Yeah…, I think I'm going to be raising the rating to "M" from here on out. I predict that things will either get really violent, or the language will get rather "enhanced" as Spongebob would say. I hate that show….

"PMS?" Seras asked, trying to hold back the laughter that was building up inside her. "How could Master have PMS! He's a guy! You guys really had me going for a second there…!"

"No, Seras. We aren't talking about Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. And we're dead serious." Seras' smile started to fade at the look on Integra's face. "Perhaps, it would be best if we explain things to these two first." Walter said, indicating Seras and Pip.

Integra nodded. "Yes, yes, of course Walter." Integra spun the files on her desk, and pushed them closer to Pip and Seras. "These are notes from former heads of Hellsing, notes concerning Alucard's actions and behavior. The area we are focusing on at the moment have come to be known as the Pre-Massacre Syndrome, or PMS. We understand how you'd be confused.

"Now, this period of time has been recorded by most of the more recent heads of Hellsing, dating back about 200 years. The information documented by each Head varies slightly, however they each have the same basic principles. So far, this mood befalls Alucard randomly, you can check yourself."

Pip picked up the notes and began shuffling through them. Seras caught the dates. 1823, 1861, a large leap to 1907, 1960 -- "And now its our turn." Integra continued. "As previously said, the notes are slightly different each time, and yet we've still been able to create a basic pattern. There are more or less three main stages.Stage one, the Onset."

"The symptoms are; unusually high irritation, unruliness, needless destruction of property, and strange sleeping habits….Which reminds me, Seras. Has Alucard visited you or done anything else strange during his usual sleeping hours?"

Seras remembered their little talk this morning. She swallowed and nodded, feeling uneasy, but still not entirely sure why Walter and Integra looked so ashen. "And the final symptom of stage 1 is that he tends to prank random people, some of these are rather cruel."

"'Zere seems to be much randomness involved withzis Alucard." Pip pointed out. "Yes." Integra said. "That's part of the problem, his action's become steadily more and more unpredictable as this wears on." Integra paused for a moment. "I believe I'll let Walter explain the second stage. He was under the employ of Hellsing during the 1960's and had a first-hand experience with this."

"Right then," Walter said, stepping forward and snapping his heels. "In Stage two, Alucard becomes very docile, and will only talk to people he trusts, otherwise he shuts himself in his room. This is the reason you were called. We four are the ones who are in most contact with Alucard, and we must be especially careful at this time."

This brought Seras back down to earth, she had been having much trouble imagining her Master as "docile". "And then there's stage three." Integra picked up. "We know very little about this except that it is the shortest stage, the final stage, and it has always ended extremely violently."

"Sir Integra," Seras spoke up, "why is it called the 'Massacre' syndrome?" Integra paused for a moment, and in that time, Seras could hear a faint thumping that wasn't caused by the ongoing storm.

"I just told you, this has ended, and probably will end again, very violently. That is why it is called the 'Massacre'." Integra said quickly, as though trying to make up for lost time.

"But enough of that. The PMS is only part of the reason you were summoned here. Seras, I believe that you reported seeing yet another werewolf?"

Seras wandered through the halls, but stopped when she heard a weather report drifting to her from an ajar door. "That's right Tom, it'll be cold this Christmas eve. A low of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and a high of 32, right on the freezing level. We'll also be expecting some snow flurries…"

Seras could have kicked herself. How could she have forgotten Christmas! It was one of the best times in the year! Presents, songs, holiday cheer, presents! She hurried down to her room and checked her calendar. One week away from the 25th. 'Oh no!' Seras suddenly realized, 'I haven't done any shopping!' She ran back up to the first floor so she could get a glimpse of the outside. The previous night's rain had left the roads wet, but the skies remained cloudy, suggesting another rain before they were done.

She found Walter on the stairs and asked to borrow one of the many cars that belonged to the Hellsing estate. He recommended a sporty, deep blue vehicle and watched her drive away.

