- Chapter 1 -

Hunter and Hunted

"Dead..." Dante commented sourly, rolling the corpse of a middle-aged man, clad in a cheap suit over with his sword. The room was dark and silent. Just like the night outside. The gun he held with his other hand went back into the holster on his back. One debt-collector more to scratch off the list, he noted to himself. He didn't pity him too much. But the man was a human. He didn't stand a chance to whom or what had attacked him. Why would someone bother with this lowlife and risk that local authorities would crawl the place around soon enough? Because they wouldn't find anything out of the ordinary...But still, why should someone draw attention like this...?

His brother stood next to him silently. His ice-blue eyes eyes wandered over the interior of the room. Everything seemed to be in order. Nothing had been moved, not the slightest hint of a fight. There were piling papers on the desk. His fingers traced little sprinkles of blood on the wooden high board opposite the desk. The dead man's throat had been ripped apart. Skin, Flesh, arteries and the windpipe were shredded with a good amount of force. Quick and effective. Someone did this with his hand...? Claws? The way it looked to Vergil, he'd go for claws.

There was also a distinctive smell in the air. A hint of an earthy aroma mixed with the scent of an extinguished match. Something smokey, not entirely unpleasant though, he had to admit. And something else...a faint note. Oranges. He would recognize that scent everywhere by now. To many dead and what had lingered, had been always the same smell. Sometimes stronger, sometimes Dante didn't smell it at all. But Vergil was more keen on those things.

"It would seem, it is the same person. I can smell it." His lips curled in disgust at the last words he uttered.

"Whatever he is." Dante shrugged. "Sooner or later. He's going to make a mistake." At least he tried to tell himself. But it proved difficult over the weeks and month. These random murders were hard to trace, let alone predictable in any way. At first it was a welcomed distraction from the usual. Demon, kill, money. Everything fine. Not any more though.

When the first victims occurred, both he and his brother hadn't even noticed. The occasional dead man in the underground, the second layer of the not so human society in the city. Where the hunters dwelled and the outcasts from hell, the running demons and half-breeds to hide themselves. As long as hell and heaven didn't interfere, all was quiet. Everyone just wanted to make a living. It was the same with their business. And an unspoken rule had established itself to leave one another alone in peace. But it seemed yet, it was actually short lived.

The more they listened, rumors occurred louder here and there. Of course, not everything was peaches and roses. Shady individuals tried to feed of the miserable lives ever so often. May it be human or demon. And that's were Dante and Vergil first stumbled into what seemed to be a bigger picture, none could yet see it. And the loudest mumble behind closed doors up to this point was about something or someone sneaking around, taking revenge. Murdering their own kind and taking their souls. But Dante didn't give a flying a fuck about that.

An alchemist. Dead. Vergil later found out he had been trading with substances and things far more dangerous than the usual trinket, antidote or essence of whatever wretched creature. Directly imported from hell itself. Dangerous business, which drove one of his customers in such a feeding frenzy, endangering things to be exposed to outside the world that it clearly wasn't ready for. He had attacked a train in the tunnels and when the the train hit it's destination on full speed, nothing but silence and death was left in it's wake. The local media had gotten in an uproar. And their agency has had another job. Well, that's how the world goes. Track it down and dispose of all evidence of the demonic presence.

But to tie all these seemingly random occurrences together proved to be the hardest part. Too much talking with annoying people was involved. Dante couldn't stand it, it was wearing thin on his patience. And though both brothers weren't famous about that, Vergil on the other hand had himself proved to be a very persuasive talker. He would get anything out of everyone. Even the color of your grannies panties - if he would be interested in panties at all.

So Dante just reserved himself for the good ol' occasional slicing and shooting. But still, he glumly wondered what would happen when they would find out where exactly the threads met.

"We are done here." Vergil drawled, after they had thoroughly checked the whole place and found nothing.

Dante just grunted and gave him an affirmative nod and they bolted out of the window, up the ladder towards the roof and made their way back home. Ah, home. And a pizza. Though Vergil loathed pizza, the boxes with pasta and seafood, which Dante always ordered as well, never went untouched.

Though the red half devil was kind of used to it by now, there were moments he could still feel disbelief and excitement slowly bubbling up his belly threatening him to laugh out loud. You could call it happiness as it is. Just like that, because sometimes Dante found himself stealing glances at his brother, thinking about how home and Vergil seemed to fit in the same sentence perfectly.

Home. Together.

