The Lost Priest

Chapter 11

Coming to Terms & B-Day gifts

(A/N Yes, I finally have chapter 11 up and running! Be happy. Also for all those who don't know there is a one shot side story to this story. It's called The Lost Priest: Side Story. Okay so I don't get points for originality in the title but the story itself does. Check it out please because some parts of this story might not make any since to you if you haven't read the side story.)

SOUNDS/sounds

Thoughts

Telepathy

It was the morning after and Abel tried to talk to Hugue about everything that had been revealed last night, but Hugue would hear nothing of it from him. He had repeatedly tried to talk to the infuriated priest, but Hugue would always leave as soon as Abel got close to him.

"Hugue, please just listen to me," Abel pleaded. "Please, just stop! I'm getting tired of sounding like a broken record! Hugue!"

Hugue never even turned to look at Abel as he opened his bedroom door and closed it in Abel's face. Abel heard a click from the lock and moaned in aggravation. If there was a record for being a stubborn ass, then Father Hugue had just broken it. This was the fifth time this morning Hugue had boarded himself up in his guest chambers!

"Hugue, open the door! I just want to talk to you," Abel said, rapping on the door rather hard. "C'mon now! So help me God, Hugue, I'll knock this door in!"

"Please don't, Father, that's very expensive mahogany, so I would prefer if you didn't do so," Walter said, standing behind Abel and adjusting his monocle. "My suggestion to you is that you let Father de Watteau be for a while. You two obviously don't see eye to eye at the moment and you're only making the situation worse by constantly hounding him to talk to you. I also suggest you do something else for a while to occupy your time while letting Father Watteau calm himself."

Abel made a pouting face at Walter but knew the butler was right. However, he just wanted to get some things off his mind. Walter then bowed to him and walked off, and soon Abel did the same, but in the opposite direction. What was he going to do now? All three vampires were fast asleep, Integra was not warmest person to have a conversation with, Walter was very busy, and that left only Tres, which meant no actual conversation. At best, Tres would talk about a mission; at worst, he'd put Abel to sleep.

Abel walked down the dark, dreary corridor, still listening to rain outside, and dragged his feet as he let out a deep breath. He might as well just going to training practice even though he'd be leaving in only few short days. It would give him something to do, at least. He picked up his feet a little more, but a lack of motivation swept over him and he quickly lost interest.

What's the matter with you, Crusnik?

I thought you were asleep, Alucard.

Well, I'm not exactly up either. I'm just lying here in my coffin thinking about some of the things you and the Viscountess said last night. So, what's Mars like?

It's a giant red dust bowl of a planet. I was dumped out in the middle of that dust bowl and left for dead once. I was not very popular among the colonists and they made that quite clear. If I ever had the chance to go back, I don't think I would.

What are you planning on doing when you go back to your era?

Do my job, which is just about the same thing I'm doing here, but also looking for Cain. Though I am looking forward to seeing Esther, Caterina, Augusta, and the others. But knowing Caterina, she'll give me an order the moment I return. I think she's why Integra and I never got into arguments. Caterina is a lot like her, so I know to keep my trap shut.

You don't say. I would like to meet your Lady Caterina. She sounds like she's quite the intriguing woman.

Who knows; maybe you will meet her. You should look me up someday, assuming you're still around in the year 3061, and I'll introduce you to her.

Hahahaha! I'll do that! I'll most certainly do that, Crusnik.

Say, Alucard, can you do me a favor?

Depends.

Funny. Listen; can you—kind of pry into Hugue's mind for me? I would like to know what he's thinking.

That's an odd request coming from you. Shame on you, and being a priest to boot!

OH, LIKE YOU'RE A SAINT!

HA! Too true, too true!

Abel then felt Alucard pull out of his mind, leaving him alone again. Abel looked outside as rain pelted the window and saw his brooding reflection. He walked over to it and bent over slightly to rest his elbows the windowsill, letting out a long sigh and fogging up the window with his warm breath.

"Father," a woman said from behind him.

Abel quickly stood up straight and turned around.

"Sir Hellsing," he said as she walked up to him. "How are you this morning?"

"You really have to ask?" she yawned. "You should know by now I'm not a morning person."

"Oh, yes, you're quite the night owl," Abel smiled slightly.

"You and Father Hugue still not talking?" she asked as Abel tuned his eyes to the window again. "I'll take that as a yes."

