DISCLAIMER: Just so everyone is clear on this. I do not own CardCaptor Sakura.
DISCLAIMER: I also do not own any characters that are Devil May Cry, they belong CAPCOM.
Even though I really wish I did, I don't. Oh another disclaimer notice, I also do not own the characters Life, Death, Miaka, Dren, Lost, Nightmare, Sorrow, Illness, Seduce, Fear, and Evil. They all belong to the genius mind of Hearts of Eternity. She is the one who created these awesome characters and she also owns the original concept of this timeline and the events.
The only character that I personally own is Zero.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL READERS:
This is very important for everyone who reads this, YOU MUST read the story Links In A Chain before you read this otherwise you will have no idea what is going on or who any of the characters are or their importance. If you have read the story Links In A Chain then by all means please go ahead and read this new story.
One more thing, please leave a review and tell us what you think about the story. Tell us your thoughts and opinions. I don't mind flames but my dear co-author, Hearts of Eternity, is very sensitive so please don't be harsh.
Anyway without further ado, please enjoy…
An Angels Scream, A Devil's Cry
Prologue: Devil Hunter Rise…
The town of Fortuna was deadly silent for the night as a gust of wind began to blow in through the buildings. It was nearly midnight, yet many lights were still on in nearby homes and buildings and stores. Any other night, the citizens of this beautiful town would be fast asleep, dreaming the night away; however, this was no normal night.
Hundreds upon hundreds of bodies lay strewn all over the ground, all dead, not a single soul left alive. The town was painted red with blood from the citizens that lived within its homes and buildings. The streets were littered with bodies of men, women, and even children, not single innocent person was spared. The citizens of the town of Fortuna were all dead. The streets, the windows, the cars, the lights, everything was covered in bloodS. It was a horrible sight and the terror was not over for those who committed these murderous acts still lingered within the town.
The Opera House was both considered a place for recreation and the town hall where the mayor and leader of this city lived and protected his people with his wife. But, the place that had always been known as a safe haven was now the center of this hell-on-earth. Many dark figures were running around the building frantically back and forth, here and there. It was obvious they were searching for something.
There were eight particular figures that stood outside the range of the other frantically searching creatures. One was a tremendous and terrible dragon. It looked as if it had once been beautiful, elegant, and graceful, but the darkness from its heart had completely corrupted the wretched beast, warping its body until it was nothing but a monster. Two massive horns curled away from its head, and a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth was parted slightly in a snarl, ready to kill at any moment. On top of him sat a creature that was the epitome of everything the dragon was not; beautiful, seducing, elegant- like poison hidden in fine wine. Red hair the color of rubies fell past her waist, mingling with the sleek, blood-red fabric of her dress, cut to showcase her voluptuous cleavage and slit up the sides to reveal long, slender legsS.
Next to them stood two hysterical demons, laughing and shrieking at the frenzied activity around them. They appeared young, teenaged perhaps, though they numbered a couple hundred years old. Both were female, clinging to each other and rocking neurotically. One was a yellow-haired creature, her hair cut in uneven chunks that stuck out around her head with a little yellow nurse's cap nestled amongst the tangles. Her flesh was an un-natural hue of yellow, as if she suffered from jaundice; a shade of yellow that nearly matched her tight, lemon-yellow dress, high-skirted and matched with blindingly yellow slip-on shoes. The demon-girl's companion glowed dull lavender, her flesh a muted hue of color. This demon was garbed in long layers of heliotrope robes; a dress that covered every inch of her body, aside from her spindle-fingered hands. Her long, lavender hair was brushed neatly, unlike her yellow-hued companion, falling across her face like a curtain. Together they were an eerie sight, both had the same height, same voice, same face- they could have been twins.
"Look at them run-!" "-hurry-scurry run, run, run!" They laughed and squealed, pointing at the little creatures running frantically around them. "They're like little tiny ugly bugs!" "We could squish them it we wantedS!"
"Do refrain from doing so, please," said the woman-demon on the dragon's back. "There's no need to make a bigger mess than we already have."
"Messes are fun, but-!" "-cleaning them is not!"
