1-Hallelujah
Nero's POV
I've heard there was a secret chordThat David played,
and it pleased the LordBut you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like thisThe fourth,
the fifthThe minor fall,
the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Church (heavy sigh). I'm sitting in the pew in the farthest corner away from everyone that I can find. The newly constructed opera house, an exact replica of the old one, was finally complete. We (the foutunians) have all gathered here for a performance from Kyrie and of course the hear the first sermon in the new building. This was the first structure completed, we worked tirelessly, nothing from the original building was salvageable, everything from the stained-glass windows to the rugs covering the tiled floor were recreated from the original.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I let my eyes drift shut, letting my heavy eyelids close. My arms crossed across my chest in the I'm-bored-when-can-I-go posture. I don't like being here but I do it for her. Said her confiscated my headphones, again. She thinks it would do me good to listen to a sermon every once in a while. Fat chance of that happening, I'm the great ignorer, ask anyone. Currently my girlfriend, and I use the term loosely-very loosely, is down there singing to her hearts content. Every ones eyes glued to her-except mine. The pews surround the small stage in a semi-circle. Each row of seats a little higher than the last allowing every one in the audience to have a perfect view of the stage. And yes, she has a nice voice and all but this just isn't my thing, ya know?
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beautyin the moonlightoverthrew you
She tied youTo a kitchen chair
She broke your throne,she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
So I'm all laid back in the pew, if it wasn't for the guy next to me I'd probably be laid out on the wooden seat sleeping, just letting my mind wonder and if on cue the goodie goods closest to me flashing dirty looks; as if I give a damn. My eyes zero in on the stained glass roof right above Kyrie's head, the same window Dante Sparda came crashing through almost a year ago, a blood splattered devil in all his glory. That brought a smile to my lips. He calls every once in a while just to see how things are going, keeping tabs on me I guess. A lot of the time during these conversations he makes it a point to ask me if I'm doing okay. I always reply the same, yes, but in all honesty I think the man knows I'm about to crack and I think he may be right. He's told me more than once I'm welcome at Devil May Cry if I ever got it in my head to leave Fortuna. Sometimes I think I'd like to take him up on that offer.
I love Kyrie, I really do, I just don't love her in the way she wants me too. I can't help it. We live together but neither of us are ever there at the same time. I'm usually away on patrols and she's doing something with the church. After Credo's death, she took her devotion to a whole new level.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The song finished, her footsteps echoed along the floor climbing the stairs to sit next to me. Before she sat I knew she noticed that my eyes were closed and the smile on my lips, no doubt thinking it was for her. At one time it would have been, but the more I think about this place and her the more I just want to be away from here. Nothing has changed, as soon as the demon problem was under control and the Order reestablished everything went back to the way it was. People feared me, I covered my arm again. The wayward looks continued, life returned to normal.
Maybe I've been here beforeI know this room,
I've walked this floorI used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
love is not a victory marchIt's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah The sermon was a bore to say the least. I dozed on and off through the entire thing only waking when Kyrie thought it appropriate to dig her boney elbow painfully in my ribs, I'd wake, sit a little straighter and in a few minutes be gone again. Dante at the forefront of my mind the entire time. He was one of the few people I know really concerned with my well being, most of the time I believe it's just because he left Yamato with me and wants to make sure his brothers sword is safe. But then when he asks about me there's real concern there and it makes me smile to know that someone I barely know worries about me verses the woman I've known almost my whole life can't seem to look at me without fear in her eyes.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Almost four hours later we left the cathedral, Kyrie's arm wrapped securely around my normal arm, fingers laced with mine. Her hand is clammy, likes she's nervous. I don't know if it's because of me or for who she thinks might see her holding my hand. It's not like she's holding my demonic hand or anything, who the hell am I kidding, she wont go near the damned thing. I never thought it was so bad, I guess I'm just used to it considering I've had it all my life and living in the same town for twenty-two years you'd think other people would be used to it as well. Which brings me back to Dante, he never looked twice, flinched, blinked at it even when I was trying to ripe his throat out. Now that I know he's half demon I guess that explains it, at least he accepted it.
There was a time you'd let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me do you?
Remember when I moved in you?
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was hallelujah
I could feel her eyes on my back as I gathered my gear for that nights patrol, I turned my head, her hands clasped before her. A soft smile on her face, her big brown eyes as innocent as they ever were. I gathered the last of my gear, setting Blue Rose at her place on my hip and Red Queen tightly sheathed on my back. Kyrie hated my weapons, she made that very clear the day I joined the Order under Credo. She hated the violence, the blood shed, everything that came as a necessity to live the peaceful life most of Fortuna, including herself, lead. But that's okay, I was always the outcast why should my job land me anywhere different. Just like Dante, we live on the edge of society and protect the populace from unseen threats most don't even realize exist. I peeked Kyrie on the cheek and walked out the door, no, I didn't miss the flinch in her eyes before I turned away.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The cool night air hit me, I breathed in deep letting my mind clear. Salt from the nearby ocean permeated the air and my senses putting me at ease with myself if only for a minute. I step off the front porch of the little house I spent much of my childhood in. It seems nothing ever changes.
It was quite as I made my way down the night darkened streets. I haven't seen a demon in almost a month and my skills should be lacking because of it, thankfully I get to practice daily with the other order members no that they are much of a challenge anyway. What I wouldn't give for some of the action Dante tells me about. Dante, he seems to occupy most of my thoughts lately, I'm sure that's not healthy. I can honestly say I'm attracted to the older man, nothing wrong with that, now if the church officials found out I'd be dead meet, so we'll just keep this little secret between us for now. Right? Right.
Maybe there's a God above
And all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It's not a cry you can hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
She was waiting for me when I walked in, sitting on the couch sipping her tea. All I wanted was a hot shower and my bed. She wanted to talk, I could tell by the look in her eyes, the little sighs she kept making as I cleaned and stored my babies.
"How was your patrol Nero?"
I glanced up from cleaning Blue Rose, "Same as always, boring." I replied dryly, snapping the cylinder back in place giving it a quick spin before setting it with RQ.
"You know everyone appreciates what you do Nero, the nightly patrols, making sure no more demons are around." she moved from her spot on the sofa to sit on the arm of the chair I currently occupied. I snorted in response. She leaned closer, wrapping one of her skinny arms around my shoulders, it took everything in my power not to shrug the girl off. I wanted big, strong arms wrapped around me, it's hell to be the one who does the protecting all the time. I want to know what it feels like to be protected for once. For someone to tell me that everything will be okay, for some one to love me unconditionally no matter what my heritage might be. For some one to just give a damn! Is that to much to ask?
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I sighed putting my head in my hands, this wasn't working, I was going o have to tell Kyrie that I could no longer stay in Fortuna, I was going to take the job Dante offered me, that I was leaving her and this hypocritical city behind.