He couldn't help but look at his brother and smile.

Vergil and Dante had been separated for the good half of ten years after there home had burned down, losing everything they ever had in the fire.

Sixth month ago they were reunited by their godfather and the only father figure Dante had ever really known. When they were given into child custody after their Mom had died and their Father had vanished, Vergil with his good manors, well spoken attitude and shyness was easily relocated to a new home.

But wherever Dante went he only spelled trouble. No one was able to harbor the boy longer than one or two month before giving up on him. He was known for violent outbursts and overall snotty behavior, causing havoc where he went and enjoyed it thoroughly. No one was able to put up with the boy.

And because of what had happened to their home and parents, there had formed a rivalry between the only 8 year old siblings, which was unmatched. And destructive. Frustration and sadness reigned their hearts and minds. Both were broken and each dealt with the loss in his own way. And at a young age that left them with no ability to remotely cope with these emotions.

Though their mother had it imprinted into their minds to not tell a soul about their true lineage. And even if they knew how to handle their powers, both had made a promise to Eva to not use one little ounce of it. She feared for the wrath of hell, that surely would come after them both to pay for the deeds of their infamous father.

They were the sons of Sparda. The offsprings from a bond forged with a human woman, who Sparda had fallen in love with. He had been a high ranked devil in hell, who abandoned his kin and duties in favor of the human world.

Almost 2000 years ago, Sparda, tired of all the excessive killing and the barren wastelands he called his home in hell, he grew disgusted with commanding the destructive forces and the inevitable slaughter. He often visited the human world and curiously learned of them and their lives and traditions. He saw them grow and prosper. He saw the good in people and in the end, he found something so pure, he wouldn't return to his post. Sparda had learned, what it was to love and be loved in return.

Hell was furious and tried to unleash a war to overwhelm humanity. The priestess he had fallen in love with, was a daughter and sister to a tribe of mysterious shamans at that time and they begged him on their knees to save mankind.

And out of love he did. So he summoned all his former strength and used his sword, forged with great might in another realm far off the human world and did the unimaginable.

He, with his beloved priestess by his side, fought back the first onslaught of demons and eventually sealed the entrance ripped into the fabric of time between the human and the demon world.

For the spell, the priestess sacrificed her life and Sparda completed the ritual with sealing his own power within the sword to feed the barrier and keep it steady forever.

With his heart broken by the loss of the very woman, who taught him to love and losing almost all his powers he fled and hid himself in the human world.

So Sparda saved mankind and little is known about this, but the line of priestesses and shamans existed to this day unbroken. And the story had been told from fathers to sons and mothers to daughters. Their secret duty to guard the place and the legend ever present and not forgotten.

Hell though would not let him go off so easily, so they searched far and wide for the traitorous devil. But Sparda wandered through the ages alone and traveled the world he so loved and saved. His broken heart healed over time and he lived a human live, humble and incognito.

He eventually met Eva, the first person in ages he had told his life story to and they fell madly in love with each other. Out of caution and fear they traveled far and settled somewhere in deep silent woods and build a house there. A manor, for Sparda with his long life span had managed to amass wealth and wisdom all the same.

His studies of the world had brought him great pleasure and he lived and breathed it. So they settled down and were content. Eva then gave birth to twins. And Sparda was overjoyed with having offsprings who he could nurture and teach, to become strong and follow his path.

But eventually the evil powers began to stir again. Though with the seal intact, they had found means and ways for demons to occasionally wander the earth. Hunters were out, still searching for Sparda, because the bounty was high on his head. The ruler of hell had never forgotten and he would never forgive.

So one day, Sparda left his sons and wife, because he knew they would come. His plan was to retrieve his sword and powers and finally end it all. He wanted to defeat the ruler, because he wanted his family safe for good, even if it meant his certain death.

No greater mistake had ever been made.

On a warm summer evening the woods were swarmed by demonic hordes fresh from and set on fire. With Sparda gone, Eva and her sons were easy prey. The mother defended her sons, but was no match even for the weaker demons.

And when the house burned, young Vergil and Dante witnessed her death and in an unwilling outburst, due to the inherited power from her father, they unleashed forces unknown to them. The devils were reduced to ashes and dust, but their mother couldn't be saved.

Broken-hearted and bruised, the orphaned twins wandered to the nearest city and the authorities became aware of the dirty, pale and thin children wandering the streets.

