Shopping

Cat snatched up one of her mauled slimy shirts and stormed out of the room. She could not believe someone of Alucards age would stoop so low. How had he even ripped them apart so violently? It looked more like he had sent rabid dogs to destroy them rather than torn them up himself. She rushed down the hall to Integra's office and stormed in not even considering to knock.

"What in the world! Have you never heard of knocking?" Integra looked up from her desk very annoyed. She had been in the middle of writing an important letter to the Queen and was having trouble enough as it was.

Cat thrust the tattered piece of fabric at Integra, "Look at this!"

"What exactly am I supposed to be looking at other than an old wet rag?" Integra peered down her nose at the evidence.

"This was one of my favorite shirts and it came from the wreckage of all my other clothing!" Cat smacked the shirt down on Integra's desk and it made a wet plop. Her hand was covered in the slim from Alucard's hell hounds but she could care less. It was unbelievable how childish he had acted over a silly pack of blood.

"Alucard destroyed all of your clothes," she was also thinking of how childish it was. She remembered thinking to herself that she hoped he would not do that. He must have pulled the idea out of her mind.

"Yes, unless you have a pack of dogs running around that I haven't seen before then Alucard destroyed my clothes," she wasn't sure what was so hard to believe about it. He probably had tantrums like this all the time. "Well are you going to do anything about it or just sit there?" Cat was angry and did not care if she sounded rude.

"Yes alright," Integra called Alucard to her. Usually he appeared within seconds but he took his time now, a sure sign he was guilty. When he finally appeared he did so right next to Cat and he had brought with him a great black dog. When she noticed it she took a few good steps away. This must be where all the slobber had come from. The dog looked over at Cat, licking his lips and smiling.

"He isn't really smiling though, dogs can't do that," she thought to herself. She heard Alucard snicker.

"Alucard, did you destroy Cats clothing?" Cat wondered why she bothered asking him. It was obvious that he had done it, who else would have? She assumed it was like forcing a child to tell the truth, but she could not picture Alucard getting frustrated or blushing from embarrassment of being caught.

"Of course not Master I did not touch her clothes," Alucard looked over at Cat and smiled. She just glared at him waiting for Integra to speak.

"Well if you did not destroy them who did?" Integra had started staring at her computer screen and moving the mouse around. Cat pictured her playing solitaire.

"My hounds of course. They must have sensed my feelings and took matters into their own hands. Or perhaps their own jaws would be more fitting," Cat was sickened by the look of triumph on his face. Did he think he was going to get off so easily? Integra could not possibly be fooled by such a ridiculous lie.

"Is that so? They just happened to pull away from you without your noticing it and made their way to Katherine's room. Very interesting," Integra made an unusually hard click then frowned.

"Yes Master, may I be dismissed now?" Cat could see him leering at her from the corner of his eye. The dog leered at her as well, but was considerably more menacing.

"Yes, there is a mission so you are dismissed," Integra looked away from the computer and back at Alucard.

"Wait just a minute! You're not going to do anything about what he did! You don't really believe what he's telling you do you?" Cat could not believe she was just going to let him go.

"Of course I do not believe him, but right now there are more important matters at hand. Alucard as your punishment you will take Katherine out tomorrow afternoon to purchase new clothes," she sat back to relish the look on his face.

Both Alucard's and Cat's faces dropped. It was nice of Integra to make Alucard take her shopping but she did not have any money to buy clothes. She started to speak when Alucard cut her off.

"But Master!"

"Do not question me vampire. You acted like a child and now you are being punished for it. Please try not to act like a child through this as well," she reached into a drawer and pulled out a stack of money. She counted out 400 euros and held them out for Cat to take. "Here you go. This should be enough to replace your clothing."

Cat hesitated and stuttered, "But I…It's just that I…"

"Yes I suppose prices have gone up," She counted out 200 more euros.

"No! It isn't that at all. This is too much I can't take it," she was used to never having money and here was this women pushing 600 euros in her face.

"Don't worry. Hellsing has more than enough money to spare. It isn't as though I go out on frivolous shopping sprees like the other well-to-do women in England," Integra placed the money in Cats hand. She had paid Katherine's parents well, but Cat had been too young to enjoy it back then. Taking care of her now and making her comfortable was the least she could do.

"I don't know what to say. Thank you so much," Cat just stared at the money and at Integra.

They heard Alucard scoff. He had walked closer to the desk while the women were occupied and now stood over Cat with a look of hatred on his face. Cat noticed that the dog was now gone and remembered how Integra had said that they just pulled away from him. She guessed that he could spawn different things from his body and she fancied he could turn into a bat as well. She giggled at the notion of him changing into a little bat and bumping against the window to get outside. She heard a deep growl and looked up at him. She could not imagine how angry he might be and she was glad that he was under a binding spell. Even for a vampire so powerful it was a pain to go out in the day time.

"Well I'm going to head off to bed. I want to be well rested for our shopping trip tomorrow," she smiled up at Alucard, "try not to work too hard tonight alright?" She told Integra goodnight and thanked her again then left the room. After she closed the door she could hear the hushed angry yells of Alucard as he pleaded with Integra to choose a different punishment. Cat was glad to see that Integra could pick something so simple and it have such a great affect. Perhaps this would keep all her other possession safe from his wrath. She did not bother cleaning up the mess and hopped right into bed. It had been a long day and she was going to have to wake up early to cook the soldier's breakfast. She instantly fell asleep on the soft downy pillow and dreamed of all the wonderful clothes she would buy the next day.

Back in the office Alucard begged Integra to change the punishment. He would rather have his head sawed off by Anderson than have to go shopping with that girl. Integra was not amused by his prattle. There was an important mission she needed to send him on and he was wasting her time.

"Enough of this nonsense. You will take her shopping and you will wait patiently as she picks things out. If she speaks to you you will respond politely. You will be a perfect gentleman and be kind to her. She is going to be here for quite some time Alucard so I suggest you learn to get along. Now back to business, I need you to go to Worcester. There has been an outbreak of freaks and they need to promptly be disposed of before they cause more damage. Investigate as necessary and be back by dawn. You will have a few hours to rest before your shopping trip. Walter will make lunch for the soldiers and I will send the girl to wake you at noon. You are dismissed," she got up and headed for the door.

"Yes my Master," Alucard was furious but he took to heart what Integra had said. The girl was indeed going to be around for quite some time and if he wanted to go back to the way things were he would have to accept her. He gave her credit for being able to make him angry; usually he did not give anyone the satisfaction of that. He left the office for Worcester wondering if he showed the slightest bit of kindness towards Cat if she would immediately let her guard down or remain wary and on her toes. It would be a fine first test for her to show any future abilities she might hold within herself.