A/N: Hey, sorry for the wait. I got into a massive writers' block that I had to muscle my way through. My sister moved back home, I've been working on far too many costumes lately (just got fourteen yards of Casa Collection white satin in the mail!), and I've been spending far too much time in an LJ dressing room RP. Hopefully I'm done with the block for a bit though. Cross your fingers.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, Hellsing, or Dracula. I'd like to, but I don't. So read, enjoy, and leave a nice review on your way out the door or you'll make the kitsune sad. Also, I've been told to add "That if you make the Kitsune sad... Said girlfriend will come hunt you down." And that is a direct quote from the lovely girlfriend, unaltered in any way, shape or form. I feel loved. (There are no threats intended from the author.)

"Violet Turned Red"

Chapter Nine

Delivery

Integra sat at her desk, the smoke from her cigar curling lazily through the air. The short meeting with the young vampire hadn't told her much about him other than the fact that he had a sharp mind and a good mask. "Servant."

"My master."

She didn't bother looking up as he emerged from the shadows. "You've met Seras' fledgling."

"He's a Draculae."

Now she did look at him. "I assume you aren't referring to his newly gained vampiric line."

A slow grin formed on Alucard's face. "Young Duo is a descendant of my family's line, an heir to my older brother."

"You're sure?" the woman said, only half asking.

"I know what the blood of my tastes like."

Integra looked at him sharply. "You attacked him."

"Merely defending our beloved home," Alucard said casually. "Since I was not informed of his presence when I returned."

"We would have introduced the two of you soon enough," she said with a sigh. "What did you think of him?"

"He'll grow to be a magnificent nosferatu," The vampire sounded proud, and perhaps a little smug, "With a little training to remove his human reflexes, of course."

"And you plan on conducting this training, I suppose," Integra said, weaving her fingers together in front of her.

"The police girl has yet to accept her own nature, much less complete her training," he said. "She would only cripple him, and would likely be unable to break him out of his self punishing habits."

"Elaborate."

The vampire tabbed his chest. "He wears a silver cross against his skin. Even broken and unconscious, he fought me when I tried to tear it from him."

"I have Walter digging up what he can about him," Integra said. "From Seras and Bernadotte's descriptions, he grew up on the streets and until just now, worked with the Preventers."

"There's blood on his hands."

"Of course there is. As noble as their ideal is, Preventers do have to use force and kill on occasion."

Alucard shook his head. "There is much more than the occasional spill of blood. Seras' childe has nearly as much as I did by the time of my death."

"He's barely in his twenties," Integra said, eyes narrowed.

"Age means little to one's ability and willingness to kill," he said, looking at her pointedly. They both knew very well that a child could kill. And well. "I am eager to hear what Walter learns about our little Death."

The lady knight raised an eyebrow at the nickname but refrained from commenting on it for now. Better to wait for Walter's report than to admit ignorance. "Would you say he's adapted well?"

"So far, and certainly faster than his sire. The boy strikes me as being very flexible in many aspects." Alucard sat on the corner of the woman's desk. "He has a strong will to survive."

"Like you."

"We'll see."

-

It was several days later that Pip stood nervously at Wufei's door, a box of ashes carefully held in his hands. He'd knocked and was now waiting for a response, praying that the man he was looking for hadn't gone out. He didn't think that he could stand to do this again.

When the door opened, it was automatically apparent that the man standing there in the frame was not Chang. He recognized Preventer Agent Yuy instantly; meetings like theirs tended to stick in a man's mind.

"Bernadotte," Heero said, his voice carefully devoid of emotion. Blue eyes dropped to the box in the mercenary's hands. He jerked his head, signifying for Pip to enter.

"Is Preventer Chang home?" he asked, stepping through the threshold.

Heero nodded, closing the door. "Wait here."

Standing in the room a bit awkwardly, Pip had to keep himself from looking around the room too obviously. All around were things that his Kid used and loved. He wished there was something that he could take back to him, but knew that anyone who'd lived with the Kid would notice.

Even though he preferred the fairer sex himself, he couldn't help but to think that Duo had good taste as Yuy returned with the other man.

Chang was dressed in white, a pair of glasses perched on his nose. Even now, he moved like a fighter, but with an aristocrat's grace. Much like the Kid, actually.

"Captain Bernadotte," Chang greeted simply with a short bow.

Pip felt a little awkward returning the gesture. "Agent Chang. My condolences for your partner's death."

"Thank you."

Resisting the urge to shuffle, the older man quietly held out the box to him, feeling guilty about deceiving him. The ashes contained inside had been human once, but they obviously weren't this man's partner. Duo slept under Hellsing manor in his coffin, whole except for his loss of his heartbeat and the color of his eyes.

Wufei held onto the box with pale knuckled hands, swallowing as he looked down at it. How could everything that was his vibrant lover and friend be contained in such a small and boringly white thing? Unable to look at it any longer, he set it down on the table in the kitchen before returning.

"Is there a reason you came in particular?" Wufei asked softly.

Pip looked down. "I volunteered for the duty."

"Why?"

"I knew him, before he had his name," the mercenary said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I hadn't seen him since then until... Well, he was a good kid, and I am glad to see he grew up into a good man."

Wufei regarded him quietly. This man had known Duo, had probably stole with him, ran with him, starved with him. It was almost too much to see Bernadotte wearing that braid; he looked away.

"Thank you for making the trip, Mr. Bernadotte," he said. "The memorial will be held on Thursday if you decide to attend."

Pip nodded without making any commitment either way. He'd wait to talk to Duo before deciding whether or not he would go. With a small farewell to both men, he left the building, intending to hug his old friend the moment he saw him again.