"The original return to Earth was to help rebuild after it was destroyed. We never knew what was going to happen once we returned. The bacillus just went bonkers. They mutated for some reason, which only sparked the fire Cain and I were feeling," Abel said in a hushed voice. "I hated everything at that time. Cain wasn't any better than me and we supported each other's hatred for just about every living thing. The fight was a godsend for us. It was our chance to get rid of everything that we hated, mostly the humans."

"Isn't the Crusnik also some sort of virus?" she asked.

"Yes, in a way, although to me it's a curse," he replied.

"Then you were once a normal human yourself. So, what made you hate us so much?"

"Me? Normal? I would like to believe that. Human I may have been, but normal I never was. And I really don't want to go into that any farther."

"That's fine. Just talk to Hugue; he'll have to listen sooner or later, Abel. It's clear that you made a large mistake, but you saw your error and are now you're trying to correct it. However, Hugue only sees your mistake and not your effort to correct it. Show him that you are correcting your mistake; get him to talk to you."

"But he just shuts the door in my face every time," Abel said, turning to look at her again.

"Sound can travel through wood; you know that. If he won't listen to you face to face, then play him at his own game," she smirked. "Talk to him as though you were face to face when he shuts the door and don't stop until you tell him everything. That's my advice to you."

"But that'll be a little awkward to talk to a door," He said giving her a weird look.

"It always worked after my Father and I would have a fight. I'd storm up to my room and shut the door in his face, but the whole time he just talked to me until I started to listen. It might take a while, but he will start to listen to you. Just keep talking and don't stop," she said, walking down the hall and leaving Abel alone once more.

"'Just keep talking and don't stop,' she says. I wish it were that simple."

Wow, that's new. I must say I've never heard my Master give such a speech. OH, and by the way… It's official. He hates your guts and I would still try what my Master just told you.

But you just said he hates my guts. How's that going to help?

Just because he hates you doesn't mean he won't listen to you. Just go on back; he's still in his room.

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

How'd you guess? Hahahaha!

"I'm going to feel like an idiot," Abel mumbled, walking back down the corridor.

Abel continued until he came to Hugue's room. He knocked lightly this time but didn't hear any movement within. He sighed again and put his back up against the fine polished door. Well, here goes nothing.

"Father Hugue, listen. About last night… I know that your trust in me has hit a negative number somewhere and that you hate my guts. Um, but I would like to apologize to you. I-I don't know what else to do. I've been trying my hardest to correct my mistake but there is only so much I can do myself. What happened was a terrible error, I'll admit that, and that it caused more grief then it was ever intended. I wish I could make it up to you, but I don't know how. Wait, I know… No, cancel that. Asta already told me the dates were preset on the time-thingamajigs.

"Ugh… It's really awkward to talk to a door, you know? I mean I can't tell if you're listening or not. For all I know, you have a pillow over your head. You may hate me, but could we at least work together for the team here? I mean… Hugue, please, I'm really sorry. You think you're the only who's lost someone to vampires? Caterina is the same, and Esther, too. Just about every one of us in the AX has lost someone. All I can do is apologize to you again. I wish you would at least let me know if you're listening to me or not in there."

No sooner did Abel say that, did a sensation of falling backwards over come him, and he hit the floor inside Hugue's room. He opened an eye to see Hugue staring down at him. Abel gulped slightly. This was not a good position to be in, as Hugue had his naked sword in hand. Abel's face paled slightly and sweat began to build on his forehead. This was not good, and there was no telling what Hugue would do to him.

"Get up," he forced through his teeth as Abel quickly sat up and then got to his feet.

"Hehehehe…" Abel laughed weakly, rubbing the back of his lowered head. "Hello, Father Hugue."

"Turn around and close the door," Hugue ordered as Abel's face turned a pasty white in fear. "NOW!"

"Y-yes, sir," Abel quickly turned so his back was facing Hugue and quickly closed the door. Oh, please! Oh, please! Oh, please, don't do anything stupid, Hugue!

"Your apology is not what I want, Nightroad," Hugue said, placing the blade on Abel's right shoulder. "What I want is my old life back with my family, which is something you can never give to me."

"Hugue, I—"

"Shut up! You listen to me now! As far as I'm concerned we are enemies! As soon as we back home you better hope I'm in better mood than I am now," Hugue hissed venomously, digging the blade into Abel's shoulder and drawing blood. "I'm very close to smiting you down where you stand, but I don't feel like staying here in this era as a murderer behind bars. So, until that blessed day comes when we return home, I don't want to see you or hear your whiny voice. Now get out of my sight!"

