Utena, Revolutionary Girl Fan Fiction ❯ Blood Soaked and Honor Bound ❯ Chapter 21

Part Twenty: Tokyo Eight

'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."

To be continued...