For those of you who know the story, you may consider "Suicide" as part of the HWGA series, so to speak.

HEADS UP: I'm "polishing" the different chapters in between writing and posting "HWGA" so if you see a difference in the writing style, that's what's going on. When I get finished, I'll do an update alert so previous readers will know I've done some clean up work. You are all terrific in your reviews and advice while being as tactful as possible. I greatly appreciate that. Thanks!

Berserker Rage

Calling herself three times a fool, Trish blamed herself for the life threatening predicament she was in. Following a horde of demons fleeing her ruthless slaying, oblivious to her surroundings, she found herself genuinely in Hell. WHY hadn't she noticed in her enthusiastic demolishing of vile creatures, she was being driven into a dead end?

The Demon World hadn't been on her agenda.

Trish was inside the Devil's lair before she realized the demons had been bait to lure her into a trap. Obviously, she surmised sourly, I haven't killed enough of them to make a difference.

Pushing aside her dread, she decided if they wanted her alive, they'd have to strain to reel her in. She wasn't going to be an easy catch.

Fighting, Trish brought up Ombra and Luce with sizzling intensity and fired a battery of lethal bullets into the swarm herding her into a large, elaborate, marbled throne room. Flipping and twisting, she leaped high into the air, never letting up on her lethal triggering. With malicious gratification, Trish decimated swarm after swarm.

Resolved to taking out as many as she could, Trish's rapid triggering slaughtered everything in her path as she somersaulted high in the air to get to the only exit. As she saw the exit vanish, she pragmatically concluded with venom, Well, there's only one thing to do. She would simply have to kill them all. Every single one.

Smiling cruelly, Trish built up orange red fire in her chest. Sending electrical, crackling, flames down her arms, she raised her left hand, now empty, and blasted a huddled mass of demons into oblivion. Luce took the energy from her right hand greedily and spit out miniature rockets, destroying group after group of the myriad of demons filling the room. She distantly noted the power level of the demonic horde becoming stronger.

As if she cared. The more challenging the kill, the bigger the thrill, Trish savagely determined.

As the swarm began to dwindle under her tender attentive administrations, a booming voice commanded, "Enough!" The various devils, demons and demon warriors Trish had been combating immediately stopped their attack and bowed.

An oily, sickening dread rose in the pit of her stomach as Trish recognized that voice. She knew it intimately and had hoped to never hear it again.

Understanding the game, she stood with a careless cock of her hip, tucking her guns into her belt. To add insult to injury, Trish nonchalantly swept her long hair back while combing the thick golden mane with her fingers.

She knew she struck the right chord when Mundus shouted in offended outrage, "You show no fear in the face of your Master?"

Playing her role for all she was worth, Trish assumed a blasé posture in front of the kingly statue seated on a raised huge throne placed on top a wide, gold threaded granite tower. As if puzzled, she scorned, "Master? You are not my master." Setting the scene, she drew herself up and proclaimed proudly, "I am my own Master. You ceased to be my master when you had the folly of being defeated by Dante."

He roared, "By lending him your strength! You betrayed me, Trish. Why is that?"

Taking on a bored expression, Trish spoke as if the answer was obvious, "Do you imagine I would hold myself in so little regard as to serve one who was clearly less superior than another? Unlike you, I did not underestimate Dante's strength, and knew he would be the victor. I beheld a way to free myself while attaching a most powerful Devil to myself. I chose to take advantage of an exceedingly beneficial opportunity."

As expected, Mundus bellowed in fury. Wincing in an exaggerated fashion, Trish admonished, "Must you make such loud noises? It is quite unnecessary and unpleasant to the ears." As he strangled on her flippancy, she lined up her shot by observing, "I see you are boring as ever. Do you hide behind a mask because you find your true form so hideous? Or is it out of fear?" She added a touch of condescension for effect.

Trish scored.

"Leave us!" the Devil King ordered his supplicants, who hastened to obey. Once alone, the statue broke apart and Mundus appeared before Trish in his true form.

"Ah," she said lightly, "That is much better. After all, I am in my true form as well. This is a much more civilized way to converse."

