**WARNING**

This Fic was written to not only bridge all of the DMC media, but to act as an end to the original DMC arc, as CAPCOM has proven they are now incapable of doing anything correctly anymore (What happened to you guys..?). As such, this story takes ideas and elements from things like the anime, manga, and DMC 4 novel in order to build the story. Any questions you have can be answered if need be, just ask :)

This stoy also will have a few lemon chapters but such will be standalone chapters and warned as such to then be skipped by those who would not like to partake in such reading. However, such actions may still be hinted toward in actual chapters, whether they are referring to the aforementioned lemons is up to your inference skills :P

I do not own Devil May Cry nor related products. Such is copyrighted and owned by Capcom. As much as I wished I did own it, I don't have enough quarters to please the mall's wishing well :( Still, I do not gain any profits from writing and publishing this story as it is for entertainment purposes only, thank you.

Please do review it honestly, I want to know what you guys are looking for and what you expect to happen! Any honest critique is valued as well, it's how we writers get better after all~

**WARNING**

Nero couldn't breathe, and what air he could grasp onto was quickly lost from his lungs with a short gasp. The demon in front of him continued to close his hand tighter around the devil hunter's neck, its claws nearly piercing Nero's pale skin. Nero tried his hardest to escape, bashing his dim, grey bringer repeatedly against the devil's wrist to no avail, especially with his strength waning with every second gone by. The more he fought, the tighter the demon's grasp on him became, making sure Nero literally wouldn't be able to draw another breath for as long as he lived as the conflict raged on. The devil's voice was coarse, like rusted metal grinding another piece of metal that was even more corroded, "Interesting… Here you hang, weak before death's open and inviting door, yet you still fight to live… Why is that? What do you have yet to gain? Is it common instinct, like a roach's need to hide from the light, or is it more? It's ambition, courage, the will to fight back for others… Yes."

Nero suddenly fell to the floor, a sharp inhale of air causing him to cough violently while his lungs re-adjusted. Looking up as best as he could, he watched the demon walk away slowly into the surrounding darkness, "My efforts may not have been in vain after all… Nero." Nero watched as the devil disappeared from sight, a sharp pain immediately filling his bringer which made Nero hiss in pain softly.

Sweating, Nero jolted up in his bed, awake and covered in cold slimy sweat. His Devil Bringer glow softly, its ethereal blue aura-like glow illuminating the bedroom enough for Nero to see it was his own. The clock on the nightstand beside him blinked idly, five-thirty three; another two hours until the sun would visibly rise over Capulet City and his day could officially begin. Inhaling, Nero gently coughed and instinctually brought his hand up to rub at his sore throat, it had been only a dream, right? Nero had known better than to take things for what they were and, with a small sigh of annoyance at his unwillingness to sleep again, decided to slide out of bed. It took him a minute to put his dark-blue denim jeans on properly, the dream taking all of his cognitive thought; he couldn't stop wondering what the hell it was, a dream or an actuality.

Heading out of the room and down the hall, to the balcony overlooking the main office space of DevilMayCry, Nero leaned on the railing and looked it over. A month or so back, he had decided to refurbish the office so that it looked more like it had a few years before Dante's journey into the demon world. It was now more open than previously left, now wider and with the bathroom behind the desk again. A bar sat in the rear right corner of the foyer, the door right below Nero leading back into the small kitchen he had installed. The upstairs now had both the master bedroom, but now it also had a guest bedroom and a bathroom as well. Below the stairs Nero walked down the reach the first floor, sat the old red couch from the original office, a smaller speaker set in between the two couches to complete the angle.

When Dante ventured into the Demon World after Argosax, Nero left behind the Fortuna branch to his two partners there and took over the headquarters, the change of ownership clear from the tidy state the office stay in. It had taken years to pay off the debts and loans Dante had left behind but Nero was finally happy to be rid of them now. The old desk Dante used still stay as well, Nero remembering explaining that "it added character to the shop as a whole" to the two female hunters. As he sat behind the desk, Nero took a deep breath and exhaled as a wave of nostalgia rolled over him. He thought about the things the poor desk he sat at had been through, as he ran his fingers lightly along the surface, across the various scuff marks, bullet holes, and the many scratches from wear and tear and some less than pure acts between he and the red-clad hunter before he had disappeared.