The dragon snarled, stretching out its long neck to snap at the two demon girls. "Then sit down, shut up, and stop annoying the hell out of the rest of us!" Instantly, the two girls shrieked, falling back on their rears in a tangle of arms and legs.
Sharp, scornful laughter bubbled from nearby, emanating from a slithering mass of navy-blue smoky-liquid shadow. The creature slowly gathered itself from the floor, rising to a human height and solidifying into a man who looked as if every drop of blood had been drained from him. His clothes were as bizarre as his appearance; a jester's outfit of navy-blue and deep-black stripes, accompanied by a three-pronged jester's hat of the same color scheme, with matching striped gloves and boots. He spared the wailing demon-girls a scathing, mirthless look before shifting his gaze to the dragon.
"I'm glad someone finally told them to shut up, Fear, or else I would have killed them myself," the jester laughed.
"I don't see why you didn't," Fear, tossing his huge head. "They're nothing but trouble."
The jester sighed. "Too true…" He turned to the last of their little demon posse, a male who leaned against the shadowed wall nearby, almost swallowed completely by the darkness. "What do you think, Pain? To kill, or not to kill?"
The demon, Pain, shrugged carelessly. He was a handsome demon, nearly human in appearance, with mussed bronze hair and deep, malicious copper eyes. He was garbed in blazing orange, from the leather vest strapped closed with spikes, to the loose set of hakamas adorning his lower half. At his waist, hanging securely from his belt, was a whip that looked as dangerous as the demon himself. "It's a waste of time to bother killing them," he said. "He'll only bring them back." His head jerked toward another shadowed being amongst them.
"Indeed, you're correct, Pain." A human voice had spoken from beneath the billowing cloak it wore. "Kill the Misery demons and you'll only be wasting your time." His robe was royal, midnight blue, trimmed in rich gold. The hood was up, hiding his face, so that only a sharp, white goatee could be seen on the tip of his chin. Bony, veined hands reached up and pulled back the hood, revealing an old, nearly-bald man. What hair he did have grew from the sides of his head, stretching out like two curving horns. His face was ancient, but still sharp, intelligent, dangerous. "Defy me and you'll know the true meaning of miseryS."
The jester spat venomously. "You're not my master!"
The old man only closed his eyes for a second before opening them again and calmly replying, "But I am the man who brought you back from oblivion, and I am the one who is to bring your real master back. For the resurrection of Evil to happen, you must be patient, Nightmare, and abide by me. After all, Evil will not be as easy to bring back to this world as I had done with you seven."
"Whatever old man, don't remind us," Nightmare growled dourly. "To think that we needed a human to bring us back from the dead is disgusting. But, I guess I can be patient- for a little while, at least. I've waited 3 years to get my revenge on the brats who killed me; I can wait a little while longer."
"Yeah, yeah, Nightmare. We've heard it all before," drawled a teasing young voice from above. Down from the rafters fell a young demon-boy, looking no older than 12, accompanied by a cracked lantern that glowed only murky black light. He was dressed in ragged green robes caked with grime, his matted hair only just blond through the layers of dirt and blood soaked through. "You're just mad 'cause they killed you first!"
Nightmare bristled, diving for the kid. "You little brat! Say that to my face, Lost! I dare you!"
"They killed you! They killed you! The stupid, ugly humans killed you!" Lost sang, dancing out of Nightmare's reach. "You were the first to go because you were too slow and stupid to stop them!"
"Stupid and slow!" "Stupid and slow!" The demon-twins cheered together, moving to high-five each other, only to miss and smack each other in the faces.
Fear growled in annoyance, "Retards…"
"Silence, all of you!" yelled the old man.
"What for?!" Nightmare demanded viciously, dropping Lost from the strangle-hold he held him captive in. "We killed everyone in this pathetic town! There's no reason to be quiet!"
"For my own sanity, be silent," ordered the man.
Pain kneeled before a pair of corpses, his fingers swirling through their thick, drying blood. "A town full of humans and not one of them even posed a threat to us." He stared at the two bodies lying next to one another, their hands intertwined even in death. One of them was a middle-aged man with white hair. His right arm was strangely different from his left; his right looked downright inhuman, in fact. It looked more like a powerful demon's arm. His left hand held onto a middle-aged brunette woman. "I had even heard rumors of this human," Pain murmured as he continued to stare at the dead man. "Nero was his name, I believe… I had though he would pose more of a challenge."