In all his demonic glory, Mundus strode toward her while sneering, "Your true form is unbecoming. Human. Is it disgusting and beneath my notice."

Whirling in a circle with her hands held up, Trish showed off for him while saying mockingly, "Was it not you who chose this form for me in the first place? I would not demean myself so if I was you. This form has many advantages. With it, I find great satisfaction within the Human World."

"Satisfaction within the Human World?" he snorted, "Preposterous. No human can satisfy your appetites as well as those found within the Demon World."

"You are, of course, entitled to your opinion," Trish told him before explaining a smoothly suggestive, "I, however, have an ample amount of humans to use to bring me a variety of different, delicious, pleasures."

Mundus glared in contempt, "I sense your chaste state. You have shared yourself with only one. Do you believe you can toy with me? No human could survive long enough to fulfill all your pleasures."

"Perhaps, but there is no need to use them for the pleasures you are implying. Assuredly, Dante is more than capable of appeasing any appetites I have the humans cannot. Providing further entertainment I desire, there are a few worthy opponents from the Demon World to be found."

Skeptically surveying her as Trish spoke of Dante with arrogant confidence, the demonic king contemplated, "So the rumors are true. He is now your Master."

Trish laughed in feigned fiendish triumph, "You are misguided once again. It is I who have claimed Dante as his Master." For emphasis, she added a visible shiver of lusty relish. "Being boisterous, Dante has much stamina and dearly loves to play," she purred, "He is also enthusiastic in his creativity and eagerness to explore new, interesting activities."

Hearing, seeing, and feeling, her personal conviction in Dante's abilities, Mundus was astounded. Perturbed, he hesitantly scoffed, "You lie. I have heard no rumor of you claiming the status of a Master."

"I do not lie," Trish replied haughtily, "You would know if I did. As far as proclaiming myself a Master, I am master of multiple talents and powers, but do not choose to brag, or bind others to me. Why should I? I revel in my freedom and do not wish to be bothered. Humans are easily lead into compliance. Because they are pitifully fragile and short lived, I see no need to gather supplicants. Unbound by the demands of others, I remain free to do whatever and go wherever I wish."

When Mundus aggressively stepped forward, anticipation filled Trish. If she could bring him within reach, she thought she may be able to mount a successful attack. To achieve her goal, she had carefully chose her words. Mundus may sense her lies, but not her secrets (half truths came in handy).

Trish could've almost thanked him for remaining predictable as Mundus easily followed her lead by announcing, "Although I do not perceive deception within your assertions, I do not trust you. How could one such as you claim Dante? A warrior mighty enough to cause the entire Demon World to quake in dread and envy? I fail to understand how Dante could be a powerful Master in his own right if what you say is true."

She regally struck a pose which emphasized her body. "Have you not been paying attention, Mundus? I have told you this form has proved exceedingly useful in acquiring what I desire. Who better to obtain than the most powerful Devil? I require no others. Why should I when I have no need? By claiming Dante, I have successfully gained a formidable protector while remaining free to do as I will. It is most delectable."

With a sultry laugh, Trish spoke as if impressed, "You are indeed clever Mundus to have taken into account Dante's status. Because you discern his prominence, I can only thank you for the compliment to my own cleverness. I learned much from you and you taught me well."

As he preened under her praise, Trish caught herself before she curled a lip in revolted disgust. Seeming to inadvertently relax her guard, she said, "Therein lies the genius of my design. Once I enticed Dante, I offered him a deal."

The Devil King's interest sharpened.

Sticking to her plan, Trish confided, "Having gained knowledge of my desires, you will understand when I told him, if he would accept me as his Master for his own pleasure, then I would in no way interfere with his status or supplicants. Finding this arrangement much to my liking, I make certain Dante finds this agreement fortuitous and rapturous."

Mundus suspiciously admitted, "Very clever Trish - if Dante is as loyal as you declare. I demand proof of this claiming you insist occurred."

Elated her scheme was working, Trish decided to take a risk. Keeping her entire demeanor languid while readying to strike, she advanced.

When he stepped away from her, she taunted with a derisive laugh, "Is the great Mundus fearful of me? I only seek to show you the proof you requested."

