will have some, unusual efforts to comply with. You will have to continue feeding her your blood- are you prepared to do this for the rest of your days?" Pip nodded. There was a long sip, and a pregnant pause.

"And you will have to accept that you will have to let her continue to feed from me."

"I understand."

"Jealous?" The man shifted.

"A little." he sighed, "But I know that it keeps her healthy- Walter gave me a few documents about the bonds between masters and their fledglings. It also keeps her from going into bloodlust and eating me in the middle of the night."

"True, very true. There's also a little tradition that will have to be adhered to prevent potential disaster, my dear solder." A bit of a gleam took over his eyes and Pip gulped......

Elsewhere-

The Master Bedroom

Integra groaned. She studied the side of the box and read the directions fully. Apparently, this odd, little contraption was supposed to predict when she was fertile and most likely to conceive. Easy, simple, and all one had to do was to wet it.... she rolled her eyes. Good grief, why was everything in the world about blood or piss-territories, religion, ownership....this was starting to get aggravating. However, she reminded herself that just like a good invasion or defensive attack, it was all about timing.

At least the news from Dr. Seward had been helpful and Andrew had been able to mind his tongue during lunch, minus a few goading jokes about having little, baby bats. She placed the ovulation test in her bedside drawer, and instead reached for a small pack of cigarettes- while usually her cigars accompanied Integra like a shadow, she was starting to make a switch to a more practical smoke of choice, particularly because she was told that it would make the long months of abstinence much more bearable. She inhaled a drag and agreed- it was like sucking in bloody air.... Already she hated that concept-she had been smoking since she was 17, and not quite ready to give it up. She lit up, and proceeded to make her way downstairs. As hot as the day was shaping up to be, it would still be a good idea to get a bit of fresh air before attending her conference later. On the way down, she passed her faithful retainer.

"I'll be out back in the East end of the garden. Walter, if there are any calls for me, please take them, inform me, and I'll get back to them in a half-hour." The man nodded and the master of the house continued her stroll to the designated spot.

In the rear of the garden, the great, carved fountain of Prima Vera and her pets sputtered cool, clear water giving the place a relaxing and almost Metatherian atmosphere. Spiked rows of red rose bushes were in bloom like crimson pinwheels, some as large as a man's hand. The trees were full and flush here, their canopies thick with lush, green leaves providing plenty of shade. Sir Hellsing sighed and seated herself under the shadow, loosening up her cravat and peeling off her gloves. She leaned back and surveyed her 'departing gift' from the Maximilian Villa and smiled. The fountain really did look stunning- she grinned like a bastard and wondered, just briefly, how that bastard of a bishop was doing. For months, she had neither heard nor seen Enrico Maxwell and this pleased her greatly. After all, the less contact she had with such un-necessary stress, the easier it would be to relax and let nature take its course. Sir Hellsing closed her eyes and exhaled. The silence was peaceful, yet broken by a simple greeting.

"Hello, Miss Hellsing", a cheery voice proclaimed. She half-opened an eye to the smiling face of Sister Yumiko. The little nun was dressed in full, black garb and glasses, complete with her habit, peaked like a church steeple. While Integra was still a bit weary of her temperament, the young woman proved to be decent, and at times even commendable for putting up with some of her spouse's intimidation.

"Are you enjoying the weather ?", she asked cordially. "It's actually cooler out here than in the house."

"Yes, yes it is. I'm sorry to say that while we have some of the most state-of -the- art technology, the heating-cooling system is not one of them..." The nun laughed and indicated the other side of the stone bench.

"May I?"she asked. The woman nodded and the girl sat down. They sat in comfortable silence for a few beats, until there was a slight crackling noise behind them. It grew sharper and there was a sound of movement. While neither was alarmed, Sister Yumiko's face took on a sharp intensity.

"Stay still.", she whispered, voice edgy. The tussling grew louder and closer. The nun ran her hand up her left sleeve and took on a predatory stance. From behind the rose bushes, a huge shape moved. It maneuvered into the light revealing an enormous , russet-coloured creature- a dog- no a wolf, yet it was larger than any wolf either had seen in any zoo. The animal padded near; it's coat was brilliant in the sunlight and its jaws and muzzle were huge- it could easily snap off a man's hand in a bite. Neither woman moved awaiting the beast's next action. Sister Yumiko had what appeared to be a small throwing knife in her hand, poised and ready to strike. Here eyes were set like flint and Integra was reminded just why Maxwell had kept the girl as a personal bodyguard. However, instead of advancing or snarling, the lupine just stood there, statue still, examining the pair. That's when Sir Hellsing noticed the creature's eyes- they were a brilliant gold rimmed red. Un-natural eyes. Before she could comment, the animal gave a very human-like sigh and trotted off, disappearing into the dappling light of the bushes and trees. With its departure, the Sister relaxed.

"Strange, very strange.," she commented to Sir Hellsing,"Does England have wolves?", The woman shrugged.

"There's been a few sighting of creatures here and there, but usually it's an animal escaped from some exotic collector's home or zoo and even that's rare. Also, there was something odd about that creature-"

"It made me....uneasy..," Yumiko finished. She fidgeted with the hand dagger before tucking it back up and under her sleeve.

"In Japan, we have legends of foxes, Kitsune, that are able to use majik to trick people. Sometimes they take on a human form, other times, mist or fire. You don't have legends like that here, do you?" Integra arched a brow.

"You live with two vampires and England's rampant with zombies from time to time- anything's possible."

"Hmm, right. You don't think that your husband has anything to do with that thing, do you?" Sir Hellsing could not answer. Alucard kept no secrets from her, but he may also not be aware of this things existence. After all, there were more things on Heaven and Earth than in her philosophy....*

Hime*- Japanese for 'princess'-Yumiko's nick-name for her partner.

"Heaven and Earth"- An excerpt from "Hamlet:" where the Danish Prince is attempting to convince Horacio that ghosts may in fact exist.....