Vergil was sent to a new family and Dante eventually was taken in by an older man, who had no family of himself, but great knowledge and wealth to give. His name was Danzig and the moment he had laid eyes on the white haired boy, he knew who he was.

So Dante met Danzig, and surprisingly, he became very attached to the old man with the mischievous looks. He was the first to make the boy laugh and open up. It was Danzig, who also knew how to handle the boys demonic power and how to suppress them enough to not arouse suspicion. Danzig taught him well about the world and all that there was.

And he never got frustrated with Dante. He learned soon, that he was more of a physical type, than to have the boy sit down and read for hours. And because Danzig revealed, how he was not human either, he gained the young boys trust and respect.

Danzig had learned of the events, and quickly figured out that he had to find Sparda's sons. He had made a promise to the former devil, to take care of his family. Years passed after that promise and whispers became louder, Sparda had died as he tried to defeat Mundanes, who he had manged to escape from so long.

With these news, Danzig had tried to find Vergil and Dante only to be met with the devastating sight of the destroyed Sparda household.

He had Dante in his custody, but Vergil's whereabouts, he would only find years later. For the family, he had been taken in by, had moved and vanished. So his attention solely lay on Dante and keeping him safe from enemy forces. And secretly he had feared, that it would have been already to late for Vergil and his new family, because they had vanished.

On Vergil's end though, things didn't g so differently. The woman of Asian origin, that had chosen him, never had been able to bear children. So she and her husband had agreed to adoption. The unusual look and sophisticated behavior of Vergil had drawn them in and so he became the son and heir to a wealthy business man, who wanted a son to someday give his company to.

But soon his wife grew ill and they decided to move back to the countryside of japan, where her father lived. So Vergil now had a grandfather as well. Surprisingly, Vergil grew accustomed to the quiet country life, because of his calm collected nature. He really liked the endless woods and solitude and spent more and more time with the old man, he soon called grandfather.

He was wise and witty and pretty much catered Vergil's endless thirst for knowledge with books to read and stories to listen to. His favorites were the ones about the proud samurais, that had fought bravely for their country.

And one day, the old man let him in a massive secret. He owned a sword, passed down in the family to the male heirs, which actually had been a demon possessed sword. Only later, Vergil would learn, that this indeed had been a devil arm.

So, with this knowledge and the deep bond that had formed between them, Vergil told him of his origin. Of his real mother, his real father and Dante.

Listening to this, the old man took pity on the poor boy and took him to train the art of sword fight. Because with the sword, the family heirloom, the story of it's power and art of wielding it had been passed own as well.

Vergil had a master now. The old man realized Vergil's capabilities and willingness to learn. And to ease his pain and give him some kind of new found meaning on life, he made him his apprentice.

Lord Godo, as his real name had been, had retired long ago and because his only daughter wouldn't be able to bear children, he had accepted that their line of sword masters would come to an end, as soon as his last breath was taken.

But with new found purpose and delight to have such a strong and smart apprentice, he taught Vergil all he knew. The story of how the samurai had to defend the land against demons and devils long ago. Godo let Vergil know, that it wasn't only about the art of fighting, but an entirely different kind of lifestyle.

And Vergil was keen on learning as much as possible. He had been obsessed with the sword fight. How one single move could hold so much power, if he focused it just right. Concentration and meditation were the key to perfect the style. It was very controlled and tactical. All things Vergil admired. And when they were not training, Godo fostered Vergil's tactical abilities with playing Go or Shogi for hours.

Vergil had found peace and mastered his abilities. But his life didn't stay that way for long. His adoptive mother passed away and a heart broken husband cast Vergil aside, like he never existed. So he stayed with Godo and never heard of the man again until it was revealed that he committed suicide month later alone in a hotel room, on a business journey on the other side of the globe.

The company and it's obligations fell to Vergil, who was too defeated yet by another loss to overtake the company. He truly had loved his adoptive mother as much as she had loved and adored her adoptive son - like no other. So, he simply sold the company, without thinking, to the highest bidder. Money was second to him, but Vergil knew it would give him opportunities and open doors. So in his eyes, it wasn't a bad thing after all to have enough of it either.

Vergil continued to live with his master for a few years because that had been what she had wanted, but Godo had yet been old, even when they had first met and he soon would follow his daughter. And Godo knew this, so to shield Vergil from any more hurt, he made him leave. Vergil had turned eighteen and Godo told him to venture out see the world.