"That's humans for you," Nightmare shrugged. "Full of disappointments."
"And that girl…" Pain paused to recall her name.
"Kyrie," the scarlet demon-woman hissed. She picked some crusted blood out from beneath her nails. "I killed her. She barely put up a fight."
"It's hard to believe these weak little creatures were supposed to be guardians of this town and the treasure we seek," Pain sighed.
Nightmare turned back to the old man and asked, "What exactly are we looking for anyway, old man?"
"We are looking for the ancient demon sword known as Yamato; the sword that the brother of the legendary devil hunter once wielded with tremendous power. With this sword in our possession, we can bring back your master and rule not only Japan, but the whole world." The old man leered sinisterly at the seven demons, adding, "And with this sword, you can take your revenge upon the two that killed you all."
Suddenly, one of the little demon creatures accidentally bumped into something on the wall, squeaking and falling back. A mechanism was activated, old, dusty cogs groaning and shifting into place, just as a crease appeared in the floor, a large lift down sinking down into a hidden cavern below. The robed man hurried to the lift, boarding it as it sunk down into the earth, but the demons simply took to the air and descended behind him at their own pace.
"What the hell is this place?" Fear growled, eyes darting about. An underground lake stretched out before them as jagged stalagmites and stalactites stretching from the ground and ceiling like fangs from a great monster. But what drew the eyes of the demons and human alike was a magnificent katana sheathed in a black scabbard inscribed with ancient text and symbols. The handle was white, and smooth as silk; the hilt made of pure gold. The magnificent weapon hovered before them like magic and power refined.
Slowly the old man approached the sword, stopping before it to adore its power. He reached out a hand and grabbed it from its hovering position. He held the sword in his hands. Slowly his lips began to curve into a malicious smile and he began to laugh. Slowly, he drew the sword from its sheath and as he did so a powerful force erupted from the sword sending a powerful shockwave through the cavern. The seven demons back on the lift had to take defensive positions to keep from being blown away.
The old man, who was still laughing, looked back at the demons with wild glee in his eyes. "With this we can bring Evil back! We can resurrect him!" He then raised the sword high into the air and screamed,
"WITH THIS SWORD EVIL SHALL RETURN!! PREPARE YOURSELVES, FOR THE SAVIOR IS COMING!!"
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"How dare you, you little heartless mortal! Over 200 people have just been murdered and you still refuse to help us?! I would kill you right here, right now, if I could!" shrieked an irate woman. Her fists came down on the desk she stood before, punching two gouges through the wood. Aside from her raging fury, she was an ethereal beauty, garbed in a dress of billowing snow-white and light-blue silk, bejeweled with crystal buttons of stars and moons. Long, stark-white hair cascaded down from her head, gathering around her feet in pools of swirling tresses; a strange braid of black stood out boldly in front of her left her- she was tugging on it anxiously. Her skin was very pale as moonlight, but her face was inhumanly beautiful, life glowing from every pore, her large, black eyes alive with her passionate anger.
"But you can't kill me, so go on and find someone else to bother," responded a voice as cool and calm as could be when faced with the wrath of a being so ultimately powerful. The voice belonged to the reclining man behind the desk, his feet propped up on the top. He was young, perhaps 21, with a sharp, pale face and piercing dark blue eyes. He was wearing a white shirt and black dress jackets and blue jeans. He had dark brown hair, spiky in the back but long in the front; long enough that his bangs nearly covered his eyes.
"There is no one else," seethed the spirit-woman.
"That's not my problem. I gave up the business a long time ago. Besides, you're all-powerful essences aren't you? Why can't you handle it?"
Without a word of warning, a blade of quicksilver formed in the woman's hand and she launched herself across the desk. While no normal person would have been able to deflect the attack, the man moved like lightening to defend himself- only to have the blade pass through him as if it was made of nothing. Jerking her arm back, flicking the useless blade back into the nothingness it was summoned from, the woman slumped dourly while the man she attacked took a moment to realize what had happened.
