AN: -sighs- I can't believe I actually did this. I'm sorry to all the fans out there. If you like it, I try and CPR the bitch.

Read..... Now!

I stood in the shadows of one of the many tall buildings around Fortuna, huffing impatiently and constantly checking my watch. Nero, one of my best friends, insisted that I waited for him here, and I agreed, but of course he's late. How come that doesn't surprise me?

We were going to Kyrie's concert; we've talked for weeks how this is her lucky break. We've been best friends for so long we can't remember, and I don't think anyone else remembers as well. Nero was the impulsive, sarcastic one, Kyrie the calm, sensible one, and I the dry humoured, complaining and intelligent one. I've noticed for a while that they've had this thing, but after much surveillance (and a few nights hiding in the trees outside their rooms) I concluded that it was just brotherly-sisterly… I hope.

I stretched my tensed muscles, the fingers on my right hand brushing past the handle on my gun, Mori. It was a great gun; a Vincent Valentine classic. I frowned; something's obviously come up. Nero (except on a few occasions, i.e. My BIRTHDAY) is usually on time. I felt even more uncomfortable, since I left my sword, Mementus, at home for the mass. I jumped around a bit more, still impatient. God Nero, I thought. Where are you?

Suddenly, a blur of blue, red and silver shot past me. I knew those colours; it was Nero! The bastard, he didn't stop. I sprinted after him, a scowl already on my face.

"Where the hell were you?" I shouted at him. Due to my recent slackening of training, I'm not as fit as I liked, so I started to pant very slightly. "Kyrie's going to be furious; the mass must've started by now!"

"Like I didn't already know that!" Nero yelled back at me. "You could've gone without me, you know?!"

"Yeah, and seem like a total bitch to you!" I shouted back. "Although, don't think that I didn't think of telling Kyrie that you're too much of a stuck up douche to come to your best friend's most important day in her life!"

Nero let a chuckle escape from his lips, and I grinned. If I said that to anyone else, they'd be appalled, but after spending over 10 years of coping with my shit, he's gotten used to it.

We ran on, the wind making my red jacket fly behind me. It was made of red silk, and had my symbol, a black ace of spades, on the black. The sleeves, ending near my shoulders, was trimmed in red, and the shoulders had black epaulettes with the Order's symbol on it. Normally, I wear a much more sensible cotton one, but this was a special occasion, so I decided to forego my rule just for today.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the air, echoing around Fortuna. It could only be Kyrie. Nero and I skidded to a stop, and I swore harshly under my breath. We were sooo late. And to make it worse, a shitload of scarecrows are walking towards us. Nero gritted his teeth. "Easy tiger," I said mildly. "Growling and shit ain't gonna scare them away." Nero shot a glare at me, and I bit of the other sentence I was gonna say. I pulled out Mori, the silver triple-barrelled gun shining in the setting sun.

As if on cue, we charged simultaneously, and the scarecrows jumped. I stopped and fired off a round into a leaping scarecrow's head, while Nero ran on and kicked a group of them. I sent off a few more shots to the demons around him, just to make sure because his arm was still injured after that mission. As he punched one to the side, I skidded under a scarecrows legs, firing a round as I did so. Before he exploded or whatever they did, I grabbed the blade surgically attached to his arm and swept it around me, cutting several scarecrows' legs off. From there, it went a bit hazy; I tend to do that when I'm fighting for my life. I just focused on what I was doing, and what Nero was doing. I remember him pulling off a scarecrows arm altogether, but I had to dodge to the side as another attempted to split me down the middle.

"Maria!" Nero shouted after a few minutes of ass kicking. "Let's go!"

"Righty o!" I said, and fired of my most potent shot, three bullets at the same time. It's pretty risky as well, since it empties half of the ammunition in my gun. I didn't have a chance to see how I went, I just bolted while Nero jumped on jumping scarecrows. "Show off!" I shouted at him, grinning. He shot me a grin, as he landed on the ground and sliced a few scarecrows. He did a very impressive jump, slicing some more demons as I reloaded my gun. I shot one that was just about to stab him in the back, and ducked as another one on the ground attempted to behead me. I shot it in the body, and leaped over it exploding form.

By the time Nero and I turned around, we saw that they were all dead. "So much for running," I said dryly, before taking off. Nero followed me, a second behind.

Kyrie's voice hit the final note, and I poured more speed on. The opera house finally loomed in sight. We pumped up the steps, and I headed a sharp left. Nero took after me without a word, but I knew he was wondering where I was going. "Side entrance," I explained breathlessly, and I assumed he nodded. We slipped in slightly, the guards giving us questioning looks under their hoods. Nero tiptoed lightly to his seat, and I slid in an empty row right up the front. As the audience broke into a applause, I clapped as well. Kyrie glanced at me, a smile on her lips, and smiled even wider at Nero. I raised an eyebrow; was something going on?

