Skye: Hallo! This is my first Hellsing fanfiction. Please be kind and don't expect the chapters to always be this long.

Disclaimer: The only person I own is Aeryn. Other than that, I own nothing, not even my own ass, which is a fairly nice one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aeryn frowned as she ran, combat boots slapping the ground as her ruby hair whipped in the wind. Dead leaves and twigs tangled themselves in the lengthy tresses, forming an earthly tiara round her head. This is not one of my better days, she thought to herself as she tore through the underbrush.

Dodging an incoming kick, she swept the first assailant's support leg, causing him to hit his head off a tree trunk and fall unconscious. His partner hesitated for a split second, leaving a perfect opening for Aeryn to knee his groin and slam him against the tree, knocking him out. She caught her breath as he slid to the ground and walked away, pulling out the natural debris gathered in her hair. She felt that this many attacks in a week were quite unfair.

After all, Aeryn Robin Thanatos was only seven years old.

More men would be coming for her; she knew it. People found the abilities she inherited from her family to be quite short of human and scientists longed to get their hands on her. The clearing up ahead seemed to be huge and there were bound to be dozens of hiding places. Aeryn sped up, constantly checking over her shoulder and around to ensure she was not being followed. Her mouth dropped open as she reached it.

A large, impressive manor house towered over the open landscape. Although it was dilapidated and abandoned, it held an impressive aura. It seemed to have been a military base. A rundown sign about the size of a large billboard read 'The Hellsing Organization'.

Shaking off her fear momentarily, Aeryn went through the gates and slipped inside the door, closing it behind her. She tiptoed down the dank, cold corridor, shivering as the wind blew through the cracks in the metal.

"Is anyone here?" she called, answered by an echo. The trepidation returned, surrounding her and the building like a cloth hood draped over the head of a death row prisoner just before execution. She could not bring herself to take another step until the footfalls of the soldiers sounded and she had to for safety.

A long, rickety staircase led down to the basement. Shutting the door behind her, she began the time-consuming walk down, the temperature dropping with each stair. At the end of the staircase was a door with a candle and a packet of matches on the ledge beside it. With trembling fingers, Aeryn lit the candle and the door creaked open. When she went through, it immediately swung shut again. As she went a little farther, she nearly dropped the light at the sight she saw.

A dead body leaned against the wall in a sitting position, clad in a black leather straitjacket. Its long white hair hung limply in the windless room. As far as cadavers go, the body was dry and skeletal; nothing rotting to stink up the room, so she assumed it was a well-behaved stiff that just wanted to be left alone in its quiet existence.

"Hullo," she said cautiously as she kneeled down next to it, never taking her cobalt eyes off of the head. She had no idea of the proper etiquette to greet the dead, so she assumed you greeted them the same way as the living. "Sorry to disturb you, but I have to hide here for a bit. Do you mind?"

It gave no answer, with it being a corpse and all. She sat, placing the candle beside her and hugged her knees to her chest. Her head drooped as the wick burned low, mumbling phrases as she slept.

"...only living relative…"

"…last hope…"

"…mother's sister Integral…"

"…needs a biological heir…"

"…they'd take care of me…"

Her head jerked up abruptly at pattering, but it was only the wind blowing a piece of metal against the wall.

"I don't want to die." she said softly, a few tears making their way down her face and dripping onto the floor. Though frightened, somehow she managed to go back to sleep.

The thump of the soldier's boots on the staircase woke her. She flattened herself against the wall, blowing out the candle and plunging into total darkness. As the door was opened, a breeze blew into the room, making the corpse's hair float and its clothes rustle.

"What the hell?" The soldier who had just entered the room called to his companion. "There's a corpse in here, Jim."

"Don't mind it, Gregory. How can a dead body be so much trouble? Easier to deal with than that little brat the boss wants." Jim joined his friend.

"I dunno, but I've got a funny…" Gregory's voice trailed off as the body began to sway wildly back and forth. All of a sudden, it rose to its feet and tore off the head of Jim before he could even notice Aeryn. A long, pink tongue darted out and licked up the blood.

It reached for Gregory as he threw his gun at it. This missed, but hit Aeryn hard on the head. She blacked out, but not before hearing his tortured and final scream.

In the library of Hellsing Manor, Seras Victoria, started loudly. Her head jerked up as the book in her hand fell to the floor. After standing there and evaluating for a few moments, she sped out of the room and down the staircase, shouting so loudly that the foundations of the house shook.

"WALTER!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A kid?" said Pip Bernadette skeptically as he stared at Integra. "What the hell would une petite fille be doing in the basement of the old building?"

"We do not know that presently," replied Walter, polishing a silver cigar case. He reached up and adjusted his monocle. "Alucard went into that building purely for his own reasons. He let himself dry up and had no blood for three weeks. This is not uncommon behavior for him; he had done it when your father was alive, Sir Integra, but only for fancy and nothing like this had ever happened."

He paused. "What's remarkable is the restraint that he showed in not hurting the child."

"Have you really that little faith in me, angel?" Alucard laughed lightly, phasing through the wall. "I can easily tell the blood of a virgin Hellsing apart from any other human."

