Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Hellsing and make no money from these writings.
Like the Dawn
Chapter Five
Kagome hummed to herself as she sorted through her luggage and unpacked her clothes. Dresses, sweaters, and blouses were hung carefully in the closet. Jeans, t-shirts, underwear, and socks went in dresser drawers. As she was sorting through her shoes and arranging them in the closet, Kagome set aside a pair of black flats to go with what she'd changed into after her bath.
The bathtub had been large, like everything else in the mansion seemed to be, and it really had been refreshing. It didn't do much to wake her up though. She wanted nothing more than to lie down and just close her eyes, but she knew she'd be out like a light if she did. So for now she busied herself with getting herself settled. This was to be her room while she was at the Hellsing estate, but it wasn't her room yet. It would get there though. The little touches were what would make her feel more at home. A picture of her family on top of the dresser. Her favorite books on the nightstand by the bed. The little bit of makeup she used arranged neatly on the vanity. They were little things, but they definitely made a difference.
Walking over to the vanity, Kagome picked up her hairbrush and ran it through her long hair to work out any tangles that might have formed while she'd been moving around the room and working to put things away. She watched her reflection and frowned a little. After setting her brush down, she placed her palms flat on the vanity's surface and leaned closer to the mirror. She was thirty-one, but she hadn't aged a day since she was twenty-one. Most women would kill to look young forever, but it was actually very unsettling.
Kagome had watched her friends from middle and high school after she'd returned from "traveling" after graduation. As far as all of them knew, she'd gone traveling with her boyfriend-turned-fiance but had returned home after their romance ended in tragedy that she never wanted to talk about. And so she'd watched her friends fall in love and get married. A few had already started families.
The changes were subtle, but they all began to mature in appearance. Stresses of family and work caused a few fine lines to begin at the corners of their eyes. The flirty skirts and tops were replaced with more practical wardrobes. And in some ways that she could never quite put her finger on, they just looked older. Then there was Kagome. Unchanging Kagome who was just aging gracefully. She didn't seem to fit in with her friends anymore. She tried to look older. She started wearing her hair up more. She changed her wardrobe to try to reflect her age instead of her appearance. It only served to make her look like a young woman trying too hard to look mature. It only made her stand out more.
In the end, she'd gradually pulled away from her friends. She went back to wearing clothes that people expected to see her in. She did what she could to not stand out. If people didn't pay attention to her, maybe she could stay in one place longer. Now she wondered how long she'd be able to stay in London before people started to question her. Ten years? Maybe twelve if she was lucky? Fifteen was definitely pushing it.
Running a hand through her hair, Kagome sighed. "Why?" She asked for what was probably the millionth time. Why couldn't she age? Why was she stuck in one place while time seemed to flow around her? It felt like time had created a special little pocket around her so that she could observe the time as it moved and changed things all around her. She just wasn't sure what she was supposed to be looking for.
Kagome finally stepped back and away from the mirror so that she could check her outfit one more time. She'd debated for quite a while about what to wear. Something casual? Or would professional be better? Should she try to look like herself or try to look like she would fit the role of the Hellsing heiress? Pants or a dress? Blouse or a sweater? In the end she'd opted for the closest to a middle ground that she could find. A simple, cream-colored sweater dress that wasn't really formal, but it wasn't really flashy or too casual either. A pair of black leggings, since the house was on the cool side, and her black flats rounded everything out.
Glancing over to the alarm clock on her nightstand and noticed that it was approaching six in the evening. The light filtering through her gauzy curtains had taken on an orange glow, and she knew that it wouldn't be much longer before it was dark. Kagome looked around her room for anything else she could do to kill time, and she was coming up empty. With nothing else, she picked up on of the books from her nightstand and moved to sit on the chaise lounge in the corner. Kagome was just about to take a seat when shiver shot down her spine.
There it was again; the presence she kept feeling ever since she'd entered the house. There was something that lingered in the air at all times, but every so often a wave of power would hit her and make her stomach twist. There didn't seem to be a pattern to how often the power hit her. The intervals were seemingly random. If anything, it felt like she was being messed with. Setting her book aside, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The last several times whatever this was came around, it seemed to make a couple of passes. Waiting patiently and focusing, she felt it. It was coming. Eyes snapping open, Kagome turned quickly to face the window and just barely saw a shadow quickly pass in front of it. She ran to the window and threw the curtains back only to be greeted with nothing but the setting sun. Pressing as close to the glass as she could, Kagome looked to the left and right and even up and down. Her eyes lingered on the ground below her window. She was on the third floor.