This was a usual morning ritual for him, leading to him to look toward the picture on his right: The picture of Eva had been replaced with a picture of the whole gang, shortly after the Savior incident on Fortuna Island. Nero couldn't help but smirk and finally laugh softly as he thought of the past and how drastically meeting Dante had changed his life. His was Naïve then, only around nineteen or so when Dante had come crashing into his world, literally. He remembered how fluidly Dante moved, how easily he dodged all of Nero's attacks with grace. Nero even blushed as he remembered biting one of Dante's guns then too and the excitement that traveled through his spine at that moment. That was a long time ago though, fifteen or so years in the past, and Nero was smarter now and a bit more mature most of the time.

Letting his daydream continue to exist as just that, Nero stood and head back into the kitchen to put a pot of coffee on, he would need it after so little sleep. As he stood in front of the coffee machine and waited for it to fill, he find himself thinking of Dante again. This happened often as he thought of the abuse his poor desk had suffered at their hands and claws. There were times Dante would DT or use Doppelganger and it drove Nero insane. Suddenly thinking of Dante in his demon form brought him back to his earlier dream, Nero again instinctually rubbing his neck.

Interrupting his thinking, the front door suddenly opened and closed, a woman calling out to Nero. He shook his head free of the thoughts and walked back in to see Patty, wearing a pink hoodie and black jeans. She wasn't the young girl she used to be anymore, not only in age but in innocence. The stance she stood in was solid, her face clear of any indecision or over-thinking. She had been training under Lady since she had turned 18 and it changed her a lot. The only part that hadn't changed was her OCD, constantly commenting on how much she liked Nero's cleanliness compared to Dante's.

Nero waved to her and smiled, "Hey stranger, what's up?"

"Nothing much, the usual demon problems here and there, I'm almost wishing for something major to happen so business booms."

Nero nodded and laughed, "I hear ya, I have coffee on if you want some."

"Coffee, really, you know I only drink green jasmine tea with…" This caused Nero to laugh a bit more; maybe she hadn't really changed at all…

Nero sat at the desk as Patty sat on a stool at the bar, both watching the T.V. on adjacent corner to the bar. After a minute of watching the news, she turned the Nero and placed her cup of tea on the bar, "So… Still no word on him?"

Nero shook his head with a sigh in response; this had become a bi-weekly ordeal with the two of them. Everyone hoped that one day, Dante would magically appear before them perfectly healthy and home to stay, yet they all knew it was highly unlikely. Every time she came, her cheerful face would progress into one of sadness and lost mirth; it tore at Nero's heartstrings to see it all unfold before him. He wished he could bring Dante back but no one was blaming him for not being able to. He, after all, was just as hurt by his sudden leave with no "good-bye" as anyone else if not more, so he knew how she felt.

Over the hour, they talked about recent jobs and things that had happened recently to them personally, however the time came where Patty felt her stay was overworn and, after bidding her farewells, left Nero to his lonesome. The office was now quiet again, save for the news playing on the T.V. above him. Switching it off and turning the stereo system wired throughout the office on, Nero pushed the play button and lazily rolled the volume knob with his bringer as he passed the main hub, increasing the volume to nearly full as music began to play and now filled every inch of airspace with loud guitars, "… Sporadic doom, as knights loom. Does clergy support this action; pure wrath of the winged assassin…"

Walking under the stairs and past the couch, Nero unlocked a steel door and opened it, flipping about five light switches before continuing inside. Large overhanging lights turned on as he stepped in, eventually passing him and lighting up the large, warehouse-like space around him. Before him were rows upon rows of shelves, each up to his head in height and adorned with Devil Arms and various guns. Spears, bows, swords, lances, maces, Nero had almost every weapon known to man in the form of a Devil Arm, and even those unknown by any mortal being. He would throw the occasional greeting to some of the devil arms, getting a, "Greetings, master," from Agni and Rudra as he passed. After checking through the storeroom of weapons, Nero head back, locked the door once more, and lay down on the couch with a sigh of extreme boredom.

As Patty had pointed out, Jobs were as thin as ever, some weeks being good but most being slow and devoid of any work. Three hours into the waking work day and there weren't any calls, so it seemed more and more like today was going to be another one of those days. Laying his head back down on the couch pillow below him, he flexed his bringer and yawned. After such rough sleep the night before, Nero wasn't about to say no to a small nap, and yawned as he got comfortable on the leather couch. Stretching his arms out with a soft groan, Nero lay face up on the couch and looked at the ceiling fan in the middle of the foyer, slowly spinning. Soon, the loud music next to him and his vision faded out into nothingness as the void of sleep overtook him.

Nero opened his eyes and immediately found himself standing at the edge of an enormous tower, overlooking the devastated city below him. He was wearing his boots and jeans, leaving his bare chest to be damp from the rain that pelted the tower and himself. Even stranger, Nero found himself holding Yamato in his bringer's tight grasp, How did I get here... Where is here?