"One of the limitations of being an essence is that you can't destroy what is in your domain," the woman said darkly. "Lest you've forgotten that, Zero."
Zero laughed lightly, running his hand over the place where the blade had passed. "No, of course not, Life."
"And you know that we cannot interfere with this world anymore. We can only give life and death. We are not permitted to interfere with the mortal realm anymore, but that doesn't stop Death and I from giving a damn about those we are life and death to! Death is in the town at this moment guiding the souls of the murdered to the afterlife. Do you think we enjoy being forced to bare witness to their pain and misery and death?!"
Zero just sighed and closed his eyes. "Can't you get anyone else to do your little detective work or whatever? There are plenty of other powerful beings out there and you choose me out of all of them. Why don't you ask those two who saved the world last time?"
Life looked a little apprehensive, hesitating before speaking. "We have done enough damage to their lives when we did interfere with them, enough for a life time at least." Her dark eyes fell to the ground. "It had been three years and yet some still hold resentment in their hearts for what we put them through."
"But why me? If you can't get those two, why not get someone else then? You could get that guy, the reincarnation of Clow Reed- what's his name, Eriol, right? Why don't you get him and his girlfriend, I hear she's gotten pretty good at controlling her powers," Zero finished while pointing his finger in a matter of matter-of-factly way.
Again, Life bowed her head low and looked apprehensive, but before she could reply the young man already spoke up.
"Let me guess, somehow you managed to screwed this guy's life up too and now you don't want them to get involved because they had already done enough for you. Geez, sounds like you guys have screwed everyone over except me."
"Please Zero, you're the only one we can look to protect this world. You are the son of the Legendary Devil Hunter Dante, you must defend humanity just as he once did," Life pleaded, uncharacteristically humble.
Zero's eyes lost their calm demeanor, replaced with a serious, dark look. "I was the son of the Legendary Devil Hunter Dante, Life; that was until he died along with my mother. Now I'm nobody, just some guy running an old broken down store."
Life nodded solemnly, understandinglyS; as the essence of life, she knew all beings who were alive and within her domain, and she knew instantly of when someone left her domain for Death's. It was only a month ago when Zero's parents had made that journey. Her delicate hand reached out across the gap between them, but it was brushed aside.
"Don't, Life. I don't need your pity."
"Zero…"
Zero was the son of the Devil Hunter Dante, a half demon who made a promise to protect humanity against the forces of the underworld and evil. His mother was a demon woman named Trish who long ago helped Dante save the world. Zero, like Dante, was a half demon because he received part of his humanity from Dante, but he also received his demon powers from his father Dante and his mother Trish. Dante and Trish had both sacrificed their lives to prevent the Powerful Demon Sword, Yamato, from falling into the hands of an evil corrupt sorcerer named Sanctus. Zero learned of his parents' death from a man named Nero, a friend of Dante who came to Zero to return the sword to him, however Zero refused to take it because he didn't want to keep the reason his parents died with him. So he entrusted Nero to defend and guard the Sword Yamato.
Life only looked at the young man with sympathy in her eyes. She might not have been capable of feeling the mortal feelings Zero was subject to, but that did not make her insensitive to them. "That's not true Zero," she said softly. "You are Zero, the son of the Legendary Devil Hunter Dante, a man who dedicated his life to protecting the good and the innocent. Though he may be gone, his spirit and power lives within you. You are his legacy, Zero. Don't you understand?"
Zero only continued to look gloomy. He stood from his chair, moving to stare out the window at the full moon high in the night sky. He was thinking back to the night that Nero had come and told him the grim news.
Flash-back
"Are you Zero?" asked an old man.
"Yeah," replied the young man. He noticed the elderly man in front of him was holding something wrapped in a large cloth.
"My name is Nero," said the elderly man, "I was a friend of your father, Dante. I just wanted to return something."
"You were a friend?" asked Zero sarcastically. "What, did you guys get in a fight or something? Where is he- by the way? He said he would be back by today, but he hasn't shown up yet."
Nero only looked sadly at the young man before him, the news he came to tell laying on his shoulders like a heavy burden. He hesitated before he finally looked Zero straight in the eyes and spoke, "Zero, there's something you need to know about your father and mother," he started. "They're not coming back."