A smile slowly tugged at her lips as her heart began to race, but she quickly shut down the thoughts running through her head. Her instincts and powers were screaming at her, insisting that there was something in this house. But her eyes hadn't been able to confirm that yet. She didn't want to get her hopes up. How many times had she seen someone with their hair dyed an unusual color and thought that they were a demon at first glance? How often had she thought she felt a tingle of power only to come up empty when she actively searched for it?
Life was boring. Humans were boring. They were predictable and left her wanting for some excitement. Demons, spirits, everything inhuman, those were the things that made her life interesting. She never knew what would happen, and they kept her on her toes. They made her feel alive.
Lifting her hands to lightly smack her cheeks a few times, Kagome took a deep breath. "Don't get ahead of yourself," she mumbled. "Mama said these people might have something to do with supernatural things. She didn't know for sure, though. I shouldn't get too excited until I talk with Integra...Ms. Hellsing?" Groaning in the back of her throat, Kagome returned to the chaise lounge to sit heavily on the end. "I still have no idea what to call her."
Kagome had just reached over to pick up her book again when there was a knock at her door. "Miss? It's Arthur," she heard the butler call through the door.
Quickly slipping on her flats, Kagome trotted over to the door and opened it with nervous smile. Unable to think of anything else to say, Kagome blurted out, "Is she ready to meet me?"
"Yes," Arthur nodded with a small smile in an attempt to put Kagome at ease. "If you'll follow me this way to her study," he stepped aside to allow Kagome to exit her room, and he pulled the door shut behind her. They walked down the hall together in silence until Arthur glanced down at Kagome and saw that she was twisting her hands together and fidgeting with her fingers. "Are you nervous?"
Kagome looked up to see Arthur watching her. "Is it that obvious?" She asked with a shaky smile as she crossed her arms under her chest in an attempt to keep from messing with her hands. Of course she was nervous. Her mother's key description of Integra Hellsing had been "intimidating." And she really had no idea what to expect out of this meeting going into it.
Arthur hummed softly before saying, "May I offer some advice?"
They just started down the stairs to the second floor and Kagome nodded eagerly. "Please," she said. "I'll take any advice I can get on this."
At the bottom of the stairs, Arthur spoke again, "Sir Integra demands respect, and she has the presence to command it in any room. In return, she respects those who are willing to stand their ground." When he saw Kagome's eyebrows push together and create a little crease on her forehead, he tried to explain again, "All you need to do is be respectful, but don't show your fear. Hold your head high and be confident in yourself."
"And if I can't?" Kagome questioned.
Arthur laughed a little as he answered, "Fake it."
"Gee, thanks," Kagome sighed with a small frown. Of course she could handle the respectful part. That wouldn't be an issue. It was finding her own confidence that was the problem. And it wasn't as though she didn't have confidence in herself, she was just having trouble holding onto it at the moment. She was about to meet the mother she'd never known about; a woman who lived in a gigantic mansion and was, by all accounts, more than a bit scary. If the meeting went well, Kagome would likely stay in London. If things went badly, she would be returning to Japan. 'Maybe I shouldn't have unpacked...' Kagome thought. 'No. I can do this. I can do this. I've faced scarier things than this.'
And suddenly, that one thought brought a surprising amount of peace to her heart and mind. She had definitely faced scarier things than one human woman. She'd stared down Sesshoumaru face-to-face more than once. She'd nearly been eaten by countless demons. She'd had her soul stolen, been possesed, and cursed. She had wished one of the most dangerous relics in history out of existence.
Kagome looked up when she realized that she and Arthur had stopped in front of a set of doors. "Are you ready?" He asked her.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Kagome thought, 'I've definitely faced scarier things than this.' A small smile made its way onto her face as she nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."
Arthur nodded before stepping forward and opening the doors. "Ma'am," he announced as he stepped into the room. "I've brought Ms. Kagome Higurashi."
"Show her in, Arthur," Kagome heard a voice announce from within the room.
Kagome watched as Arthur turned back to her, stepped aside, and motioned for her to enter the study. Once more deep breath to calm any lingering nerves, and Kagome walked forward with her chin up. Her eyes immediately landed on the woman sitting behind a large desk, and she watched the woman stand as Kagome walked forward.
"Kagome Higurashi," Integra greeted as the young woman approached her. She almost frowned a little. Kagome was thirty-one. She was absolutely sure of it. But the woman in front of her looked much younger. It wasn't impossible. Good genes and taking care of oneself could keep someone looking much younger than their actual age, but she really hadn't been expecting it. When Kagome stopped in front of her desk, she did allow herself to smile warmly. Kagome looked so much like her father. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Integra said as she extended her right hand. "As I'm sure you're aware by now, I am Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing."
