Chapter 2: Lost – Part one

Thanks again for waiting for the last chapter, and for this one. DX I'm so sorry this is all taking so long, but I really am working on picking up the pace on updates! I know, this one is super short, but I wanted to leave one for you all before I really start freaking out about this weekend's anime con. XD

dieFiend: Well, I gotta worry about you guys- you and your encouragement is the stuff that keeps me writing.  Also, yup! I needed a good reason for Nero to leave Fortuna, as opposed to most of the fanfics I've read where he randomly realizes he loves Dante and says, "Bye Kyrie! I'm gonna go screw Dante, now!" I like some plot with my pr0n. XD Thank you so much for your support!

GreaserGirl88: :D I'm glad you liked it! Thank you so much!

IsaacSapphire: Homygawd. Thank you so much. I knew that it wasn't the right word/spelling, but the damn thing just wouldn't come to me. T_T Thank you for correcting me.

-blush- Uhm. O.O Thank you! I, honestly, thought I was overdoing it, but, uh…I guess not. ^.^ I've tried to be real careful with the IC thing. I'm glad you stuck around, as well. Thanks for doing so. 

Mai : I know how you feel, especially if the NeroxKyrie is written well. But I try to just avoid it, cos Kyrie bugs me. XD Thanks so much for reading!

ladysubaru83 : XD That would be awesome, wouldn't it? Thanks for reading!

Ayer Gootarest : Yeaaah…but if you heard your boyfriend/girlfriend/whoever saying something about someone other than you in their sleep, wouldn't you at least be suspiscous? I know I would, but that could just be me. ^.^; Besides, I needed something to work with, so…yeah.

City Girl Dreamer : Ugh. I KNOW. Even my Mother got sick listening to those two. "NERO!" "KYRIEEEEE!" –eyeroll- Nah. I don't think Dante would do that. He IS a nice guy, under the pervy joker, y'know? Thank you. ^.^

SirenaLoreley : Thank you so much.  My Great-Grandma's going to be moved to an actual nursing hom by this weekend with better service. –eyeroll- Anyways, I'm glad you liked the last chapter! ^.^ -puts roses in water-

sammy : Thanks so much! ^.^

Chaidrin : YAY HEARTS AND GLITTERS! –geeks out- I'm glad you're so excited! :D

Alrighty! Onto the playlist!

Prologue: Saving Me- Nickelback

Chapter 1: Second Chance- Shinedown

Chapter 2: Lost- Avenged Sevenfold

Disclaimer: I own not Dante, Nero, Kyrie, Echidna, or Fortuna. They are all characters and a location that are property of Capcom. If they were mine, Kyrie would have died within the first five minutes.

"You wanted to talk to me?" She nodded timidly, "I'll start," Dante leaned over ever so slightly, the fire within him becoming completely clear to the songstress, "Why did you hurt him?"

Kyrie bowed and turned her head to stare at a point beneath Dante's hand. "I," she started, choked, then tried again, "I can't explain right now."

"It's none of your business, anyway!" a dark haired girl shouted from behind her.

Nero's ex turned to placate the other young woman, "Fiore, please," her friend's mouth snapped shut, "Dante, I can't explain things right now, but please… I ask one thing of you."

Dante raised an eyebrow, unamused, yet curious. "Please," Kyrie murmured, "take care of him."

"Sorry about that," Nero's head whipped around to see Dante heading towards him, cracking his neck as he did so, "took longer than I thought it would. Ready to go?"

The younger male nodded, turning his eyes to the ground. Dante studied him for a moment. While he looked slightly better than he had in the house he and Kyrie had previously shared, the encounter with the young woman had obviously drained any small amount of confidence he had regained in Dante's presence. His shoulders were slumped, and he leaned heavily against the bike his friend had brought with him. A shiver went up Dante's spine- it was too strange to see the once-proud kid acting like this.

Nero's eyes suddenly lit up with an angry fire. "Let's get the hell out of here," he growled. The elder half-devil smirked. This was the kid he knew.