Abel quickly did what he was ordered and closed the door behind him. He hurried away from Hugue's room and off that floor as well. He had known that Hugue bore a severe grudge against the vampires, but had had no idea it ran so deep. Abel quickly made his way to his room and closed the door tightly.

"W-well, so much for t-talking to him," Abel let out a shaky breath, holding a hand over his racing heart as he slumped down to the floor, pulling his legs up to his chest. What do I do now? He doesn't just hate my guts, he hates every fiber of my being. Why did I have to open my big mouth? Hugue came here to rescue me and instead I turned him into an enemy. This day couldn't be any worse.

Abel expected to hear Alucard break into his thoughts, but the ancient Nosferatu remained totally silent for once, which for Abel was an absolute blessing from God. Abel finally pulled himself up off the floor, removed his bloodied shirt, and bandaged the cut. It was starting to heal, but if something brushed it, it burned like fire. He didn't even bother to put on a clean shirt and just crawled into his bed and pulled the covers over his head as hurtful saline droplets fell from his eyes.

At some time Abel had fallen asleep and was now being woken by something tickling his nose. He swatted it away and rolled over, only to have the same sensation return not only to his nose but to his feet as well. Abel kicked his feet and pulled them up underneath himself and the buried his head under the pillow. He was determined to stay asleep. Then he felt the covers jerk off his body along with the pillow over his head.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty," A man's voice said in Abel's ear as girlish giggles were heard behind. "Crusnik, get up."

"Leave me alone," he mumbled as he curled into the fetal position.

"Abel, get out of bed. Now," the man voice sounded again but Abel gave no response. "Ladies, if you would."

"TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE!"

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE!"

"AHAHAHAHAHA! ST-STOP IT! HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHA!"

"TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE! TICKLE!"

"AHAHAHA! QU-QUI-HIT! HAHA! HEHEHE! EEEEEEEK!"

THUMP!

"OWWWW!"

"Good one, Abel, you fell out of bed," Alucard laughed as Abel glared at him rubbing his sore butt.

"Not funny," he grumbled.

"Yes it was," the 3 vampires chorused in unison, laughing.

"Get a shirt and a coat on," Alucard said, handing Abel a clean shirt. "We're going out this evening."

"I really don't want to. It's wet and cold out," Abel moaned, putting on the shirt.

"Hey, Abel, what happened to your shoulder?" Seras asked as Abel removed the bandages, only to find the cut completely healed.

"It's nothing. I just cut myself," He said, now buttoning up his shirt.

"Yeah, on what?" Asta asked.

"Do I have to answer everything?" he bit out as Asta looked a little hurt.

"Hey, I'm just trying to be nice here, Tovarish," she snapped, crossing her arms.

"Abel, I think getting out of here for while might do you some good," Alucard said. It's to get your mind off of today's events, and while we're out, don't you even dare think about it. You're going to get your mind off it. Now get a coat on.

"Do I get a choice," Abel grunted.

"No," Alucard shook his head.

"What's with you all of a sudden," Seras asked as he put on his coat. "I've never seen you this cranky before."

"Seras, just leave him alone about it right now, and the same goes for you, too, Viscountess," Alucard said as Abel opened his bedroom door.

"Where are we going, anyway?" Abel asked, walking with Alucard and the girls down the hall.

"Just out and about town. Thought the Viscountess might like a little tour," Alucard grinned. "Now hurry along, you three."

"Alucard, where are you going?" Integra asked, walking around the corner.

"Oh, just out for a little fun," Alucard grinned widely at her.

"Describe fun," she responded.

"I'm just going to show the Viscountess a little of London," he hummed with the same toothy grin. Also I'm getting Abel out of here for a while. The whole thing with Hugue did not go well. Hugue has proclaimed Abel as his enemy and Abel took it really hard, and if I didn't do anything about it Police Girl and the Viscountess won't let me hear the end of it. You know how Abel is, the big softy. He likes to make friends, and, well, Father Hugue isn't too friendly anymore.

Then I will to talk to Hugue. Perhaps I can get through to him.

Master, I'd rather you didn't. Your efforts might help and they might not. I think it would be best you let him be.

Very well, Alucard. Oh, is there ANY other reason you'd be heading out this evening?

Hmmm? No. Other than to give Asta a tour and Abel out, I don't know of anything else.

Are you sure there isn't any other reason to go on December 10th for a SPECIAL reason?

Nope.

"Well, I hope you enjoy your tour, Astharoshe," Integra said, looking a little angry and hurt.