Kyrie walked off the stage, and I got up to meet her. "Hey, you were great!" I said brightly. She raised an eyebrow. "Where were you two?" she asked.

"Well, I don't know about Nero, but I was help this poor old man. Oh wait, sorry, it was Nero." I grinned; I thought it was pretty fun to tease Nero about his hair. He, on the other hand, didn't.

Kyrie laughed good-heartedly. "Well, let's go sit down," she said.

After we put Kyrie's retarded tiara and lace away, we tiptoed up the aisle to our usual spot. Kyrie sat closest to the aisle, I in the middle, and Nero next to some old man. He didn't like masses so he was listening to music, making the old man grumpy. I smiled slightly and was about to sit down before Nero's hand whipped to my seat. I looked at it; it was a small blue box with a gold ribbon. It was a present for me.

I was touched at this out-of-character act. Nero never gave out presents, even to Kyrie. I smiled gently at Nero, he just looked at me and looked away. I picked it up, and sat down.

The mass went on for ages. His Holiness, Sanctus, waffled on about Sparda and how he was awesome he was and we should worship him or something; I tended to let my mind drift through masses. Unfortunately, Nero was making that rather hard as he kept on huffing and sighing and huffing I nudged him, and shot him a disapproving look. He shot one back and huffed away. The only problem was that it was attracting Credo, Kyrie's brother's attention.

Although Nero couldn't stand the guy, I really liked him. We were actually good friends, doing a few missions a few years back. He rose quickly through the ranks, while I sat comfortably and watched.

Anyway, Credo scowled at Nero, and made eye contact with me. I shrugged slightly, and Credo rolled his eyes. I chuckled softly, and turned my attention to the mass. "-our gracious savior would shelter us from the storm. Let us pray!" Sanctus exclaimed, put his hands together and bowed his head. Everyone copied this action, well, everyone except for Nero.

Finally, Nero's nerves snapped. He stood up abruptly, making Kyrie and I stare at him.

"Nero, what's wrong?" Kyrie said softly.

"All this preaching is putting me to sleep," he complained.

"Suck it up, pussy," I muttered under my breath. Unfortunately, Nero heard me, and scowled at me. I tried my best to do my totally-innocent face.

"But it's not over yet," Kyrie argued softly.

"Forget it Ky, we both know that he won't budge. I'll go with him, if that makes you feel better." Good chance to find out what's in the box.

Kyrie's eyes softened, and she nodded slightly. I stood up, and walked sideways to get out of the pew. Unfortunately, I tripped on my own foot, and suddenly I was in a crash course straight for the marble floor. Luckily, Nero held his right arm up to stop me, and I flung my arms around it. Then something peculiar happened; it glowed blue three times.

"What the-" I managed to say, before a sixth sense took over and screamed at me to look up. Me and Nero looked up - he had the same instinct too, how strange - just to see a man crash through the stain glass dome. The man landed on the altar straight in front of His Holiness, and I noticed he wore a red coat.

A second passed. We all stared at him. Suddenly, he pulled out a white gun and shot His Holiness in the head.

My heart thundered, and I felt tears prick my eyes. I wasn't upset for His Holiness, far from it. I was just terrified of the loss of human life in front of me. It was a well kept secret of mine, no one knowing it, not even Nero, the person I trusted the most in the world. By will force, I pushed the tears down, and said, "Shit."

I kind of went into a daze. I remember Credo shouting out, and I heard the sound of swords being drawn. I remember seeing the man, half of his face covered in blood, look across the room, his gaze lingering on Nero and I. I also heard screams, as people ran for the exits.

Nero grabbed my hand - on another day, I would've made a joke causing him to let go- and we ran for the exits. Some shithead bumped into me, making me lose my present. I saw people step on it, and I got pissed. I glanced back, and saw Credo desperately holding off against the man. I slipped out of Nero's grip, pulled out Mori (I KNEW I should've brought Memetus!), and sprinted to the two men. Unfortunately, my feet struck again, and I tripped over them. I fell pathetically to the floor, while the man stood above me. I gave him my most venomous look, but he just raised an eyebrow.

But then he got face full of Nero's boots.

I drew Mori, and fired two rounds at him, but he just deflected them off his massive sword. I was mildly impressed; I wish I could do that.

The man landed on Sparda the statue's head, Nero followed closely holding his gun, Blue Rose. The douche, he brought it with him.

"Nero!" I shouted disapprovingly as I got up, hands on my hips.

"Maria! Kyrie! Go with Credo and get outta here!" Nero shouted at us.

"No fucken-" I started before Credo clamped a hand over my mouth. "I will return with help!" He shouted at him. "You stall him until then!" I shoved his hand away, but moved with the two siblings. I heard Nero remark something, and flicked his head so his headphones sailed away. I managed to grab them before I hit the ground, and left the oepra house, wondering if Nero can handle this.

Thanks for reading! Please, tell me ANY of your thoughts on this. I really want to hear them. Honestly. I'm not lying. kthnxbai.