Nero turned around when he heard the sound of wet footsteps behind him, his eyes widening as the person that approached him became more and more visible up the stairs to him. It was unmistakably Dante, his white hair and signature red coat a dead giveaway. However, to Nero, he appeared much younger than when Nero last saw, even younger than when he had first seen Dante actually. As Dante climbed the final step and was on level with Nero, he sighed, obviously debating a lot internally. He moved in a restricted sort of way, as if he didn't know what to do. With an exasperated sigh, Dante finally shrugged and continue to sort-of pace in circles, "You sure know how to throw a party; no drinks, no food, and the only babe just left."

"Dante, are you okay? What is this?"

"Whatever, at any rate, it's been nearly a year since we last met. How about a kiss from your little brother, or better yet, how about a kiss from this?"

Nero felt every muscle in his body tense tightly as Dante whirled Ivory around and pointed it straight at him, aimed directly between Nero's eyes. Nero's heartbeat filled his own ears, racing quickly in a mix of confusion and fear as he stood still and frozen.

"So this is what they call a heart-warming family reunion?"

"Dante!"

Nero had to quickly slide Yamato upward, grinding the blade against Rebellion as Dante streaked past him. As Dante continued to attack him, Nero found that his swordmanship, while spot-on, wasn't as fluid as he was last time their blades met in conflict, and Nero knew Dante was playing with him then. Here, Dante was obviously holding back, but Nero couldn't guage how much as he was only playing a defensive role. As soon as Nero got cocky however, Dante reached behind his back, whipping out a light blue weapon that he spun around, nunchuk- style. Nero knew it as Cereberus, Dante metioning that he had gotten it a long time ago on an old mission he had gone on before opening DevilMayCry. Never having faced an opponent with said weapon though, Nero was taken aback when Dante began whippping it around at him, the nunchuks close to hitting Nero's face and body multiple times.

Nero, needing his comfort space, began to slash away with Yamato, surprising Dante with his sudden change. With a smirk, Dante replaced the Frozen nunchuks and drew the two other blades on his back, "Look brother, I told you he would use us!"

"Indeed you did!"

Dante smacked both pommels together harshely, shutting the demon swords up before rushing at Nero with a flurry of swings, which Nero deftly avoided with Table hoper before countering with his own slash, cutting Dante's right arm. Dante growled and moved close again, Nero's current position forcing him to butt Dante back with the butt of Yamato. Losing patience, Dante drew Ivory once more and shhot off a few rounds at Nero which, thanks to nothing but pure and instant instinct, Nero managed to block with Yamato, causing each bullet to split and fly past. Dante panted, xhausted as his clothes began to weigh him down, Nero bogged nearly the same and thankful he didn't have his heavy denim coat.

"Father? I don't have a father, I just don't like you, that's all," Dante spoke, Nero ignoring it as it didn't really make sense to him. Dante then drew Rebellion once more and dashed toward Nero, causing the two to lock blades again once more. As both blades ground against one another, the metal began to glow a deep hot orange, before Nero spun around Dante and slashed diagonally to the right with Yamato, feeling flesh and fabric tear under its cold, savage bite. Not knowing why, Nero turned and watched as Dante fell, reaching out and grabbing the silver chained amulet hanging around the demon layer's neck as the hunter hit the water-logged ground with a splash and a dull thud. His blood mixed slowly into the water surrounding them. Nero stared into the red gem he held now in his hand, it shined softly in the bright full moon's light that stood proud above him.

Finally out of his trance-like state, Nero dropped Yamato and backed away from Dante's motionless body, panting softly. Looking away from the body, Nero was surprised to see that the area around him had suddenly been swallowed by darkness, neither Yamato or the amulet in either of his hands. Turning behind him, Nero found himself standing before the demon he had dreamt of earlier, quickly using table hopper to increase their distance. It spoke, same as before, however this time, calmly strode to Nero, "You do not lack the ability to kill, yet you had indeed held back... I believe I am done with you for now, further examination must be done in person..."

Nero quickly growled, his posture tightening as he stepped forward, "Just wait a damn minute, who the hell are you?"

The demon stopped a moment before continuing to walk past Nero, "The one who will surpass that which you see as god..."

Nero stood, dumbfounded at the demon's words and let him disappear into the shadows once more, racking his brain for answers. Nero wasn't the religious type so what god could he be referring to? As he felt himself fall back into a familiar warm darkness of his own, Nero could have sworn he heard Dante calling out to him, "Nero... Nero!"