"Oh, thank you, Sir Hellsing," Asta said as Integra left the small group.

"Well, let's get going then," Alucard said, leading the way once more.

Well, Alucard finally did it. For the first time, he had forgotten about her birthday. She had been hinting at it since last night and Alucard hadn't caught the hints. Oh well, she'd let him have it after he came back this evening.

She walked quietly down a well lit hall to a guest room where a certain blond priest was. True her servant might be true about making it worse, but maybe she could at least get them on better terms. If what Alucard told her was true, Hugue and Abel's boss was very much like her, so maybe that could work to her advantage. She stopped in front of the polished wood door and rapped lightly on it.

"Go away," an aggravated voice sounded from the other side.

"Excuse me," Integra bit out, opening the door with a key. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't be so rude to your host, Father de Watteau."

Hugue said nothing as she closed the door and walked over to him, as he sat in chair with his back turned towards her, staring out the window. She stood beside him and glared down at him as he looked up at her.

"Father Hugue, I would like to have a few words with you concerning Father Abel," she said as Hugue quickly turned away from her. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, dammit!"

"I don't even want to hear his name, much less talk about that idiot," he grumbled, still not looking at Integra.

"The only idiot here is you, Hugue. Abel knows he made an unforgivable mistake. Something he can never fully correct, but he is putting his life on the line to correct what he can," she said, looking out the window herself, seeing the glow of city over the tree line. "You hate him, I know that, but despite that, Abel still thinks of you as a friend and would most likely lay down his life for you."

"Then that would only make him a bigger idiot—"

SMAAAACK!

"You fucking git! Why would that make Abel a bigger idiot?" she almost yelled, now standing right in front of him as Hugue's cheek turned a bright red.

"Because his death would mean nothing to me, like a dead fly on a windowsill. I'd only brush it off," he replied coldly, looking up at her. "Why are you sticking up for Abel anyway? From what I've heard, just few a days ago, you would have been more than happy killing him yourself."

"That was a totally different matter. I know Abel is kind and loyal. He cares for others and tries to do everything within his powers to save them. He's a better person than you and I both give him credit for," she stated, crossing her arms. "When he first started working under me I thought of him as nothing more than one of my soldiers; now, I think quite a bit higher of him. He's hurting deeply, Father. He's been hurting for a lot longer than you have. Did it ever occur to you that in only about 40-50 or so years you may be in your grave? You'll finally be able to rest free of all problems. Abel, on the other hand, has to keep on living with his guilt for hundreds, maybe even thousands more years before he can finally rest."

"That's just fine with me if he has to keep living like that. Let him suffer, for all I care. That's all that monster deserves," Hugue grunted.

"You dare call him a monster? Look at yourself, Father Hugue! Compared to Abel, the real monster here is you! A man who only cares for himself and could give a rat's ass for anyone else. Now look at Abel. What monster would try to save the lives of so many people and even die for them? Despite his crusnik appearance, he's more like an angel in disguise. A black angel trying to earn his way back into God's good grace," she huffed in anger. "Give him another chance, dammit! He's still your friend, even if you're not his, and he won't give up on you just because you gave up on him. Move forward in life. Dwelling on the past is not going to move you forward. Abel realized that and has moved on, even though he still remembers the past. You need to do the same and keep looking ahead. You just want someone to put the blame on. Even if Abel brought them, it was their choice to do what they did, and it had nothing to do with Abel."

With that, Integra marched out of the room and slammed the door shut. Hugue was left alone once more in the darkness. He looked back out of the frosty windowpane to study the glow rising over the trees. He didn't care what she said. Abel had caused everything in the first place. If he had just stayed on Mars, then there would have never been any vampires and he would be with his family right now, not here, more than 1000 years in the past.

Hugue continued to sit in the dark room, trying to get Integra's words out of his head. Stop dwelling on the past and move forward? Ha! If only it was that simple. He'd been standing in the past for too long to move forward in life now. He had made a vow that he would avenge his family and save his sister, and he couldn't back down now, not after this long.

But it was Integra's last two sentences that really struck something in him. It was true that he just wanted someone to put the blame on, and since it was Abel and his brother who brought them. Why not him? But it had been centuries, and Abel had quit his rampaging and had long since his changed his demeanor. It was indeed the Methuselah attackers' choice to do what they did, and nothing that Abel was involved with.