Zero's expression dropped from a sarcastic, goofy look to one of pure horror. Nero could actually feel the air around him stop moving for a second. Zero was speechless; he opened his mouth several times, but no words came out. He looked like he was on the verge of tears, but he held them back firmly. He looked back at Nero and managed to croak, "How did they die?"
Nero could only respond in a cold, sorrowful tone. "They sacrificed themselves to stop an evil man from obtaining this sword," he removed the cloth covering the Demon Sword Yamato, "they helped me destroy him, but at the cost of their lives. I think your father would have wanted you to have this. Zero, I'm so sorry."
Zero could only stare at the blade that was held out before him. He couldn't believe it, his parents were dead. He always though of them an invincible team, no one could take them down. But now he had to face facts. His parents were dead and he was now alone in this world. For the first time in his life, Zero wanted to cry, but he wouldn't let himself do it. He had always been trained never to cry for it showed weakness. So he did the only thing he could do. He clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth against the agony of misery that raged within him. His nails bit into the flesh of his palms, warm blood seeping across his fingertips, but he ignored it. Nero could sense the pain and anger of the young man, but he stayed silent; now was not the time to speak.
Eventually Zero calmed down a little and looked back at Nero and the sword. Slowly he took his hand and pushed the held out blade back to Nero. "Keep it. I don't want that thing here. I don't want to keep the very reason my parents died. If I could, I would rather destroy it." He then looked at Nero, "I'm entrusting it to you, it is yours to do with as you please. I don't want this damn thing near me."
Nero only looked at the young man before he nodded his head. "I understand."
Outside the building above the two men's heads glowed a bright red sign that spelled out Devil May Cry. As soon as Nero walked away, with the sword in hand, and Zero had closed the door, the D in Devil began to flash on and off before finally giving up and going out permanently.
End Flash-back
Zero and Life just stood in the dimly lit room for a long time, both completely silent. Life just continued to look at the young man with sadness in her eyes. She had known his parents for a long time. In fact, when Zero was born Dante had asked Life to be his godmother, even though she wasn't in reality real, she was only an essence. It didn't matter to Dante; he treated her and Death as if they were real people.
Suddenly, the air of the office charged with an aura of unimaginable, inhuman power. Both Life and Zero remained unfazed, though they looked up expectantly for the being they knew would appear. As the magic reached its zenith, a dark figure materialized like a tall shadow solidifying. It was taller than Life, male, but of the same kind as her; an essence. He was robed in black, barefoot like Life, and as frighteningly handsome as she was ethereally beautiful. Long midnight-black hair fell past his shoulders, let loose to sway at the curve of his lower back. A shocking braid of white hair stood out starkly against the rest over his raven tresses, lying innocently before his right earS. His skin was a deep, earthen hue, a tan that was beyond bronzeS, but his eyes were as pale as a pair of full moons- so light-blue as to be nearly white.
"Death!" said Life anxiously.
The being known as Death turned around, facing Life with a solemn, blank expression before speaking. "It's done."
Life hissed, hugging herself and clenching her eyes shut. "Oh, Death, no… An entire town…"
Death sighed, the weight of the world of the dead resting on his shoulders. "I'm sorry, Life. My job is done. They are in a better place now." The dark spirit's eyes flicked to Zero. "I take it you refuse to help us then, Zero."
Zero just turned around and faced the two spirits standing there before nodding.
"Very well," said Death, "then you do not wish to avenge your parents' deaths now do you?"
Zero froze in his place and his facial expression turned to surprise first then anger. "What the hell are you talking about?" he demanded
"The town that was just wiped out was Fortuna" said Death calmly.
'Fortuna' Zero thought, heart racing, 'that's where-'
"-Nero lived," said Death, finishing the thought. "Yes, and he is now gone from the living realm."
Zero was shocked once again, his face showing it.
"As I said," spoke Death, "everyone in Fortune is gone. Everyone."
"But why?" asked Life.
"Because, whoever did this wanted one thing and one thing only," Death said darkly.
"They wanted Yamato," finished Zero, who was now back to staring out the window at the moon, except his time he had a determined look on his face. "I take it you know who did this, Death?"
