I decided to combine the previous chapters 1 and 2, 'cause it made a bit more sense to me like that, especially since every other chapters are pretty much scenes. Anywho, how do people like the dates and places? I figured that would help people keep things in perspective, instead of having to rely on people reading these author notes. Next chapter will be up as soon as I finish spell-checking it. After that, it might be another day or two.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

Moonlight Sonata

Chapter 1: As It Began

By: Ceris Malfoy

January2, 1988

Hellsing Manor

Integra stared impassively at the steel doorway that bared her from her pet.

Or rather, bared her pet from her. It would not hold for long, she knew this as well as she knew her own name, but it would hold long enough.

She felt her blood drip monotonously from the deep cut that ran across her left palm. She did not look at the cut, could not look at it, could not tear her gaze from the door. She wondered how long it would take for her pet to wake up; wondered if she would bleed to death before he woke.

It had taken her nearly three months to determine how to do this. Three long, bitter months in which she was forced by her God and Queen to see just what it was she had let into her home and (unbidden) into her heart. Three long, sleepless months in which she labored night and day beside the common man to rebuild England in the wake of Incognito's and Alucard's battle.

"Integra."

"Yes, your Majesty?"

"You are getting on in years, and your reaction time has noticeably slowed down. I am concerned that you will die before your family line is continued."

Integra blinked cloudy blue eyes, her thoughts fuzzy and unfocused. Unbidden, her gaze left the door and gazed down the corner, where she saw a concerned crimson gaze staring back at her.

'Walter,' her mind supplied. There was a surge of the usual warm affection she associated with her retainer, and an answering surge of sadness. The retainer no longer existed as he once did, of course – he was changed forevermore into one of those damned souls that they hunted – but he was still her retainer in every way that mattered. Almost fanatically loyal to the Hellsing family, concerned about her welfare, competent and sturdy.

"You will drop this silly notion of playing the Lord, and take your proper place in society. I am giving you one year, Integra. One. During which you will find a way to neutralize your so-called pets and choose a potential suitor."

"...Do I have a choice, your Majesty?"

"Yes, Integra. You have a choice. Do as I tell you to do willingly, or I will have your pets destroyed, your titles and authority striped, and your suitor chosen. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, your Majesty."

A wave of confusion followed swiftly by raw fury had her turning her gaze back to the door, absentmindedly clenching and un-clenching her injured hand.

He was awake.

For the first time since her father's death, Integra felt her iron-will falter. It was only for a second, but for that one second she forgot that she was Hellsing, Master of the creature whose fury roared within her head. It was not a feeling she was accustomed to, and not one she was all that interested in feeling again, especially considering the consequences. It had only been a second, but in that moment, the monster known as Alucard forcefully tore free of the bindings that held him to the Hellsing blood.

Integra, fortunately, managed to regain control over herself in time to prevent him from escaping the seal completely. But the damage was already done. Raw power, power she had not given her pet permission to summon, battered against the reinforced-steel doors, even as a thousand sightless corpses born from blood and shadow screamed an ageless cry of war that only she could hear.

"INTEGRA!!"

Integra reared back at the sound of her name roared with such fury. Her bloody hand clenched, and her eyes narrowed. She was woozy; lightheaded and scatterbrained from blood loss, but she still functioned well enough to know that she despised the state she was in. It wasn't her; it wasn't Hellsing. Her thoughts drifted off again, her eyes defocussing.

The steady dripping sound of her blood hitting the stone floors was rhythmic. The door was glowing – the temporary warding Walter had put up flaring under the stress of keeping the monster behind it at bay.

"Sir, the seals need to be re-adhered as quickly as possible."

Walter, good, steady, loyal Walter. Integra shot something that could be taken as a warm look at her retainer, then tried to focus on the job at hand.

Hesitantly, she raised her bloody hand and held it against the door, imagining and half-expecting a black void filled with the damned to reach out and tear her hand from its limb. But nothing managed to break through the temporary warding, and so Integra continued. Her hand smeared blood in complex patterns and ancient words she could not read or understand. It was a difficult job, at first, but eventually the magic took over, and she was merely a vessel writing what the magic willed.

It was Walter who grasped her arms and forcefully tore her from the door – now covered in her blood. It was Walter who held her tightly even as she fought with him to return to it – there was so much more to be inscribed, so much more the magic willed to be written. It was Walter who forced her to look into his eyes so that he could lure her back to reality – Integra was merely the puppet of an almost sentient power that had laid dormant in her blood, but would never be so again.

For weeks afterward, Integra had trouble functioning. She left it to Walter to make the arrangements regarding the Queen's orders.

Integra wanted no part of it.

The link that connected her to her pet was dying a little more each day, but it was not dying quickly enough to save her from his wrath. Every night she was tormented by visions of her as the undead, under his beck and call. Every day she was forced to listen as he alternatively whispered lewd suggestions and scenes of carnage in her ears. She began to drink – first to help dull the edge of reality, and then to drown him out.

Later, she would come to realize just how much she owed to her retainer. During those weeks, he would ensure that she was placed in a bed when she passed out. He cleaned after her when she drank so much she became physically ill, he ensured that she got decent food within her system, talked to her when she needed someone to talk to, sat there and took the punishment she dealt out when she needed someone to rail on.

And during it all he took care of the Organization, her paperwork, and the arrangements for her duty.

Part of Integra will hate him (secretly) for this; she does not want to marry some upstart Lord who would probably try to ensure that she learn her proper place as the "Lady". Nor does she want to marry a weak little thing that hangs on her every word. Unfortunately, she knew most of those of marrying age that would "deign" to seek her hand, and she knew she would be stuck with one on the other.

The vast majority of Integra will adore him for the same thing, when she finds out that he made sure to invite the aristocrats from three other countries as well, each of whom invited knew about what her family does, and each of whom had families who functioned on similar a basis.

Woot. Fixed a couple spelling errors, but that's pretty much all that changed. See ya later, squirts!

~Ceris