Three hours later, Alucard and the others returned to the Hellsing mansion, still talking about that night's events. They walked inside and were a little surprised to see Integra waiting for them in the entrance hall, sitting on the steps. She stood up and walked towards the quartet with her arms behind her back and her head high.

"Did you have good time, Astharoshe?" she asked, looking at the duchess.

"Oh, yes, ma'am. Your Alucard is the quite the tour guide," Asta replied. "I hope to look forward to exploring more of this great city."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Integra said with a smirk. "Now, Alucard, there is something I would like to talk to you about."

"Then we'll see you all later," Abel said as he and the girls left them alone; Abel went upstairs and girls went down to the basement level.

"Alucard, you forgot something," she said, crossing her arm.

"No, I didn't," he replied with a large grin. "What do you think I forgot, Master?"

"You're saying you did forget it was—?!"

"Your birthday? How could I forget," he said lightly, reaching into his pocket. "You really think I'd forget it? Oh, I got you something; it's here in this pocket. You want it?"

"That's a bloody stupid question," she huffed out.

"But first, you have to close your eyes," Alucard hummed as she threw him a weird look. "I'm serious, Master. Close your eyes."

"This is something new," Integra said, closing her eyes as she felt Alucard take her hand. "What are you doing, Alucard?"

"Just hold on," he said, taking off her white glove and slipping the ring onto her finger. "Open your eyes."

She looked down at her right hand to find a rose gold ring with a tear shaped gem engraved with an 'H'. She noticed it changed to many different shining colors randomly, almost like a kaleidoscope. Her mouth hung slack for a couple of moments as she stared at the ring on her finger. This was something she would have never expected to receive from Alucard.

"Where did you get this?" she asked, finally looking up at him.

"Oh, just at a special shop I've known about for a while but just never got a chance to go to," Alucard smiled, handing the empty jewelry box to her. "Abel helped a little, of course."

"Did he, now? Well, I must say thank you to you both then," she said, looking back down at the ring. "What made you think about getting a ring? You know I don't particularly like jewelry."

"Getting you a gun every year got repetitive. I just thought you might like a change for once," Alucard answered back, watching her smirk. "It's a very special ring, so please be careful with it."

"Oh, I will, Alucard. You don't have to worry," Integra said, looking back down at the ring. "This ring will stay in good hands until it is passed on."

Abel sighed as he reached his bedroom door and opened it. Then he stopped dead in the doorway, eyes wide in surprise. Sitting in the chair in his room sat Hugue, glaring at him. Abel, without a word, slowly backed out and closed the door shut.

"Come back," Hugue said as the door slowly creaked back open and one crystal blue eye behind framed in glass peered through the small crack. "Come into the room, Abel."

"I'm fine out here, thanks," Abel responded. "What do you want, Father Hugue?"

"To talk, why else? I've been thinking lately about what you and Sir Hellsing said. My actions were wrong. Even if you were the one that brought the vampires here it was their own choice, their own actions that my family ended up in such a terrible mess," Hugue said, but Abel still stayed right where he was. "I just wanted to blame someone, like Integra said. You were just the easiest one to blame, even if you had nothing to do with it. I need to move forward in life, and so, I'm sorry for my actions against you today."

"You're really sorry, Hugue?" Abel asked, opening the door just enough to stick his head in. "You mean it?"

"Yes, Nightroad, but don't get all sentimental about it and hug me or something stupid like that," he said quickly, just before Abel ran in and almost did that very thing. "I would still like a little distance between us. Physically, if you don't mind."

"Okay, that I can do," Abel beamed, making the 'okay' sign with his hand. "I'm just glad you're not going to kill me! Are you sure you're really sorry?"

"If you keep asking me you just might wind up 6 feet under after all," Hugue growled, getting annoyed as Abel gulped and backed away slightly.

"Right, right. Got it," Abel said quickly. "We'll never mention this ever again."

"Good," Hugue said flatly, getting up, walking out of the room, and closing the door.

"I think I almost wet myself," Abel whimpered, running to the small bathroom in his room.

(A/N: Well that's the end of chapter 11. I hope you like it. I know it wasn't the best chapter even I know that. But I can promise the next will be. Please read the side story, too. Also I'm just few reviews shy of 200 could it be possible to get the others I need to hit that mark, please? Buh Bye!)

Millie M. Banshee

Beta: 2stupid a.k.a. Tensa-chan

(BN: We're the same person. Just… not quite. And does anyone else suddenly have the weird urge to see Hugue and Abel go train with the other Hellsing troops? If so, please review. Okay?)