Celestial Death: Hey, another chapter. I feel a little bad for ignoring my other story, but Hellsing just speaks to me right now. If you haven't heard, Geneon is going out of business, and since they are the people who translate Hellsing Ultimate into English, there is a stop on Hellsing. The show will continue in Japan, but it will stop in America until another company picks it up. But, the cast of voice actors is supposed to stay the same. I suggest buying the Hellsing Ultimate you can. On a story note, I know Alucard has been kind of weird when it comes to Ebony, so I'm hoping to explain and remedy some of that. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from Hellsing or Hakusho, if I did I wouldn't be writing about adventures, I'd be having them. Ebony and Raina are mine…so keep your mitts off.
Chapter Eight: Heart of My Heart
A short walk across the Hellsing grounds to the shooting range leads Kurama and Raina to a small building normally used for storage. It seems the Wild Geese turned the storage facility into a place for relaxation. Stepping in first to make sure everything is safe Kurama pauses in mortification. Lining the walls are pictures of women in little attire and provocative poses. A light shade of pink spreads across his face all the way to the tips of his ears. Fumbling with embarrassment at having brought Raina to such a place, he quickly pulls out his rose whip and obliterates the images.
"What's wrong?" she asks as Kurama puts his rose whip away.
"Ah…there was an exceptionally large spider on the wall," he lies, stepping aside so she can enter.
"Oh. Wow. Thanks a lot," comes the nervous reply as images of giant spiders fill her mind.
Further perusal reveals an old but comfortable looking couch in the center of the room before a small television with rabbit ear antennas. To the right of the TV is a mini fridge that, Raina discovers upon opening, is brimming with beer. A pool table stands in front of the far wall, across the room from that is air hockey, and a dart board hangs on the back of the door. Raina momentarily wonders about the shreds of paper all over the floor but brushes it off as she walks over to the air hockey.
"Do you play?" Kurama inquires.
"I've played a few times."
"Care for a game?"
"Sure," Raina replies moving to the other side of the table.
The game starts out slow as they begin to get the feel of things, with the momentum steadily rising as time passes. Using his quick reflexes Kurama fends off Raina's attempts at scoring, studying her strengths and weaknesses. Feeling he has a good understanding of her strategy, Kurama launches with an offense of his own which Raina valiantly defeats. Deflecting the puck off the side she sends it towards Kurama's goal, only to have it shot back in a blur of motion. Thunk! The loud noise echoes as the puck enters her goal.
Determined to stop him from scoring again Raina begins to develop a new strategy while trying to fend of Kuram's attacks. With a flick of her wrist she sends the puck ricocheting off the back of his mallet into the goal. Knowing about Kurama's tendency to evaluate his opponent's actions before making his move, Raina attempts to keep him on his toes switching strategies often. Unbeknownst to them, a small audience of Wild Geese members stands to the side watching the intense game.
"I bet my money on the girl. She keeps him guessing about her next move," one man says pulling out twenty pounds.
"Come on! The boy's got it in the bag. Can't you see he's just toying with her?" another man argues.
"One should not underestimate zee skills of a woman, non? They are crafty in all sorts of games," Captain Pip Bernadette states with a jaunty grin.
The men chuckle in agreement, placing bets and handing Pip money.
"It appears we've become a spectacle," Kurama says reflecting the puck off the side and into the goal causing a chorus of cheers and groans.
"Come on girl, you can do it!" a man yells followed by a roar from part of the crowd.
"I've got thirty pounds riding on you missy," another yells.
"Yeah? Well I have forty pounds on him. Show us your moves lad," someone shouts.
"Ahhha. No pressure, right?" Raina laughs nervously to Kurama.
"Of course, this is just a friendly game," he replies with a sardonic smile.
"You're zee people sent from zee demon hunting group in Japan that Mr. Alucard has been working with, aren't you?" Pip asks cheerfully.
"Yes. I'm Kurama and this is Raina. We have another girl with us, but she's researching right now with Alucard," Kurama replies blocking Raina's attack.
"Really, there's another girl traveling with you? I should show you and your friend a night on zee town. We can grab zee Police Girl and really make a go of it!" Pip suggests, a sweet smile hiding most of his lecherous intentions.
"Uh…I think it would be better if we stayed with Kurama and Alucard. Thanks anyway," Raina says giving Kurama a perturbed look from the creepy vibe she gets from Pip.
"I promise it's safe with me. You won't have to worry about danger from vampires, I'll protect you," assures the captain sincerely.
"Unfortunately, that really isn't possible. Our mission requires our presence at Hellsing," Kurama says. 'Besides, it's not the vampires they need protection from.' He thinks.
"Such a pity. Maybe when your mission is done we can get to know each other better?" Pip suggests.
"We'll be returning home once the mission is complete. Trust me, they are in very capable hands," he replies, voice dropping in irritation at the thought of another man with Raina.
"Sure, sure, I understand," Pip laughs nervously.