"I would be a fool to trust you Trish. But fear one of my own creations? Absurd. Your limited powers are no match for mine," Mundus pompously stated.

Trish let amused incredulity sink into her tone, "I hear your words, but your actions speak louder." She may as well have called him a spineless braggart. Incensed by her impertinence, he swaggered close enough for her to touch.

The moment Trish had been waiting for arrived and she accepted, in all likelihood, she wouldn't survive this encounter. Although unafraid, she felt a terrible, searing grief for Dante. Holding fast to his image, Trish mourned the pain she knew he would feel. Wishing with every ounce of her being he wouldn't retaliate, she knew hers was a futile wish. Praying the scheme she concocted would work, her thoughts centered on how to best get him the knowledge and power he needed before she died.

Playing her part well, she held up her left hand, palm facing her, and wiggled her fingers.

Astonished, Mundus stepped closer. "Is that...?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered, casually smug, "It is the ring Sparda made and placed upon his human female. Dante bequeathed the ring to me as a symbol of his oath." Muntus was stunned.

Insisting the ring, which he'd bonded to Trish, along with a specially designed one he created and wore, be kept hidden from the Demon World, Dante knew she'd be in grave danger if they were discovered. The rings would reveal Trish's unheard of status. Like his mother, who'd had an equal pairing with his demonic father, she'd be hunted without reprieve.

Mundus would never conceive of two "Masters" laying claim to each other. Beloved, equally partnered, human relationships were unknown in the Demon World and beyond the inhabitants' comprehension. But Trish turned the tables by declaring the priceless ring, and Dante, belonged solely to her. Mundus had no idea he had within his reach one of the most prized treasures within the Demon World - Trish, herself.

While he was frozen in momentary shock, she struck. With her left hand blazing, she punched her fist into the very core of his being.

The ring instantly came alive with wrath. Feeling his hatred and murderous menace, the ring mercilessly invaded Mundus and his intentions. Relentless, its power ferreted out and gathered every iota of power he'd stolen when battling Dante, enslaving Vergil, and had deviously stolen from Trish. Ferocious red and blue energy thoroughly scavenged Mundus' aura until it discovered, to the last piecemeal, anything regarding and needed by those the ring guarded.

The fire became a conflagration, and Trish was afraid the ring wouldn't be able to contain the massive amount of potent power it was absorbing. She desperately fought to hold firm while Mundus careened. As it fulfilled one of its purposes, the ring sought a way to properly channel the inundation of energy and information.

Alarmed and aghast, Trish realized this meant the ring would search out its mate with a deluge she couldn't control. Aware the second it hit Dante, her heart sank as his response was everything she feared, and more.

...

Restless, Dante was unaccountably worried about Trish as he sparred with Vergil as Nero looked on with interest. When he'd found himself blocked from her, taking his frustrations out on Vergil had seemed like a good idea at the time. Building up a sweat with a hard workout helped to an extent.

When Vergil remarked caustically he was off his game, instead of tossing out the usual witty irritating retort Dante walked away disconcerted. Wiping the perspiration from his face, neck and shoulders, he guzzled water in an attempt to quench his increasingly dry throat.

Nero was disappointed, but figured, hey, everyone had their off days. Vergil, however, went on alert - something was happening to Dante.

Breathing deeply, Dante couldn't get enough air as his anxiety increased. Suddenly, he fell to his knees with a startled, pain-filled, shout.

Concerned, Nero made to move toward him only to be brought to a standstill by the flat of Vergil's blade. "Do not go near him," Vergil ordered uncompromisingly. In confusion, a bewildered Nero obeyed as he watched him stealthily approach Dante - cautiously holding Yamato's hilt in readiness.

Flowing onto one knee next to him, Vergil asked calmly, "Dante, what is the matter?" noticing Dante's ring bathing his entire hand in scarlet fire. Shaking his head, unable to speak, Dante gripped the open collar of Vergil's coat. Without warning, the two halves of their mother's amulet rose from under their shirts and joined.

When Vergil had decided to live in the Human World, Dante had returned his half of the talisman. Their mother had infused its immense power with her primal love for them while bespelling the jewel into two perfect halves. She'd wanted Vergil and Dante protected, bonded to each other, and to feel her with them.