"Nice to meet you," Kagome returned as she reached across the desk to shake Integra's hand. She really wasn't sure what she had expected, but...it wasn't the woman standing in front of her. Integra was tall. Very tall for a woman. But beyond that, her skin was a rich brown - Kagome wondered briefly if she was tanned or if it was her natural skin tone - and it was offset by her long white hair and clear blue eyes. Correction, eye. Kagome hadn't expected the eyepatch.
Integra moved around from behind her desk and motioned off to the side with her hand. "Let's move to a more comfortable sitting area." With that, she lead Kagome over to a small area occupied by an oval coffee table and four softly padded chairs.
Kagome smoothed her dress under her as she sat and crossed her legs at her ankles. She sat up straight, trying to be on her best behavior, and folded her hands in her lap. She watched as Integra sat down smoothly, leaned back in her chair, crossed one long leg over the other, and folded her hands across her stomach. Kagome swallowed. She seemed relaxed in her reclined position, but she still held an air of authority about her. Kagome knew what her mother meant now.
"Tea, please, Arthur," Integra requested with a glance towards the butler she'd known since his childhood. When she saw him nod with a slight bow and retreat from the room, she turned back to look at Kagome. The younger woman's posture was a little stiff, but her face was relaxed and soft. "How was your flight?" She asked in an effort to get things rolling.
"Long," Kagome immediately answered with the first thing that came to mind. Her eyes widened a little before she tried to amend, "But it was really comfortable. I appreciate you booking me in First Class, because I'm sure it made a difference."
"Trust me, it did," Integra smiled a little. "I've made that flight several times, and anything else is utterly miserable." There was a pause between them before Integra lifted her chin and sighed a little. "I'm sure you have questions for me."
"A few," Kagome admitted with a smile and a small, slightly nervous laugh.
"Then please, ask whatever you'd like. Answers are the least that I can give you," Integra invited.
Kagome's tongue darted out a little to wet her dry lips as she thought about what question she wanted to ask first. "Why my dad?" The question mostly came out on its own, and Kagome hurried to elaborate a bit. "I mean, you're beautiful, so I'm sure you could have found a husband to have a family with. So why my dad?"
"Your father and I had been friends for years," Integra answered simply. "I met him when I went to Japan for the first time as a teenager. We kept in touch over the years. As for why him, he and your mother wanted a family and I needed someone to inherit all of this," she explained as she waved a hand around the room. "Well, this and a few other things. And as for why I never had a family of my own, I was, and still am, a very busy woman. I didn't think that I had the time or, to be frank, the motherly instincts to raise a child."
Kagome nodded slowly as she thought over the answer. 'She didn't think that she'd be a good mother,' Kagome thought. She wondered for a moment if that was true or not; whether or not Integra would have been a good mother. What would Kagome's life had been like if she'd been raised by Integra in England? She would never know, but she knew that she was glad that she'd grown up in Japan. But that lead her into her next question. "Why did you want to meet me now, after all this time?"
"That is the question, isn't it?" Integra sighed to herself. She was about to continue when Arthur returned with their tea. Things were quiet as he set the tray on the coffee table between them and poured two cups. He prepared one cup the way he knew that Integra preferred and handed it to her carefully so as not to spill any. He looked to Kagome to see how she would like hers prepared.
"Um, two sugars, please?" Kagome requested with a tense smile. She and Integra were just getting to the real explanations. But she patiently waited for Arthur to fix her tea for her and hand it off. "Thank you," Kagome said softly.
Turning to Integra, Arthur asked, "Is there anything else, ma'am?"
"No, that's all for now," Integra told him before taking a small sip from the steaming cup in her hand. But before Arthur had left the room again, she asked, "Are they waiting in the hall as I asked?"
"Yes, ma'am," Arthur confirmed. "They're simply awaiting your word."
"Thank you, that will be all for the moment," she finally dismissed. Getting back to the conversation that had been interrupted, Integra continued, "There was something of mine, a possession of sorts, that disappeared a very long time ago when you were still a baby. The possession that went missing was one of my main reasons for wanting an heir. As time went by and I was unable to find it, I thought it would be best to allow you to live a normal life with the family that you'd always known."
When Integra paused, Kagome pushed, "So...why now of all times?"
"What I lost came back to me, and I need an heir again," Integra told her flat out.