Still mildly miffed at the image of Pip "getting to know" Raina, Kurama swiftly wins the game with scary precision. It is only when he hears the cheers and receives several claps to the back that he realizes what has happened. Looking up, Kurama finds himself lost in the warm gaze Raina is giving him. Her lips twist into a sweet smile and he can feel the annoyance melt away.
Soon, some of the men folk are inviting both of them to play other games. As Raina begins playing darts against a somewhat round fellow Kurama catches Pip's eyes straying to her figure. Stepping closer to her side, Kurama catches his attention and gives Pip a glare with barely concealed warning. Understanding with traces of trepidation crossing his face, Pip holds up his hands in a gesture of surrender. Fleetingly in the back of Kurama's mind the thought occurs that he is acting as if Raina belongs to him. It should be cause for concern, but he only feels pleased.
"Hey, what happened to zee walls?" Pip exclaims looking at the shredded remains of posters and pin-ups.
In the basement of the Hellsing Manor around the time of early evening the No Life King Alucard finds himself in a state of dreaming. In the world of subconscious he stands inside a dark room on the third floor of the mansion, a harvest moon hangs in the sky outside, bathing the world in a silvery-black light. Through a set of open glass doors he can see a woman in her twenties standing on the balcony looking up at the moon. Somehow she seems familiar to him, but he is unable to name why. Stepping out onto the balcony his eyes travel over the woman as she turns towards him. Wavy dark brown tresses fall to her knees; contrasting against her stylish black suit and shirt, completed by a blood red tie. White gloves cover her hands like most Hellsing senior officers, but he is unable to say who she is. Her facial features are hidden in shadow that even his impressive gaze cannot penetrate.
"Alucard," a soft spoken caress.
"Who are you?" he asks stepping towards her.
"I am me," comes the playful response.
"Because that clears everything up," Alucard replies with a frown.
"My darling Count, this is your dreamscape. If vague answers are to be blamed on anyone, you can only blame yourself," she responds with a suppressed laugh.
"Me? Dreaming? Hah! How ridiculous," he scorns.
"At any rate, this is important so pay attention, or don't. Really, you'll do as you please," the woman responds with a shrug.
Quirking an eyebrow, Alucard waits for her to speak while trying to place where he knows her. Her appearance is completely foreign to him, but her aura is assuredly familiar. After a heavy period of silence he steps towards her in an almost menacing manner.
"You like to tease her don't you?" She inquires suddenly with a hint of laughter.
"Tease who?" He responds stopping mid step.
"The young woman you seem to spend all your time with. You enjoy playing with her."
"Ebony lacks experience and it is very easy to manipulate her emotions. Toying with her until her heart thrums as if it would burst and her head spins with dizzying thoughts…is amusing I suppose," Alucard admits with a shrug.
"You did the same thing with Integra when she was young. Well, you did it until she learned how to shield herself from your taunts, that is."
"What do you know of my relationship with my master?" he asks with a menacing scowl.
"I know more than you think. When Integra first found you, a girl just reaching puberty, you found it great fun to play with her. Ah…what was it? Oh, um…it was of great amusement to watch her try and hide a blush as the blood pounded in her veins," the woman recalls after a moment.
"How do you know that?" Alucard snarls feeling perturbed towards her.
"The same way I know you wanted Integra for your countess. She's a strong female figure with unrivaled skills of leadership. What you didn't count on was her unbendable sense of morals. Integra refuses to give up her humanity. Refuses to sully the Hellsing name," there are hints of envy and pride in her voice.
"You will not speak of such things. I don't know who you are, but it doesn't matter. It is time for this farce to end," he grounds out, barely restraining his temper at the mention of his forsaken dreams for Integra.
Reaching into his coat, Alucard pulls out the jackal and trains it on the woman's head. She doesn't move, doesn't try to stop him. The woman stays perfectly still, breath caught in her throat, waiting to see what he'll do. Despite the strong urge to eliminate the strange irritating female, Alucard can't bring himself to kill her. Something inside of him is roaring for him to lower the gun. He knows it isn't her doing, at least not intentionally. Somehow, this strange woman is making the remnants of Alucard's heart respond. She is a human that he has never before seen, but he knows her and his heart sings at her presence. Without bothering to lower his weapon even a fraction of an inch, Alucard sends tendrils of his dark aura to brush against hers.
A purr rumbles deep in his chest as their auras begin to mingle and meld into one. Never before has he felt such a connection from such a small amount of contact. Arm going slack, Alucard lowers his weapon as his fingers spasm. Delicious sensations ripple through him and the urge to join with this woman in any and all possible ways begins to overwhelm him. Primal instincts awaken inside, overshadowing all attempts at thought and reason. Already he can taste her on the air, and it is wonderfully intoxicating. Eyes half lidded, Alucard gives her a silky, enticing smile and steps towards her. Much to his dismay the woman back steps while drawing her aura away from his.
"I'm sorry, but you can't touch me," the woman tells him softly.
"Oh? I beg to differ," murmurs Alucard as dark tendrils of his aura wrap around her and drag her towards him.
"I am perfectly serious Alucard," iron fills her voice as she struggles against his power.
