The lost composer of London

Explanations

Chapter 2-explanations

"What the hell is going on out here?!" Madam Integra could be a very scary person when she chose to be, and having Alucard follow her like a blood-red shadow only made her form more intimidating.

One of the mercenaries whispered to the man beside him. "I've got money on the vampire and Integra. You up for those odds?"

"Shut up," the other man warned. Integra was glaring at the Wild Geese.

"What do I pay you idiots for? Last I checked, it wasn't to piss your pants when something falls out of the sky! Fearless soldiers my ass." Most of the mercenaries looked away in shame. Bernadotte continued smoking.

Integra then turned her attention to the two boys. "Now you: you have a lot of fucking nerve trespassing on my land."

Neku frowned. "Well, I didn't so much 'trespass' as I did 'plummet.'" Integra snapped her fingers and Alucard aimed his pistol between Neku's eyes.

"Now is no time to play coy, boy," she growled. Neku's eyes focused on Alucard, and his hand hovered over the pocket his pins lied in. He could feel a fight boiling up. Joshua noticed this and grabbed Neku's wrist. He looked into Neku's eyes, still smiling, and shook his head slowly. Neku tore his hand out of Joshua's grip, but didn't go for his pins.

Joshua turned his gaze to Alucard. His eyes darted over his body, studying him. Alucard noticed this and gave a nasty smile, showing off his fangs.

Joshua chuckled shortly. "Vampire."

Alucard turned his head. "Yes."

"Interesting," Josh said simply.

Integra's expression softened, becoming less angry and more quizzical. "You know vampires?" she asked.

"I know how to spot one," Joshua said, flipping his hair nonchalantly. "Large, shady clothing, red eyes, fangs. They aren't exactly subtle." He turned to face Seras, who was watching the scene unfold tensely, prepared to assist her master if need be. "Well, most of the time." His grin widened and he nodded to her. Her eyebrows furrowed. Who is this kid? She thought. Curious person.

A vampire, Neku thought. That's a new one. Then again, I can't say it's very shocking. "So then, would you mind telling Batty here to get his gun out of my face?" Neku asked sarcastically. The gun thrust forward and knocked Neku onto the ground. Alucard towered over him, his trigger finger itching, and with a toothy scowl across his face. A dark aura engulfed him like flames. Neku gripped his ribs in pain, but secretly palmed a pin during his fall. Vampire or not, he could cut his head off with a simple hand motion. But before either of them could make a move, Joshua stepped between them with his warm smile and offered a hand to Neku.

"That was rude Neku. We aren't here to antagonize these people."

Neku swatted his hand away. "I don't even know why we ARE here!" He pushed himself off the ground in a defiant way, but his wincing from the pain in his ribs nullified the intimidation he was going for. "Why couldn't you take Mr. Hanekoma* or someone else? I think you know enough people who would gladly come on you're stupid road trip instead of me."

"Mr. Hanekoma was occupied, and you seemed like the only other person I knew competent enough for this. You should be flattered!"

After seeing all this Integra pulled out a new cigar and lit it. Come to think of it, she thought aimlessly, why didn't I bring Walter out here? He lights these for me, and doesn't act out when people call him children's insults like "Batty."

"Calm down Alucard," she said flatly.

"Of course, my Master." He holstered his guns, scowling.

Joshua rubbed his head and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry about my friend here," Joshua laughed. ("I'm not your friend," Neku mumbled inaudibly, massaging his ribs.) "He isn't what you would call the most tactful of people."