Chapter 7: A Helping Hand

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Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Time*

Chapter 7: A Helping Hand

A few minutes later*

"I must say, choosing the museum as the meeting place might not have been the best idea," I said to Integra and Enrico, grabbing them both by the arms as we quickly escaped the chaos. Inside, Alucard and Alexander were locked in a fierce battle. Priceless historical relics shattered and crumbled around them, adding to the commotion. "The destruction of these artifacts is going to cause headaches for many people." I added, glancing back at the scene of devastation going inside the museum.

"Could you do something about this?" Enrico asked me, a note of urgency in his voice. "There must be a reason you were brought along other than keeping her company, right?" He pointed at Integra, who looked equally concerned. The museum echoed with the sounds of Alucard and Alexander's battle, the destruction of artifacts creating a chaotic backdrop.

"Well, it's more about being her bodyguard and keeping her safe, which, as you can see, I'm doing a great job at." I replied in the dullest voice I could muster. "And let's not forget, this whole mess started because you called her a sow. Did you honestly expect there wouldn't be a fight after saying something like that?" I shot him a pointed look. Meanwhile, the museum continued to tremble with the ongoing battle, priceless artifacts falling victim to the fight.

Integra narrowed her eyes at Enrico, her gaze icy and unwavering. She looked ready to put a bullet through his head at any moment. The tension between them was perceptible, adding to the already volatile atmosphere of the museum. Every crash and clatter from Alucard and Alexander's battle seemed to echo her rising fury.

"Do you not care about all the destroyed historical relics in there?!" Enrico exclaimed, looking at me in disbelief as I continued to stand outside the museum instead of going inside to stop the fight between Alucard and Alexander. His frustration was obvious, but I remained stubborn, knowing that rushing into the fray would likely make things worse. The museum continued to echo with the sounds of their battle, each crash and shatter a reminder of the priceless artifacts being lost.

"Who's to say the historical relics are what you're really concerned about instead of the trouble you're about to face because of this?" Integra scoffed at Enrico. "Don't pretend you're not hoping to find a scapegoat for this mishap." Her voice dripped with disdain, and her piercing gaze never wavered from Enrico's face, making it clear she saw through his facade. The tension between them added another layer to the chaos unfolding inside the museum.

Before Enrico could say anything to further enrage Integra, the sounds of the fight inside the museum suddenly quieted down. The silence was almost as harsh as the chaos had been at the beginning of the fight, making us all pause and look toward the entrance with curiosity. It felt like the calm before the storm, and none of us dared to move or speak, waiting to see what would happen next.

After what felt like hours, though I knew it was much shorter, the silence persisted. Sensing that whatever caused Alucard and Alexander to stop fighting might not be good, I grabbed both Integra and Enrico and started running away from the museum. We needed to put as much distance between us and whatever was inside as possible. The eerie quiet behind us only heightened the urgency of our escape.

"Well-"

Just as I was about to say something, the sound of something collapsing interrupted me. We all turned to look back at the museum, or what used to be one, as the entire building crumbled. The sight of the destruction was both terrifying and confusing.

"Yeah, I stand by what I said before. This is going to cause a lot of headaches for a lot of people. In fact, it will likely cause many to lose their jobs related to the now-destroyed museum." I said to Integra and Enrico, surveying the wreckage. "By the way, where are Walter and the other guy who was with you, Mr. Maxwell? I may have saved you because you have important information for Sir Integra here, but I only have two hands." My eyes scanned the surroundings, hoping to spot any sign of the missing individuals amidst the mess.

"Walter should be fine. He isn't a completely defenseless person." Integra said with a hint of pride. She stared at Enrico coldly. Her confidence in Walter was clear, and it only served to emphasize her disdain for Enrico's earlier words.

"Don't underestimate Father Renaldo." Enrico retorted, glaring back with an equally cold gaze. He then closed his eyes and let out a loud sigh. "Let me say this once again: This meeting is very important. Shall we change the location to the coffee shop nearby?" His tone shifted from aggressive to practical, recognizing the need to continue their discussion in a safer place. "As you can tell, both of our aces are... quite busy with each other. So it's best we just leave those two alone since we can't do anything about them as we continue on with the meeting."

Integra sweatdropped, shaking her head slightly. "Very well... it seems we both have troublesome subordinates. Speaking from one swine to another." She turned and began walking towards the coffee shop, motioning for us to follow. "Hopefully, Walter and your bodyguard will reappear at some point, uninjured if possible."

Enrico frowned, then gave me a side glance as he followed Integra. He made sure to walk at the same pace as her, positioning himself beside her rather than a few steps behind. His determination to maintain an equal footing with her was clear.