"Did I ever disagree with that fact?" he inquires smoothly drawing her closer. Yet, the steely tone of her voice is far too familiar, creating a niggling worry in the back of his mind.
"Bloody vampire," she snarls. "Listen to me. Integra was not meant to be your Countess, you know that now. But the person supposed to span the ages with you, the woman you are destined to be with, she is much closer than you think. It is important that you do not lose sight and become overwhelmed. Are you listening? Your Countess, she is—"
She cuts off just as Alucard brushes his fingers against her cheek. Instantly she disappears, and the dream begins to crumble. In a flash the world becomes blinding.
With a start blood red eyes burst open to the familiar darkness of his coffin. A low growl echoes in the silence only to be answered by a soft sigh. Tilting his head, Alucard looks at the female pressed to his side. He can feel every inch of her warm body molded against his cold form. Leisurely his gaze peruses her sleeping figure, the darkness having no effect on his eyesight, before settling on her peaceful face. The sound of her heartbeat fills the silence of the coffin like the thundering roar of cannons. He finds it soothing and stirring all at once, as his stare slides down to her exposed throat. Just as the thought of sinking his fangs into her neck enters his mind, she cuddles closer to him. A growl rumbles through him as a feeling of tenderness settles into his chest.
"Sentimental feelings from me? Simply ludicrous," Alucard sneers into the darkness.
Yet, as he stares down at the girl draped against him it doesn't seem as impossible. Admittedly, he has been toying with her since she landed in his lap. While Ebony tries to hide it, her feelings for him are obvious. So, he has been manipulating her to feed his own amusement. He liked to do the same with Integra when she was young. Teasing, toying, finding great pleasure in how flustered she would become, how her heart would beat faster, and then she grew up.
Integra became aware of his game, grew colder, and stopped playing. In her younger years Integra had a crush on him, but she never allowed anything to happen, clinging to her pride as a Hellsing. But Ebony, she is still naïve, and falls for his games. Her feelings for him run much deeper than Integra's ever did, and she knows him well enough to be wary of getting close. Still faithful to the ideals of falling in love and having a loyal mate, yet so careful to try and protect her heart. A part of her desperately wants to believe he cares for her, and he uses it to his advantage. Such a fun way to pass the time, and yet…is he simply playing?
Much as Alucard would like to say he feels a minimal fondness for the girl and nothing more, he knows it's not true. When she encountered Anderson at the street fair, he was furious, but it wasn't just because he hates the priest. He had been angry that she put herself in needles danger, and for what? A damn hat that he could replace without a thought. She had handled the situation well, a smooth lie to escape the priest while thinking of the possible damage and civilian casualties if Anderson and he were to fight.
And on the balcony, how had it gone from teasing her about the feelings she has for him, to holding her in his arms? He teases her, makes her greatly flustered by his presence, traps her, and what does she do? Trusts him not to hurt her! Yet, she refuses to admit the feelings they both know she has. Then something, something made him want to kiss her and he would have if she hadn't resisted. Before he knew what happened next, she was in his arms, and it felt good.
The Police Girl came, she panicked, and he became angry. But he wasn't angry because of her denial, annoying as that was, it was the fact that there was something to deny. Then the demon attacked and she tried to fight it, little fool. However, they were sitting ducks until Raina moved the hedge. Ebony at least had the gall to fight back in the face of certain death. Even when she was impaled she didn't beg for her life, didn't call out to him. Was that because her pride wouldn't allow it? Did the thought even cross her mind? When he began to kill her enemy, laughter erupted from her. Joy at such gruesome death not screams.
In the events of today she spoke with confidence towards the Iscariot dogs, more than willing to use her sharp tongue against them. She talked about him with such reverence and pride to people who would kill her for it. He felt good hearing her say those things. Admittedly his ego didn't need a stroking, but it pleased him to no end. But her presence causes unnecessary danger to Hellsing; danger that can only be alleviated through her removal. The thought of her leaving and returning to her own dimension bothers him. The notion of his little human departing from his side forever brings forth an irrational irritation. Could he honestly care about the mortal girl?
Ebony is deeply and truly in love with him, willing to hand over her heart so long as she knows he'll care for it. Would she want immortality? To spend the rest of her days as a vampire by his side? Does he want her to? Perhaps. There is potential for greatness. A spark dwells within her that glimmers with the possibility he once thought belonged to Integra. It is small, and he would have to make sure she was groomed properly, but it is there. His fondness for the girl has undeniably turned into a deeper feeling.
Sighing, Alucard tangles his fingers in her dark locks, wrapping his aura around her protectively. A jolt rocks through him when his aura settles against hers and familiar feelings of overwhelming pleasure begin to swell within him. With a gasp Ebony clings to him, puffs of warm breath dancing across his cool skin. This time the experience is less intense, and Alucard considers it fortunate that she is still asleep. Could it be that the woman in his dream was an older version of the girl in his arms? Another wave of tumultuous pleasure roils inside leaving Alucard little doubt. The person destined to be his countess is Ebony? Drawing her closer, he could swear the woman's eyes were a vibrant icy blue, not Ebony's sharp catlike green.