"I still don't understand," Kagome shook her head as she set her tea aside. "What possession is so important? There has to be more to becoming your heir than that. I mean, you have this estate and some...interesting staff," she rattled off as she remembered the uniformed men who came to take her bags from the car to her room when she'd arrived. "And," she hesitated. "My mom mentioned that your family does something, but she didn't know what."
"Yes," Integra drew out the word slowly as she thought about her answer. "If you're going to be my heir, there are many things about this family that you need to know. Learning this information will likely change the way you view the world. Are you prepared for that?"
Kagome nodded as she leaned forward a little without even thinking about it. Because really, what could Integra tell her that would shock her at this point in her life?
"The Hellsing family has served Crown and Country for generations. We are on a mission from God to protect this country, Her Majesty The Queen, and the Church," Integra explained in what was likely the broadest description of what the Hellsing Organization did.
"What are you protecting them from?" Kagome asked curiously, knowing that this was the big question, and the answer would likely determine if she stayed or returned home.
Integra made and kept eye contact with Kagome so that she would be able to gauge the younger woman's reaction as she answered, "The Hellsing Organization's mission is to rid this earth of non-human creatures, though most of our targets are vampires."
A strange feeling swept through Kagome in that moment. It was unidentifiable, but it made her chest tighten and her stomach dance with butterflies. It was like an electric chill that shot down her spine and spread through her limbs. For a moment she could neither move nor speak, and she could barely take a breath. As the initial reaction began to fade, Kagome could feel one corner of her mouth start to quirk up. But when she saw how serious Integra's face was, she tried to suppress it. She largely failed.
Kagome had to bite her lip in an effort to not break out into a huge smile, and she knew that she was truly losing her battle to maintain composure when she felt the first beginnings of a laugh work its way through her chest and up her throat. It came out as a strangled noise, and she had to press a hand to her mouth to smother any others that attempted to escape. Integra frowned a little, and Kagome knew that this wasn't the appropriate reaction to being told that vampires were real and her family had been hunting them for generations. But a new feeling was filling her from head to toe. It was excitement. She was almost giddy with it.
Vampires were real. They weren't demons or spirits or anything else that she was used to dealing with, but they were something new and unpredictable. They were the remedy for her incredibly boring life. In that moment, realizing that she was finally going to be able to live again, Kagome broke. Laughter escaped her even though she tried to keep it muffled, and tears - mostly of relief - gathered in her eyes. For the first time in a very long time, it felt like she was getting fresh air when she took a breath, and it was amazing.
Integra's frown deepened. She'd experienced many reactions to people discovering the existence of the supernatural over the years; disbelief, anger, despair, a few half-hearted laughs that eventually gave way to shock. But she'd never seen the reaction that Kagome was having. The woman was nearly doubled over in her seat in an attempt to contain her laughter while she wiped at the tears in her eyes. "Do you not believe me?" Integra questioned. Because she had just the cure for that waiting in the hall.
"No, no," Kagome waved a hand as she tried to straighten herself in her seat so that she could explain. Her face was still slightly red from attempting to hold in her laughter, but even as that faded, her cheeks remained flushed with her excitement. "I can completely believe that," she assured. "I'm just...so relieved," she laughed the last word as she wiped at her eyes again.
Integra had to wonder if Kagome was fully aware of what she'd just heard. "You do understand that this isn't a joke, correct? Vampires are very real and very dangerous creatures."
"I'm sure they are," Kagome nodded as she took a calming breath in an attempt to regain some of the seriousness of the conversation. Honestly, she'd always thought that the legends of things like vampires and werewolves came from creatures like bat and wolf demons. So this was, oddly enough, a pleasant surprise.
Still frowning and believing that Kagome didn't understand the gravity of what she was trying to convey, Integra called out, "Seras, could you come in here, please?"
When the door to the study opened, Kagome turned in her seat to see a young woman with blonde hair and red eyes walking towards them. She was wearing the women's version of the Hellsing Organization's uniform, and Kagome thought that she was very pretty. The only thing that stood out was the writhing mass of black and red that flared out from where her left arm should have been. Kagome's eyes widened, and it was all she could do not to start start smiling too brightly. She was well aware that she had to look slightly crazy reacting to this news of vampires the way she had. And in the end, maybe she was a little crazy. Someone would have to be at least a little off to want a life of dangerous creatures and fighting over a safe, secure, and normal life.
"Kagome," Integra began, "this is Seras Victoria. She's a member of the Hellsing Organization as well as a vampire."