Wisdom didn't only come books and stories, but from experience. And Vergil saw reason in the old man's wise words and understood. So he bid his farewell, but not without regret, because he knew he wouldn't see the old man again.

But Godo told him how proud he had been to have Vergil as apprentice and grandson, that he could part with a smile on his face. And how he would tell his daughter, that he was proud that she had taken in him in the first place.

Godo gave him the demon sword, the only weapon worthy of wielding for him and with that Vergil left Japan and returned to his birth stead. He visited his mother's grave and eventually Danzig learned the story of a white haired man back in his home town.

And he visited the ruins of the burned down manor in the woods and found a Vergil, who had grown up to a young serious man. And then he reunited the long lost twins, who were more apart than ever before. Vergil's aloof and austere presence wildly clashed with Dante's jovial and outspoken one.

They were like two sides of a coin, but completely different because of their upbringing, which Vergil refused to reveal much about. But his way of a samurai showed very quickly. He held on to a codex, much like some indoctrination through his fighting style and personal behavior.

But Dante and Vergil pretty quickly grew close to each other again, because of the shared childhood and the experienced tragedies. Vergil even offered Dante to train him, but Dante, offended by that, bluntly rejected him. He had a good teacher as well in Danzig, and though his style wasn't nearly as defined and choreographed as Vergil's, it still could match him no less. The raw power Dante exposed with a sword, he called Rebellion wasn't from this world either.

Rebellion had been a gift to his eighteenth birthday by Danzig on behalf of their father and Vergil yet had to receive a similar weapon. And it came in the form of a katana named Yamato. And this wasn't the only thing they received. Danzig had held on to the trinket for quite some time. And with finding out, that Vergil hadn't perished and that both had grown up to be respectable and reliable men, he presented them with the gift of their late mother, which was thought lost in the fire for so long.

Vergil and Dante both received their side of the pendant back. It was beautiful blood red stone embedded in each amulet. Dante received a silver one with necklace, where Vergil was represented with a golden one. Consecrated with a mother's pure love, they both swore an oath to let the ones that killed her pay dearly.

With Danzig as resource for all kinds of information on the backseat, both boys settled in the very same city as hunters for the supernatural. It seemed like this city especially had become a melting pot for all kinds of unnatural things. Dante had already established a respectable position and gladly invited Vergil to stay with him.

At first, it turned out, they were no better than ghost hunters and detectives in the mystery department, but that soon enough had changed. And with Danzig as provider for jobs, there never was a lacking. And then the murders had started.

The half devils had come a long way.

But right here and now though, the only thing Dante wanted was to take a break from the job and return home.

But before that, Vergil insisted on dropping by at one of their contacts, who had informed them in the first place about this and how the police was clueless about it.

They approached the familiar wooden door, though it seemed like no one was home. Dante gave the three story building with it's old, dirty grey facade a once over. Paint was peeling of the surface and it looked cramped in between two buildings either side, which were significantly bigger and newer. He took another step towards the door and knocked again.

"Well, okay. I'll just leave the card then." He said, before he quickly scribbled a note down the backside and let it slide into the slit of the old battered mailbox next to the door. That's how they usually kept in touch, when it was not necessary meeting in person. The man was terrified of all that new age mambo-jumbo or so he called it. Dante still couldn't see what was wrong with using a telephone. Oh well, to each his own.

He gave his brother a shrug that said whatever and they left.

Even after such a short amount of time, they surprisingly worked together pretty well. Of course, there was the occasional argument, but that be mended with good ounce of beating the living shit out of each other and the matter evolved quickly.

Maybe it was the boiling devil blood, but there was indeed nothing more satisfying than a good spar with a worthy and equal opponent. It was more a means to vent off energy than serious rivalry. The count would always even out to a tie.

And none bothered with it.

In fact, when they first had laid eyes on each other - even after ten years - in a matter of days they had been back to their brotherly relationship. It had been a relief. Not so much on the brothers side, because they knew from the bottom of their heart, how the other one had been alive and well.

But Danzig had paid close attention to them and he had been the most relieved to see them reunited. God knows, what he would had been forced to do, if this would had turned out differently. They were half devils in the end. Powerful ones no less, but not truly aware of the capabilities of their father's blood coursing very hotly through their veins. But it seemed like Eva had evened out this trait with the love and the patience only a mother could have given to both.

Danzig very much assumed that, at last after all these years, the brothers would stand forever united against the forces of evil, with him to watch over them for as long as needed.