When the amulet was whole, Dante compulsively wrapped his flaming fist around the ruby so the amulet could take control over the rampaging surge coming from his ring. Neither man could break free. Ricocheting from the impact, the torrent of power and information was a summer flash flood storming them. Dante and Vergil couldn't stem the assault. Hissing as his personal power slammed into him, Vergil became cognizant of everything Dante learned and experienced.

After what felt like an eternity, the raging river receded. The amulet pulsed, slowly separated, and throbbing a warm heartbeat, floated back to rest again against their bare chests. While Vergil reveled in his newly regained powers, Dante wasn't so fortunate.

He'd taken the brunt of the torrential implosion while solidly merging with Trish - and she was in mortal danger.

...

Once the wild ride finished, Trish was blasted across the room into a marble wall before falling limply to the ground. Nearly knocked unconscious, she didn't feel the blow or jarring landing. Thrown to the floor after being sucked dry of the powers of Sparda's offspring, Mundus had been swift in his retaliation when he felt her powers missing from him as well.

A force to be recognized, prudently respected, and extremely talented in the magical arts, Trish had been a highly prized sorceress under Mundus' reign. The various powers Mundus had robbed her of had been multiple.

Writhing in anguish, she frantically sought to assimilate those stolen powers into herself as she struggled to retain the human body she'd grown to love. On one level, she gloried in her accumulated, returning powers. They filled a hole she pretended to ignore over the years in the Human World. But, (and that was a BIG but) they were threatening to change her into her original demonic form and she fought the change with everything at her command.

When she'd first met and crashed into Dante, he'd shaken the foundations of her existence. As he spoke of his mother, Trish began to perceive this human female had embodied him with an iron will and unshakable integrity which somehow made him stronger than any demon. Insatiably curious and far more intelligent than other devils, she reluctantly arrived at the conclusion by combining his human emotions with his demonic powers, Dante became invincible.

Because of Dante and her decision to follow him into the Human World, Trish had been given a priceless gift. She'd been given the gift of free will she discovered had the power to move mountains.

Yes, the emotions Dante awoke in her had been disturbing, to say the least, but she'd wanted to delve further into those mysterious emotions and examine what humans were truly like. Amazed and bedazzled by a world brimming with limitless possibilities, beauty and a freedom she'd never known, Trish embraced her new life wholeheartedly. After countless years of demonic subjugation, she had dug deep until she uncovered, piece by piece, the real person she was and wanted to be.

Even dazed and chaotic, she refused to let the Demon World reclaim her.

Then Dante was there, with her.

Trish would've cried unnatural devil tears if she'd been safe. With his help she was able to regain control and harness the energy lambasting her system. Rolling over while taking a deep breath of exhausted relief, she saw Mundus standing over her in a high rage. Closing her eyes to the sight, she knew death wouldn't come easily for her as she'd previously thought.

In her mind she heard, and felt, Dante's furiously virulent denial, "Don't you DARE die on me Trish. I can't live without you. Hell, I can't BREATHE without you. So you hang on tight sweetheart. I'm coming. RIGHT NOW."

At Trish's despairing wail of fear for him, Dante calmed her, "Doesn't matter. One way or another, the son of a bitch's dead and won't be coming back. You can bank on me not leaving without you. I'll find you and we won't ever be alone again. Understand?" Disheartened, she did. Whether she liked it or not, Dante would come. He'd demolish everything in his path to get to her, and if she perished, he would follow her to the other side.

Linked securely together (and Dante wasn't about to let go), they heard Mundus growl, "Very well played Trish. You are to be commended. Though you were able to take the power of Sparda's whelps and your own from me, I have other, different, powers at my disposal. I am pleased overall. Dante will come whether he is your loyal pet or not because he will not allow this insult to go unpunished. If he does not comply, then I will simply start taking those under him in order to get his attention. This time I will not fail, and will either subjugate Dante to my will, or kill him."

