'It's interesting,' Anthy thought to herself as she settled
into the seat opposite the two ladies, 'how different they really
are.'
Integra Hellsing gazed at Anthy coolly, her face almost
unreadable as she studied her intently. On the other hand the blonde
bodyguard's face was quite easily read, showing excitement, a bit of
nervousness, and a great deal of caution.
Integra got right down to business as she said to Anthy
coolly, "Up until a month ago I was receiving regular weekly reports
from you. Now it seems I must come to you to keep informed of what's
actually going on."
Anthy was equally frank with her answer, "Since becoming a
vampire I was concerned there might be a conflict of interests."
"We have been known to employ vampires from time to time,"
Integra gave a tip of her head to her pale companion.
Strangely, as soon as she head that Anthy was a vampire, the
little blonde relaxed slightly, "Victoria Ceres," she introduced
herself simply.
Anthy gave her a slight smile, then looked over at Integra. "I
wasn't aware that the Order operated in Tokyo," she said quietly.
"We've received a formal request for assistance from the
Japanese government," Integra said simply, "regarding the situation in
Tokyo itself." She gave Anthy a thoughtful look, "A situation I
suspect you know a great deal about."
Anthy felt oddly comfortable slipping back into her roll of an
agent reporting to her superior, "We have a serious vampire problem.
Not only are there growing numbers of rogue vampires but apparently
several elder vampires are in the city..."
In another part of the city Utena shook her head with a sigh.
Apparently Wakaba had taken courses in combat shopping or something,
she was that good at it. Thankfully she was going for bargains, trying
her best to stretch Utena's money.
"Cute!" Shiori squealed, picking up a chibi-goth toy.
The toy actually looked a bit like Utena, with pale skin, and
pink hair. The only real problem with it was the black dress it was
wearing. Wakaba spotted it too, and large throbbing hearts soon
appeared in her eyes.
"We've got to buy it," Wakaba agreed with Shiori.
Both girl's swiftly turned their eyes to Utena and the taller
woman sighed softly, knowing she was doomed. "How much?" Utena asked
the shopkeeper.
The pretty shopkeeper was looking up at Utena quite oddly
before she softly said to her, "For you, it's only half price."
"Are these things popular?" Juri asked softly.
"You could say that, yes," the lady said softly as she took
Utena's money from her. She carefully wrapped the doll up, then passed
it over. Once Utena had left she quickly asked Juri, "Was that Tenjou
Utena?"
Juri looked down at the woman in honest surprise. "How do you
know that name?" she asked her, her own voice coming out just a bit
harsh.
"The doll's modeled after her," she shrugged, obviously not
bothered by Juri's tone, "though I have to tell my friend to put her
in a boy's uniform the next time. Everybody in the city's underground
knows the name of Tenjou Utena, the vampire protector of Tokyo."
Juri sweatdropped. "Excuse me," she swiftly walked away.
"You have the oddest expression on your face," Utena noted as
Juri caught up with her.
"Utena, you don't know the half of it," Juri said with a
scowl. Speaking to her softly so that the cheerfully shopping pair of
Shiori and Wakaba couldn't over hear she filled Utena in on what she
had just heard about.
"They put me in a dress?" Utena blurted.
"That's not my point," Juri sighed. "If your name is that well
known, why hasn't Mrs. Ohtori tracked you down already?" she asked.
"She's playing a game, then," Utena said gravely. "She wants
me scared of her, hiding and wondering when she'll come for me," she
mused.
"Which we've been doing, more or less," Juri acknowledged.
"But not any longer," Utena said firmly. "If she knows who I
am hiding's useless anyway."
"Why not have a party?" Wakaba popped up, starling them both.
"How does she do that?" Juri growled.
Utena just ignored that question entirely as she nodded
thoughtfully, "Yes, a party." Turning to look at Juri she said, "I'll
get a hold of Ayeka Kisaragi, find out what clubs in the city will
serve vampires. We'll all go, us, Ruka, Anthy and all the groupies."
"You sure this is a good idea?" Juri asked softly.