"She's a Hellsing?" Integra snapped to attention and the others gasped.

"Yes. Aeryn Robin Thanatos Hellsing. That's what it says on the luggage." Walter gestured to a small, worn duffel bag in the corner of the office. "And the deliverymen gave us her papers, too." He set a large file on the desk.

Integra shuffled through the papers. Seras peeked over her shoulder. "Passport, medical exams, dental records…they're all here except for the birth certificate. I think that she really is your niece, sir."

"I do recall you having a sister, Sir Integra. She was an illegimate child; no one knows what happened to her. Her name was Cecilia. Your father never wanted you to know." Walter shook his head. "He was a great man, but quite the womanizer."

"Wonderful." Integra sighed. "At least the knights will get off my back about marriage since an heir is present. Where is she, Walter?"

"She's outside." Walter put down the cigar case. "Our doctors have examined her and she only sustained a mild concussion from the gun striking her head."

"It'll take more than brain damage to get her used to this bloody place," muttered Seras to Pip as they walked behind Integra. Pip shrugged and patted Seras on the back, "Eh, kids. They bounce back, mignonette."

"And what a pity it would be if she adjusted more easily than you, police girl," commented Alucard dryly as he sauntered in between the two.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aeryn swung her legs for want of something better to do. The wooden bench was not uncomfortable but she was getting tired of staring at the wall. However, the deliberations appeared to be drawing to a close and she could hear the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

The social worker who had brought her here did not seem happy at all. She had come on as benevolent and saccharine in the beginning, asking to whom Aeryn belonged to, but had quickly turned nasty when Aeryn opined that she belonged to no one but herself and that the concept of ownership was meaningless for no one can confirm that anyone else's mind exists but their own.

She had snapped at the kindly porter who had given Aeryn chewing gum and told her that it would stave off hunger until she got home. Quoting Kant only gave the bitch what she deserved.

Aeryn leaned back and then blinked in perplexity at the white-gloved, long-fingered hand resting on her shoulder. Its fingers indolently drummed a rhythm on her collarbone and then quickly caught her under the chin and firmly tilted her head upward. Sapphire met claret and held it until the former voiced a plaintive query.

"Why did you stop?"

Alucard smiled, relinquishing his grip and returning his hand to its original position. "My apologies." Aeryn found herself resting comfortably against the side of this stranger and not entirely unwilling.

"Well, she's passed the first trial; she's met Alucard." Integra lit a Hendi Winzerman and took a drag. Walter coughed and said in a slightly clipped tone, "Sir Integra, I would abstain from smoking in front of the child. It stunts their growth."

"You know best, Walter." Integra stubbed it out on a nearby ashtray and surveyed her charge. Aeryn stood up, unperturbed by her presence, extricating Alucard's arm from her shoulder with care, halting briefly to grin and exclaim "Wicked!" at the design on his gloves.

"They say you're my niece." Integra surveyed the frayed jeans with patched knees and rips. The combat boots were the only item of clothing in good condition. Aeryn bit her tongue and locked her eyes to the floor.

"La vie sur les rues est dur, eh, fille?" Pip knelt and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Qu'est-ce que tu fais?"Aeryn shrugged his hand off irately.

"Qu'est-ce que je fais?" Pip smirked grimly."Je ne suis pas riche. Je suis unorphelin, comme toi."

She considered this. Integra opened her mouth and Pip started again. "Your aunt doesn't like it if she doesn't understand what people say, so c'est anglaisfrom here on out. Where've you been, ma fille?"

"Around. Here and there." Her eyes flicked back to Alucard and then the door. "Cities, mostly. I've been everywhere you can go without a plane ticket."

"What did you do to live?" Seras had read about war refugees and was disturbed at how much Aeryn resembled them.

"The best I could." She edged toward the door.

"Your parents, miss?" Walter snatched the dog end from Pip's moving hand and threw it in the rubbish bin.

"Dead. No one was able to figure it out and I legged it before anyone could find me. I lived with a caravan of gypsies for a while, but we were separated when they were escorted out of the country. I've been on my own for the past two years."

"Do you remember your parents?"

"Bits and pieces, yeah."

"Enough questions." Integra seated herself upon the bench. "I would ask you about how you felt about becoming the heir to an organization that kills vampires and is entirely secret from the public, but since you have no choice in the matter, I won't. Your existence here should be relatively painless."

Integra's eyes softened. "I did not know that I had a younger sister until today. I'm afraid I have little maternal instinct to go on. Perhaps we can learn together."

"Sounds good." Aeryn cautiously took the cigar out of the ashtray and offered it to Integra. Integra graciously accepted it and relit. Walter tsked while Pip and Seras exchanged relieved smiles.

"Introductions are in order, I believe." Integra pointed to each member in turn and said their name. "Now, let's get you a bath and some real clothes. I wouldn't use the clothes you're wearing to wrap dead fish in."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The food disappeared off of the plate as soon as Walter had dished it out. He beamed with pleasure, never having cooked for anyone with such a wholehearted appetite. "Is it good, miss?"