Both knew which Dante would choose as Mundus continued assessing her with a critical eye, "In a way, having your full powers back is fortunate. You will not be easily destroyed and will able to endure much for entertainment uses. I may, perhaps, grant you an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of this human body you boast of and Dante thoroughly savors."

Trish's eyes wanted to widen. Mundus found the human form repugnant. Never would she have considered rape a possibility. Sick repugnance filled Trish at the very idea of this vile... THING touching her. Carefully expressionless, she knew if the demonic king had any inclination of her fear, he'd instantly fall upon her. Her degradation would fuel his lust and bring him pleasure.

Trish would rather be racked, sliced and whipped.

Seeing her peril and feeling her, Dante had enough sanity left to run a comforting, reassuring, loving stroke through her before she lost consciousness.

...

Feeling Trish's deep sleep, Dante buried the ferociously rioting part of himself as deep as he could on the off chance of reviving her. He absolutely wanted Trish to stay under as long as possible - thereby keeping her relatively safe from sadistic, repulsive, demonic "entertainments".

Inwardly howling in a black swirling void of helpless ravenous fury, his eyes flashed fire. Flat on his back, he began to tremble violently in reaction.

Attempting to bring him to his senses, Vergil told him sternly, "Dante, you are about to trigger. You must stop this at once. You will bring both the demons and humans' attention to us."

Unable, or unwilling, to hear him, Dante thrashed in the midst of his emotional turmoil. Silently cursing, Vergil placed his full body weight across him. Motioning to Nero, he called, "Lend me your weight Nero. We must hold him down."

Immediately, Nero went to help Vergil restrain Dante (no easy task).

"Get. Off. Of. Me," Dante gritted in a horrific demonic voice that spoke of a rampaging necessity for devastation and carnage.

Nero asked fearfully, "What's going on?"

"Dante is about to trigger his Devil. If this happens, in his state of mind, the backlash will virtually destroy everything around us within a mile. In addition, he will attack anything that moves, including us."

Oh man, Nero didn't like the sound of that piece of information. "What set him off?" he ground out as he put his back into helping Vergil.

"Trish has been taken," Vergil responded curtly. He didn't need to elaborate - Nero had been there, done that.

"OK. So how do we calm him down?" he asked desperately, positive they didn't want a Dante at maximum rage loose.

Vergil replied in frustration, "I am not sure. Whatever you do, do not do anything foolishly human such as thinking a bucket of cold water will help in regaining his sanity. That will only set him off more." (It's a good thing Vergil said something when he did because Nero had been thinking of doing just that.) "We must find a way to reach him, but I am at a loss," he admitted.

Since Nero had personal experience in what Dante was feeling, he took the reins shouting, "Dante! Dante! You'll get Trish back. But you can't do it like this. You're not helping Trish if you can't keep your cool, right? You might hurt Trish if you do this." Nero kept saying Trish's name because Kyrie's name always brought him back from the brink of insanity.

Nero seemed to penetrate the red killing haze Dante was immersed in because he stopped struggling, though he was breathing and sweating heavily.

Seeing this, Vergil took up where Nero left off with, "Think Dante. Trish put herself in great danger to uncover Mundus' plan. Moreover, Trish got our powers back from him. Surely, if Trish can be courageous, strong and intelligent enough to do this, you can do no less. You know she awaits you."

Taking Vergil's words to heart, Dante calmed further. He was right. Dante couldn't let Trish down. SHE was the one in danger, not him. And as a bonus, he'd cemented himself to her. Dante could find Trish with his eyes closed, both hands tied behind his back and in a blizzard two continents away. Thinking over what Vergil said, he felt he would commit an atrocity if he threw away everything she had endured for him.

Dante burned rage and grief.

And then there was Mundus. Let's not forget him. As far as Dante was concerned, that Devil was the walking dead - he only needed to bring the shovel.

With eyes closed, Dante steadied his breathing and forced his heart into a normal rhythm. He managed to say a fairly normal, "I think I'm under control now. You can both let up." Tentatively, Vergil and Nero rose and stepped away from the lethal predator wounded to madness.

Without ceremony, or a word, Dante stood, and with long strides went to gear himself up with every deadly object he owned. If it was war Mundus wanted, by God, that's what he was gonna get. Armageddon, here we come.