"Of course, but the restriction from interfering with mortal lives prevented me from intervening," said Death as he looked at Life. "I believe you would know very well seven little demons that I saw amongst the wreckage."
Life took a moment to think, and then her eyes when wide with shock before narrowing in blazing fury. "Those bastards! They just can't stay dead, can they?" she hissed viciously
Death's piercing white gaze fell upon Zero. "And with them was the same man your parents sacrificed their lives to destroy. Sanctus."
Zero clenched his fists in anger and gritted his teeth. Both Life and Death could feel his power increasing to a dangerous level. Zero was angry- no, even worse; he was pissed.
"Son of bitch can't stay dead huh?" he said, "looks like I'll have to take this guy down. Oh well, sucks to be him."
Both Life and Death looked at one another, Life smiling to Death as if she knew the outcome of this meeting all along. They both looked back at Zero, who was now crossing the room to a large cabinet behind the desk. He opened it, revealing a massive display of weapons and gear; boldly showcased was a red outfit, two custom-made handguns which read Ebony and Ivory, and a massive dark sword decorated with a dangerous looking skull. Below the sword read the title Rebellion.
Zero quickly took off his dress-jacket and collared shirt, reaching up for the red outfit. He put on the black undershirt first, and then he took the crimson silk long sleeved shirt and put it on. He pulled the sleeves up a bit so that his wrists and forearms were showing. Next he put on the black vest and buckled it, grabbing the pair of black gloves and slipped them over his hands, strapping them on tightly. After that, he grabbed the black chaps and slipped them over his jeans; a perfect fit, accompanied by the pitch-black boots he slipped on. Lastly, he removed the blood-red trench coat from where it was hanging, putting it on reverently. To top it all off, Zero took out his own black, torn up scarf and wrapped it around his face so that the bottom half was covered up, allowing the rest to flow behind him.
Life and Death glanced to one another, sad smiles ghosting their features.
"You look just like Dante," Life said softly. It was true; Zero was his father's son, the spitting image, with only Dante's hair now brown instead of white.
Zero ignored her, continuing as though the essences weren't there, taking down the two custom-made handguns hanging on the wall. One of them was a dull black color with the words Ebony carved on it in gold and the other was a polished silver with the words Ivory carved in gold as well. Zero twirled the guns in his hands like an expert and then holstered them. He finished off by taking down the sword called Rebellion from its hanging place. He stared in awe at its magnificence and the raw power that radiated from it. In his hands, it glowed an ominous red before he took twirled the sword in his hands, spinning it a few times, before sheathing it on his back.
"Does this mean you'll help us?" asked Death.
Zero looked at the two spirits and grinned, though they couldn't see it underneath his scarf. "Avenge my parents' deaths and kick some old guy's ass? Pssh, I take that over sitting here being bored any day."
However, before Life could yell in joy, the door to the building crashed open and a horrid beast fell into their midst. It was a being made of blobs of filth and goop, capped by a yellow jester's cap. One of its body parts was actually a massive knife with witch the creature used to drag itself. It stumbled into the building, quickly followed by more of the same creatures- except with different colored hats; some red, some blue, some green. They came in through the doors and the windows, shattering them as they dragged themselves in.
"Looks like I was followed here," Death said, observing the intruders with distain. "I assume they did not have time to recognize me or else they would have been as foolish as to send things after me."
"They probably thought you were some unlucky spirit running off to look for help," Zero shrugged.
"How unfortunate for them," Death replied as he and Life moved to dispel the demons with a wave of their hands.
Zero laughed, a smile stretching his face. "Oh, don't bother wasting your energy," he said, dismissing them. "You're my guests! Take a seat and let me deal with these rude little intruders- I'll be with you in a minute."
Life laughed. "Have fun!"
Without missing a beat, Zero drew his sword from his back and yelled at the approaching hoard of horrors.
"Cmon you freaks, let's rock!"
And he with that, the devil hunter dashed into the fray of oncoming demons, his sword held out triumphantly before him.
Author's Note
So what do you guys think so far? Do you like it or…, please leave a review and tell me what you think so far. I would really appreaciate it so please Read and Review. Thanks again. Stay tuned for next time we meet our two heroes again.