'But what to get Master Alucard!' She wondered as she left the gates.

Alucard sensed his fledgling depart, but didn't bother to pursue the question of where she was going. He slowly rose from his chair and phased through his door, out into the hallway. He did not yet know where he was going, or why, but he assumed he'd know when he got there.

He eventually made his way to the gun course, stayed for about half an hour, working on his already perfect accuracy, before making his way to the front door. Pip was walking from the kitchen with a toasted bagel in his mouth as he saw the vampire walking toward the door.

Pip quickly scanned the area for anyone he could order to stop and question Alucard, but nobody was in sight. 'I've got ze worst luck.' Pip forced himself to a few feet behind Alucard. "Alucard, sir. Where are you going at zis time of day?" Pip asked, though extremely wary of the tall nosferatu, this question ignited his curiosity. Where was Alucard going?

Alucard didn't turn, but did pause mid-stride. "I don't have to explain myself to you." He said harshly. Pip stood his ground, trying his best to keep from shaking. "Its just zat, doesn't Miss Integra allow you permission off ze grounds?"

"The front yard is beyond these doors, they are part of the grounds." Alucard said back.

"You plan on staying in ze front yard?"

"No"

Pip hadn't expected Alucard to be so honest about his intention to disobey Integra, and his mind could not come up with an adequate response to this. "What I plan on doing, Captain, is to go out and explore London. I plan on being out for the entire day. And you, since you care so much are going to take me."

Pip stared blankly at Alucard's back. "Me?" He asked, pointing to himself as if he did not understand, "You want me to…give you a tour?"

"Go get the car."

Pip couldn't see a way out of this one, and he slowly went to select a car from the garage. "The Mercedes!" He heard Alucard call after him. Pip shook his head unbelievingly. 'I have ze worst luck.'

"Walter!" Integra called. Instantly, the faithful butler was at her side. "Where is captain Pip, and Seras?"

"I believe Seras has gone out for holiday shopping." Walter said, "And the Captain is nowhere to be found in the mansion, or the troop barracks." Integra turned the information over in her head, eventually coming to the conclusion that Seras could do no harm in public. She had enough sense. Now, Alucard, he would have been a different matter altogether. She shuddered at the thought of him driving through London.

"Did you want them for something important, Miss Integra? Unearthed more information on Alucard perhaps? I could have them called back." Walter told her. Integra waved her hand dismissively.

"It can wait until they return Walter. Its just that Seras has reported meeting two werewolves within 48 hours time. That being said, werewolves are supposedly very rare in these times, in fact, almost extinct. I believe Millenium may be up to something. Have the teenagers from that school been checked yet?"

" All present and accounted for, Sir Integra. However, several students returned to their homes with tattoos found at the back of the neck, that their family members did not recognize, or authorize for that matter."

"What was it?"

" Millenium's swastika symbol. We are plan on monitoring the students with these symbols, but as of right now, there have been no abnormalities or strange events about them."

Integra reached for a cigar and lit it, clamping it firmly I her mouth. "What could this mean Walter? Or does it mean anything? Perhaps it was some twisted joke?" Integra fell silent, deep in thought. "Do you have a number count for those who have the tattoo?"

"We missed a few, originally believing it was just coincidence, but after more and more started showing up in the same place, we started to wonder. Not counting the small number we missed, approximately 100 students."

"I want them all watched very closely, Walter. I don't like this…not at all."

"As you command, Sir Integra." Walter bowed, and upon returning to full height, gave the security camera screens in the corner of the office a passing glance. "Oh, dear."

"What is it Walter?" Integra asked looking up.

"You may want to have a look at this." Walter pointed at one of the screens overlooking the front gate. Pip was pulling away in a deep blue Mercedes, while next to him, Alucard was tapping his fingers on the outside of the passenger side door, and looking around with mild interest.

Integra's cigar slipped from her mouth.

Sorry I scared some of you last chapter. But now Alucard's problems are out in the open! What'd you think?

Review.