Listening to the various sounds emanating from the building, the men outside knew exactly what Dante was doing.

Nero scratched his head, "Who'd be stupid enough to take Trish? Are they into suicide or something?"

"Well," Vergil drawled, "You are correct when you say 'they.'"

"Huh?" was Nero's response.

Vergil turned to him. "Mundus is excepting Dante to think he is being offered an apple, when actually, he is hiding an orange."

"Wha...?" Nero asked, lost at sea.

Vergil explained, "What happens when you peel an orange?"

Nero shrugged, "You get pieces of an orange." He didn't know what Vergil was getting at.

"Exactly. Mundus is pretending to be alone but he has brought in other Devil Kings as allies against Dante. They all have motive to hate him, or us, I should say."

"By 'us,' I'm guessing it's one of those Sparda things," Nero commented with serious alarm bells going off in his head. Vergil nodded.

When he stayed quiet, Nero ventured, "You, uh... You know the guy heading this up? What's he like?"

Vergil hesitated before answering, "Mundus is known for his vicious tendencies, unwholesome appetites and an uncanny creativity when it comes to inflicting both mental and physical pain."

"Sounds like you know him pretty well. How come?" Nero asked curiously, becoming more alarmed and upset by the second.

Vergil sighed wearily, "As much as I enjoy your enthusiasm to learn Nero, you often... How shall I say? You intrude in other people's business."

"Yeah? So? Tell me anyway," Nero insisted.

Knowing how persistent the young man was, Vergil decided not to waste his energy ignoring him when the boy would keep nagging him until he got what he wanted. "Mundus had been the Demon Emperor and has risen to become a Devil King in the Demon World. From what I learned through our mutual experience with Trish..."

"That's what that was!" Nero exclaimed.

Sliding an impatient glance at him, Vergil continued, "Yes. She managed to use her bond with Dante to 'steal' information and power away from Mundus and send them to Dante. The amount of energy was so intense, only Mother's amulet could properly channel, control and sift through it." As Nero began to open his mouth, Vergil spoke quickly to cut him off, "To make a long story short, Mundus utterly loathes Dante for defeating him."

He waited for the questions he was sure to come since the boy couldn't seem to control his curiosity. Most of the time Vergil didn't mind, as he was of a similar bent, but this was a painful and delicate subject he didn't know if he was prepared to discuss.

"Huh," Nero started, "I get you. He's pissed Dante defeated him in the Demon World. But what's the deal with Trish?" He was seriously, sincerely, worried about her, especially after Vergil's description of her captor.

Vergil took a bracing breath, "Nero, Trish is not only caste but paired with Dante. This is unheard of in the Demon World, making her valuable beyond price. She cleverly made Mundus believe she was Dante's Master thereby masking her true status and making her obviously caste state less valuable."

Nero had learned enough to know taking a caste woman, who'd been a virgin, as Trish had become when she was "reborn," and then remained faithful to only one man, was one of the most prized possessions in the Demon World. If Mundus thought Trish was Dante's caste one, then, if he hated Dante as much as Vergil said, he'd immediately ravish her. Nero didn't even want to know what the demon would do to her if he found out she was equal in status with Dante.

This was bad. Really, really bad. "Is she OK? I mean, did it work? She's not hurt or anything is she?" he pleaded anxiously.

Vergil paused for a long moment before speaking, "If you mean has he raped her, the answer is no, he has not. Mundus finds the human form unappealing so she is safe from being violated for now. As far as being hurt, I am sure she will be shortly. Mundus greatly enjoys his entertainments and pleasures. He is known for his exotic appetites." Vergil finished soberly.

Nero went white. No way. Not Trish. Not gorgeous, loving, generous Trish. He absolutely refused to ask, or think about, what Vergil meant by "exotic tastes," especially if they were referring to the Demon World where torture was a matter of course.

Vergil mused, "He has a special reason to hate Trish as well and will want to punish her."

"What? Why?" Nero yelped involuntarily.

Vergil faced him with solemn slate blue eyes, "You see Nero, remember when you found out how Trish was 'born' or created?"