2 hours later*

"Hm. This is a problem. Walter hasn't shown up yet, nor has Alucard reappeared before me." Integra said, frowning as she took a sip of her coffee after the important meeting with Enrico.

"I would offer to look for them, but right now, it's not wise to leave you without protection." I said to Integra, standing beside her as she sat. My eyes scanned the coffee shop, carefully watching for potential threats. Despite the calm setting, the situation was far from secure, and my priority was ensuring her safety until Walter and Alucard returned.

"I agree. For the time being, stay by my side until Seras' arrival. Hopefully, she had enough of her fills in showing off to the Wild Geese. It's a good thing I had her stay behind." Integra said, placing her cup on the table with a decisive clink. She looked up at me, her eyes softening slightly. "I think we can take this opportunity to have a small talk while we wait."

"Oh...?" I began to sweat a little, still unsure of the kind of relationship Integra and old Chikao had. Her sudden shift to a more personal tone caught me off guard. My mind raced, trying to gauge what she might want to discuss and how I should respond. The uncertainty made me uneasy, but I kept my composure, ready to engage in whatever conversation she had in mind.

"Sit in front of me before we talk." Integra insisted, pointing to the empty seat across from her. Her tone left no room for argument, and I could see she was serious about having this conversation.

Reluctantly, I nodded and moved to the chair, taking a seat directly opposite her. The table between us felt like a barrier, but her piercing gaze made it clear that there would be no avoiding whatever discussion she had in mind.

"Now, the first thing we should talk about is... what we've done since we were separated," Integra said in a serious tone. Her eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mixture of curiosity and determination. It was clear she was eager to understand the paths we had taken since our last encounter.

The problem is that I'm not the original Chikao. Or, for that matter, I don't even know if I am the original Chikao and somehow awakened with foreign memories of another person from a different reality. Either way, this is very troublesome.

I swallowed hard, realizing just how complex and delicate this conversation was going to be. How could I possibly explain this to Integra? The thought of her reaction and the potential consequences weighed heavily on my mind.

"I'll begin first," Integra said, taking a deep breath. She then started to explain how her life had been since we last saw each other after graduating. She spoke of her responsibilities at Hellsing, the battles she had faced, and the challenges of leading the organization. As she recounted her experiences, I could see the weight of her duties reflected in her eyes. Despite the hardships, there was also a sense of pride and determination in her voice, a testament to her unwavering resolve.

30 minutes later*

Holy cow, Integra...! How long are you going to keep talking?! The urge to ask this aloud was strong, but I needed to keep these words to myself. Instead, I nodded attentively, maintaining a respectful demeanor. It was clear that she had been through a lot, and interrupting her now would not be wise. I focused on absorbing every detail, hoping to piece together her story and better understand the current situation.

"Frankly, I doubted that you would have agreed to work for me after I finally had enough time to reach out to you. But I'm glad you came." Integra said with a smile. "So, how have you been? Did you manage to find the place to help you to become a ninja? I know many laughed and made fun of you for wanting to become one. However, I believed you would do it, and sure enough, you've proven that you have successfully become a ninja. Although it was a shocker to find out, it was surprisingly easy to locate you and contact your previous workplace to let you go."

Her words were a mix of pride and genuine curiosity, and her smile made it clear she was eager to hear my story. The sincerity in her voice was comforting, even as I struggled internally with the complexities of my identity.

Onto another important matter to consider... Ninja?! What the hell?! Old Chikao actually sought to become a ninja?

The revelation hit me like a bolt from the sky. The very idea seemed almost absurd, and I couldn't help but wonder what reasons led him down such an unconventional path. The thought of someone having a lifelong dream of becoming a ninja—and achieving it—was bewildering, especially in the context of everything else I had learned about him so far, which wasn't much but somewhat plenty enough at this point.

"Yeah, I proved those guys wrong..." I let out a nervous chuckle, trying to downplay the surreal nature of the situation. The awkwardness of the moment made me shift slightly in my seat. Despite my efforts to sound casual, the truth of my unusual journey was hard to ignore.

Note to self: Consider running one of the Cards of Blasphemy to gain ninja-like abilities or something. The Card of Twilight Giant might be worth a try, though it's uncertain if it'll be effective.

"Tell me, do you need my help to deal with any problems back in Japan?" Integra asked in concern. "It shouldn't have been so easy for me to find you, and the fact that the people who taught you to become a ninja were willing to reach out to me and transfer you over speaks volumes. If there are issues or complications you're facing, I'm here to help."

Her eyes were serious and empathetic, clearly worried about any lingering troubles I might have from my past. The concern she showed highlighted the depth of our connection and her willingness to support me despite the unexpected nature of our reunion.

What the hell did old Chikao do to make Integra like this?!