"Hello," Seras waved at Kagome with a cheery smile. It was amazing to her that this was Integra's daughter. There was almost no resemblance between the two women, and Seras wouldn't have believed it if Kagome didn't have Integra's eyes.
Kagome stared at Seras for a moment before she realized that she'd been greeted and answered, "Hello! It's nice to meet you." Standing, she introduced herself, "I'm Kagome Higurashi."
Seras hummed a little as she nodded. "Sir Integra told us about you earlier before you arrived," she said before turning to look wide-eyed at Integra. "I still can't believe you have a daughter! And you never told me," she pouted.
"I already told you that I had my reasons," Integra brushed off as she watched Kagome and Seras.
Kagome stepped closer to Seras, her eyes flickering over to the mass acting as her left arm. Raising a tentative hand, she asked, "May I?"
Seras laughed, "Sure!" She moved her shadow arm closer to Kagome and watched as the other woman gently reached out and touched it.
It was quite possibly one of the stranger things that Kagome had willingly touched. The shifting shadow was solid enough, but it felt like her hand would go right through if she pushed against it. And it was warm. "Wow," she breathed. "So you're really a vampire?"
"Yes, indeed," Seras nodded. "I've been undead for thirty years now."
Turning back to look at Integra, Kagome finally asked, "So you told me what the Hellsing family does and what inheriting the name will mean, more or less, but what was it that was so important for you to need an heir again?"
"Alucard," Integra said, both as an answer to Kagome question and a call to the man that served her.
Kagome froze as a familiar sensation washed over her. There was no sound, no indication of movement, but when Kagome turned around she was within about three feet of a very tall man dressed all in red. This was the presence that she'd been feeling all afternoon. She couldn't see his face very well because of the hat that he word, but when he slid his glasses down his nose, she could easily make out the glow of his red eyes. The force of his presence increased around her and it became harder to breathe.
"Kagome, this is Alucard," Integra introduced. "He is the Hellsing Organization's most powerful agent and weapon. He has been bound to this family for more than one hundred years. When I'm gone, he'll need a new master."
But Kagome only vaguely registered what Integra was telling her. She was too busy staring down a vampire that was doing his best to intimidate her. And between his size and the pressure he was putting on her, he was doing an excellent job. She refused to look away, however. Incredibly unnerved or not, she knew that this was a challenge and she wasn't about to back down so easily.
Alucard couldn't hold back his grin. This woman, so small and fragile, was trying to stand up to him. Completely unarmed, at that. It was almost cute, in a cornered prey sort of way. But when it looked like she wasn't going to bow out, he decided to take it one step further. Reaching out with one hand, he brushed his fingers over one of Kagome's shoulders before gently placing his hand around her throat. It wasn't a tight hold, really he was barely even making skin contact, and as much as he liked to play, he knew that he wasn't about to hurt her. Integra, though she couldn't really kill him, would likely find a way to seal and lock him away in the basement again. All he wanted at the moment was to see how far he could push before the little human in front of him panicked and tried to run.
As soon as Alucard's hand was around Kagome's throat, several things happened at one time. Integra demanded to know what he thought he was doing. Seras quickly stepped forward to attempt extracting his hand from it's current location. But what took everyone by surprise was when Kagome gasped in surprise. As tightly as she'd been wound and pressured by Alucard, it only took that little bit of contact between his hand and her throat for Kagome's body to automatically react with its best defense.
A bright light flashed and forced Alucard back and away from her. It was difficult to tell, as Seras also shrieked when some of the light nearly caught her as well, but Kagome was almost positive that she heard a short, surprised, very masculine shout.
The light faded as quickly as it had appeared, and the room was left with silence and aftermath. Because he was still in front of her, though a good bit farther away, Kagome saw Alucard first. The hand that had been wrapped around her throat was nearly gone, and what was left was badly burned. Turning quickly to look at Seras who she'd heard scream, Kagome was glad to see that the woman only appeared to be a little dazed with no real injuries. Finally, she looked back to where Integra stood in front of the chair she'd previously been sitting in. Her one blue eye wide and mouth slightly parted, Kagome knew that she would now have some explaining to do as well.
Alucard looked down to his charred and partially missing hand. It hurt. It actually hurt. A lot. He tried to will the injury away, but it remained as it was. He could feel it healing, just barely see the process at work, but for the first time in a very long time, someone had actually managed to injure him. He should be angry. He should want blood. But the only thing he felt at the moment was a thrill he hadn't experienced in ages. Finally, after centuries of believing that it was his Holy Grail, there was a human with the power to seriously injure and potentially kill him. This woman, Integra's daughter, his future master, had just become infinitely more interesting.