Nero nodded.

"Somehow Trish, who had been sent to betray Dante to her Master, Mundus, ended up being moved by Dante. She betrayed Mundus by helping Dante defeat him before leaving with Dante. This is how she came to be in the Human World."

"Oh my God. Oh my God!" was all Nero could get out as fear became a living, breathing thing inside him.

He hands down didn't want know anything else, but Vergil wasn't finished, "I felt Trish's resolve to meet her death before stealing our powers back from Mundus. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I cannot know which, because of Mother's ring, and Trish's bond with it, she also received her own previous powers back. She had had them stolen from her while being forged into human form. In doing so, she did not die as she thought, or maybe hoped, but is stronger than before and will be able to withstand much before breaking."

Nero did NOT want to hear anymore and his distressed darkening blue eyes said it all. Leaving Vergil in peace, he focused on controlling his churning stomach. In sick dread, he also completely got whatever Vergil knew, Dante did too.

...

Her network running smooth, efficient and fast, Lady drove up on her bike as Dante exited.

Dressed to kill, literally, Nero could feel all kinds of Devil Arms on Dante whose eyes were glittering, bone chilling, slightly tinted green blue-gray diamonds.

Shouldering past them, Dante headed for his bike.

Lady rushed him but skipped to a stop when those evil eyes fell on her without changing expression. "Dante, I just heard. I'm coming with you," she stated with her chin up.

Dante glided over. "Just heard, huh? Well, I must say you certainly have your contacts, don't you little girl?" he purred, flatly menacing.

Backing up with confusion written across her, Dante followed until Lady was almost pressed against Vergil. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you go play with your favorite toy somewhere far from here? Or better yet, quit using it as a dick to fuck with demons. You're a woman who likes men. Why don't you find the real thing to play with, Mary?"

Lady blanched. She couldn't believe DANTE was saying these awful things to her.

"That is enough, Dante," Vergil interjected, turning Dante focus toward him. As he grabbed him roughly by the throat, Vergil appeared impassive.

Dante's voice never changed, "Who're you to tell me when enough's enough? My big brother? I have no brother. I should know. He left me and I killed him. End of story. I keep you around as a type of memento."

When Vergil met his stare, Dante tightened his grip and his voice deepened, "You think I want some pathetic, power hungry, blind moron, who was stupid enough to take on the Prince of Darkness, only to get himself enslaved then taken out by his foolish, little brother? Do you think I need someone like that in a fight? What you are, is a liability."

Whipping out two guns, Lady aimed at Dante. "Let him go," she demanded.

Dante dismissively scorned, "Or what? You'll shoot me? Don't make me laugh." Narrowing his eyes while studying Vergil for a frozen moment in time, he ultimately shoved him at Lady. "If you want to play with a son of Sparda, got one for you right here."

Nero was next under fire as Dante landed lightly in front of him, "And you. You're nothing but a loud mouth, smartass, punk kid with more brawn than brains. To illustrate, you should be home, protecting your chaste one from all the big, bad guys gunning for her this very second. But are you? No, because in the ways that count, you're as stupid as you are reckless."

Whirling, Dante's coat flared and twined about his long legs as he strode to his bike, straddled the seat, kicked up the stand and balanced the cycle between his legs.

As he revved the engine, Nero found his voice and shouted, "Wait. Dante, don't do this. We all want to help."

Dante laughed scathingly, "Help? Kid, when in comes to the important things, I work alone. I always have. I don't need you, or anyone else, getting in my way."

Nero tried again, (being the mouthy one and all) "But Dante we all love Trish. She would die for you."

Utterly and completely the wrong thing to say.

Somehow Nero didn't know, but it was spine skidding scary, Dante became even more dangerously grim. Shooting a wheel in the air, he screeched a sideways stop in front of the threesome.

"Don't I know it," he venomously hissed in answer before turning his attention elsewhere (leaving a shaken Nero thankful for the brush off in this case). Taking one long last look at Vergil, he warningly growled a meaningful, "I didn't get to say it before, so I'll say it now. Fare thee well, brother. Get me?"

Without waiting for a response, Dante burned rubber as he peeled out.