Dante stepped toward the bike and swung a long leg over the machine, ramming his heel into the kickstand to get it out of his way. "Let's go then, kid." He made sure to emphasize the kinda-sorta nickname as he patted the seat behind him in invitation.

The younger male smirked, clambering on behind Dante and tightening his grip on the pack slung over his shoulder. "Whenever you're ready, old man," he retorted, using his own kinda-sort-not-really insult.

Dante grinned and kicked the bike into life, the roar of the engine cutting through the perpetual calm silence of Fortuna. "Hang on tight," he warned, "I ride fast," Nero nodded, twisting his hands into the other's jacket to steady himself. They were still, a heavy silence settling over them. The only sound was the rumbling of the machine beneath them. "Ready?" Dante asked quietly.

Nero chewed on his lip for only a moment as he stared at the red leather of Dante's coat. "Yeah."

Without further response, they sped off down the street leading out of town. Nero turned, gripping one of Dante's broad shoulders tightly with his human, left hand. His cerulean eyes wandered over the familiar buildings, the morning sun casting shadows over the beautiful structures.

The flower shop he had visited every February for Kyrie. The inn where other Sparda-worshippers would stay when visiting, that café. The library that Kyrie insisted on dragging he and Credo to. The garden ha and Kyrie tended to outside the house.

Home.

The fact that he had been forced out of the only home he had ever known hit him again, hard, like a wall of bricks, and Nero had to fight down more tears. No more crying. He closed his eyes and turned back around, leaning on Dante's back for awhile, allowing himself to be supported.

'Goodbye.'

Nero awoke with a start, inhaling sharply and forcing his eyes back into focus. 'When did I fall asleep?' He wondered, unconsciously checking for Blue Rose and Red Queen, which hung loyally at his hip and on his back. He breathed a small sigh of relief.

"Have a nice nap?" Dante called over his shoulder.

"Uh," Nero blinked and rubbed his eyes, relaxing somewhat, "how long was I out?"

The elder hummed as he thought, keeping his eyes glued to the road, "Hmm, about a half hour, maybe?"

Nero glanced to the sky, squinting against the sun. "Bullshit," he murmured. The sun was well past its peak and was heading for the west. Late afternoon, early evening, he figured. He turned his gaze to their surroundings. It immediately reminded him of a desert, of sorts. Mostly dirt, rocky, and dusty enough to make him wary of breathing deeply. 'Is this what the forest was on top of?'

He recalled the lush, green jungle he had entered on his way to Headquarters, where he had fought that dragon-woman. What was her name? Oh, Echidna. "Where are we?"

Dante hesitated. "You don't know?"

Nero immediately tensed. He didn't like the way that sounded. "No," he said slowly, "why don't you tell me?"

Another pause. "…Do you have a map?"

"…You're fucking kidding me. This is a joke, right?"

"…"

Nero groaned, frustrated. "Don't tell me we're lost!"

Dante laughed nervously. "Okay," he said, "I won't tell you."

Author's note: OH THE NOES. Dante has no sense of direction. XD I had, practically, written the last 2/3 of that in my Chemistry class while taking notes at the same time. I'm surprised there isn't anything about molecular bonding, in there… Anyway, if you see anything weird, strange, or just glaringly WRONG, please let me know, and I'll fix it right up. Thanks!

Also, just so you know, no more gigantic papers due, but there's still Great-Grandma. For those who are interested, she's going to be moved to an actual assisted living home by this weekend. :D GLEE. More room, better care, less cranky Grandma!

In addition, if you want to see what an anime con looks like in Alaska, feel free to visit the livejournal listed in my profile to see pictures and videos from this coming Saturday! It's a 9am-9pm day for me, so I'll have lotsa crap to share. ^.^

Reviews are requested, not required! Thank you!

P.S. The reason it says "Part 1" in the title for this chapter is because I had originally planned to make this chapter much, much longer, but, again, I wanted to give you guys something before this weekend. ^.^ I'll try and have more done, soon!