"Mm!" Aeryn gave an emphatic nod and swallowed. "I haven't eaten for two days; this is absolutely wonderful."

"Don't overeat," warned Integra, thinking about the shopping she would have to take Seras and do tomorrow. Though Pip's old flannel pajamas were cozy, they hung low on her niece's small frame and the cuffs had to be rolled up several times for her to use her hands.

"Well, I'd better go tell the Geese we've got a new comrade." Pip stood up lazily and ambled over to Aeryn. He bent down, put an arm around her and kissed her forehead. "Bon nuit, ma fille. Dormis bien."

"Et toi." Aeryn returned the kiss and Pip left the kitchen, lighting up a cigarette as he went. She took her plate to the sink and Walter took it from her. "That is my job, miss, not yours. Besides, you won't have much time to rest with school."

"School? So soon?"

"Oh, not right away. We'll give you a few days to settle in, but you will be attending a private school."

"With uniforms?"

"Why yes. As a matter of fact, -- "

"We'll worry about that in the morning, Walter." Integra cut him off, seeing the unhappy expression on Aeryn's face. "Seras, I think you should show Aeryn to her room."

"Right. This way, then." Seras picked up the duffel bag and led her upstairs, Aeryn waving goodnight and looking uncertain.

"We have been unable to find her birth certificate or hospital records involving her anywhere, sir, though the documents are not fabricated."

"And the hit men?"

Walter shook his head. "Regrettably, Alucard tore them to pieces and we were unable to detect evidence from the fragments."

"I felt that it was in her best interest to be thorough in exterminating the enemy," Alucard defended. "But they were unremarkable. The uniforms were generic camouflage, somewhat similar to what the American military wears. But they were mercenaries, nothing more."

"Then the only clue we have to go on is Thanatos." Integra inhaled slowly. "The Greek personification of Death."

"That's a horrible name for a child!" Walter exclaimed.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Alucard's digits rapped a toccata on the counter. "I have a theory, though."

"What?"

"I cannot tell you, my master. Not until I am entirely sure of it."

Integra huffed. "Alucard, you play your cards so close to your chest sometimes I doubt you have a hand."

"Will you allow it?"

"Yes, as long as none are harmed."

"No one else will be involved, I reassure you."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The floor chilly on her feet, Aeryn padded through the halls and down the stairways that composed Hellsing Manor as if in a dream. They were kind to her; she had enjoyed the company of Seras once she convinced her to call her by her name. She did not want to bring the hired guns upon innocent people. However, she did not want to pack up and leave abruptly in the middle of the night. It would leave a bad impression of her.

Debate muddled her. She lowered her arms absentmindedly, easily avoiding the obstacles in her path.

"So you can see in the dark." The deep voice of the man in red startled her, initiating her to jump and slide on the hardwood. "You should be abed, little Hellsing." He caught her wrist as she skidded back a few feet and brought her to him.

"You should be abed as well. Besides, I can't go to bed, much less stay here."

"Why not?"

"You'll be dead."

Alucard laughed. "Somewhat late for that, isn't it? Now, stop struggling, little Hellsing; it will not avail you."

Aeryn yelped as he scooped her up, shutting her eyes tightly. Warily, she opened them again and looked down. "It's scary up here." Alucard chuckled.

"Tell me about those men," he said as he went, carrying her down a flight of stairs.

"They're a different faction every time. People who I see or am aided by are killed directly after obtaining the necessary information concerning my whereabouts."

"Will another unit have been dispatched by now?"

"I…where are you taking me?"

"I have something to show you outside." Alucard opened the door at the end of the stairs and strolled out into the night. About thirty feet from the house, he set her down gently upon the cool grass, "Don't be afraid."

Two legionnaires approached them. One of them spat on the ground. "'Ey, bud, you gonna give us that brat? We won't hurtcha." He grinned, revealing yellowed, rotting teeth.

Unimpressed, Alucard drew himself up to his full height, causing the one with bad dental hygiene to retreat. "No."

The other one stepped forward. "My companion merely thinks that such a man of the world as yourself would be better off without a child to look after."

"Could any man leave a helpless little girl in danger and still call themselves of the world?"

The 'man of the world' spread his hands in an eloquent gesture of exasperation. "Sir, she'll be happier where we plan to take her."

"Call no man happy until he is dead," Aeryn spoke softly, as if in a dream. "Solon. Athenian lawgiver. Not Herodotus, who it is most frequently attributed to because he wrote of the incident in his histories. "

"Smart girl." Alucard smirked. "But I prefer an American's words." He drew his guns from his coat and aimed them at the heads of the men. "Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead."

Both corpses dropped as the bullets flew through their heads. He replaced the guns and genuflected beside Aeryn. "And that's what we do to monsters here."

Aeryn reflected for a minute and then concurred, worming underneath his coat to seek warmth from the cold. "Will they be back?"

"I doubt it." Alucard gathered her up. "Come. Let's go home."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skye: The American Alucard referred to was Benjamin Franklin. I debated between that and another quote, which will probably show up in later chapters.

Please review!!!!! There will be confectionaries and baked goods available if you do.