"No," Utena admitted quietly, "but I want to send a little
message to Mrs. Ohtori." A slight smile, "And it'll give the others a
bit of a break, too." With a sigh she added, "I just wish Anthy was
back from her meeting."
The bar was mostly deserted, and the waitress quite nervously
delivered the next round of drinks. "Thank you," Integra took a small
drink from her scotch before asking Anthy, "So how dangerous is this
elder vampire?"
Anthy sighed while taking a sip of her spiked tomato juice,
"Still unknown. But her daughter was quite able to face off against
two young vampires with relative ease, dominating the will of one so
much that she simply collapsed."
"An impressive display of mental strength," Integra
acknowledged.
"Her daughter," Victoria spoke up softly, "do you mean this
Mrs. Ohtori created her as a vampire, or do you mean biological
daughter?"
"Mrs. Ohtori has claimed that Kanae was her biological
daughter," Anthy noted, "but it hasn't been verified."
"I'm somewhat reluctant to do so," Integra admitted, "but I
can contact the Watchers organization. They have records going back
even farther than the Order does."
"I would deeply appreciate it," Anthy said respectfully.
"Now I'm glad Walter insisted I take that cannon along,"
Victoria murmured. She smiled dangerously, "I bet that could punch a
hole even in Mrs. Ohtori."
"Let's hope so," Anthy answered.
"And the other elder?" Integra asked.
"Miyu," Anthy nodded, "I faced her power myself. She is
frighteningly powerful, so much so that I am quite dubious about
antagonizing her..."
Saya walked up the shrine steps, her long dark hair flowing
around her. The katana she carried in it's case, over her shoulder
quite comfortably. She almost looked like any Japanese student dressed
in her girl's uniform, except the oddness of her walking about so late
at night.
"Miyu!" she called out as Saya passed beneath the archway at
the front of the shrine.
"You aren't going to try that again are you?" the amused young
woman's voice seemed to come from nowhere. Saya waited, and Miyu
emerged from the shadows, garbed all in red with her skin glowing
white like some ghost wandering from it's grave.
"Not today," Saya said simply.
Larva hovered behind Miyu, the cloaked Shinma protectively
standing watch over his lady. "If you wish to attack her again," he
said simply, "you will have to face me."
Saya gave him a respectful nod. Respectful, but without fear.
"Not today," Saya repeated in a soft drawl, "but someday, I may take
you up on that."
Miyu felt Larva rearing up indignantly behind her and swiftly
spoke up, "What can I do for you tonight, Saya?"
"The newcomer vampires in the city," Saya said to Miyu simply,
"I understand that you've encountered them."
"Ohtori," Miyu nodded slightly, "and Tenjou Utena." She looked
over at Saya curiously, "Do you intend to hunt them?"
"Does it matter?" Saya asked softly.
"I suppose not," Miyu acknowledged. "What about them do you
wish to know?"
"Their names are enough," Saya said to her softly, "I could
already sense them. But it's always easier if I have a name." The
vampire left silently, walking down the steps and disappearing into
the darkness of night.
Softly Larva asked, "Aren't you concerned for Utena?"
Miyu's smile was grim, "If Utena cannot survive against Saya,
she is not what I hope she might be. And Saya could choose to pursue
Ohtori first."
"It's a gamble," Larva murmured.
Integra's eyes had closed as she was listening, then opened to
gaze across the table at Anthy, "Thank you for the information."
Anthy rose, "I need to return to my friends."
"Understood," Integra nodded slightly as she too stood. "We'll
be in Tokyo for a while," she said softly, "call us, if you need
assistance."
"And will that assistance cost me?" Anthy asked softly.
"The way of the world," Victoria smiled slightly.
Anthy smiled slightly, "True. I'll see you again, I think."
With that, the young woman turned and walked away, leaving the bar
silently.
"Should I follow her?" Victoria asked softly.
"I doubt you could," Integra smiled, "Anthy was one of my
better students." She drew a cigar out and lit it, drawing on it
deeply, "And I think she will come back on her own."
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