Disclaimer: I don't own Capcom or Devil May Cry.
Brunch. A little late for breakfast and too early for lunch.
Nero finally arrived at the outskirts of the infamous Seven Seas. He glanced through the row of shop houses—motels, eateries, grocers and some other boutiques. Although he was pretty doubtful about the given lead, it was better than having none.
Starting from the first shop he stepped foot in, he inquired about a white-haired man dressed in red and black, likely to be travelling with a huge case. The extraordinary features of the devil hunter himself should be easily recognizable without much use of a photograph.
One after another, each shop owner declined his search with either a 'Never seen this man before' or 'I'm not sure' unfortunately. Frustration, in the form of being completely vexed, swarmed the ex-Order member with disappointment trailing not too far behind. He continued along the stoned walkway until he came across the Seven Seas Motel, one of the last buildings remaining.
The door bell chimed as he entered the premises; a small wooden architecture painted in white and brown to compliment the country-like ambient getaway. The receptionist politely greeted as Nero made way to the counter.
"Good morning sir, welcome to Seven Seas Motel. How may I help you?" the teenage girl addressed amiably.
"Yeah hi there. Just like to know if you'd seen a white-haired man in a red coat around this area? Probably with something huge on his back too."
The girl appeared surprised at his query as she took her registry out, browsing and scrutinizing for a name.
"Actually yes I think… the man you said—a male in his thirties with white hair right? Dressed in red and black and very, very handsome."
Nero spurred at the comment as he was certain that that was no doubt Dante.
"Yeah, that's him! Is he around?"
She pointed at the details next to the name she had on her book and answered, "He arrived at about ten the previous night, but checked out this morning. Somewhere between eight to nine I'm afraid."
Upon his dismay, the ex-Order member made short work of the smile he wore while he turned for the exit. Consideration was the least he could portray.
"Did he, by any chance, say anything before he left?"
"No… I'm afraid not."
"Okay… sure, thanks a lot."
"Alright then…" the girl sensed the despondency in his words but there was nothing she could do either.
Carrying the last of his hopes out with him, he gave a light nod as he exited the edifice. Just before the door closed behind him, he wanted to clear his inquisition.
"Hey, what's his name?"
She paused for a moment before she peered from her counter, "Dante. That's the name I have."
As the sound of the door shut close, he heaved a heavy sigh for he felt completely lost at crossroads. The fresh breeze blew across his hair, messing it as he ran fingers through. He strolled towards the direction of the wind, captivated by the magnificent view of sea.
The scene gradually expanded into horizon, light touching the blue sea. He spotted an old jetty extending outwards to the waters and made his way carefully across the wooden plank, inhaling the salty aroma of the sea. While he settled down by the edge of the jetty, his palms pressed over a hard object on the deck which startled him slightly.
It was a music player, matching red and black.
He lifted the foreign object and examined it thoroughly. The touch of its sleek metallic skin and design replicated over it evidently resembled to something he recalled.
Or someone, in fact.
"I know this thing..." Nero felt like he knows it, but for some reason he just can't exactly explain why.
Just as he flipped the device from his left hand to his Bringer, his talons blinked in a sudden flash. It glowed dimly after catching the device in it. The pulsation was mild but definitely reacting to it.
While he brought the player close to the hilt of his lips, a voice echoed through his head abruptly.
Nero… Nero… …
"What?" he questioned aloud to himself.
You're mine Nero.
"Who are you?"
It's me… you know it.
Before he pried for another question, he snapped his eyes open and jumped up from his spot. He made a run back to the motel and headed straight for the reception again.
"Hey! Can you show me his room?"
Though baffled, the lass took him upstairs to the used room.
"This is the room." She answered while unlocking the door. Nero slowly entered the small compartment and inspected around meticulously.
"I will show myself out once I'm done. Thanks again, miss-?"
"Rachel." She giggled shyly and headed back to her work desk. The young devil trotted around the room, still holding the music player in his hand. The glow was imminent, maintaining a stable flow of energy. Moving from the bed to the windows, then the couch, wardrobe so on and forth, there was no other static picked up. Even the bathroom had nothing as well.
Clueless again, Nero dropped onto the seat beside the dressing table. Seeing that the music player had no further use, he left it on the desk before he turned to leave. But just as he was about to do so, the glow on his devil bringer extended.
It began to sparkle so brightly that a ring of light illuminated from the edges.
He looked around the table, expecting to find some sort of information. Then upon scrutinizing very intently at the drawer, there was a corner of a yellow colored paper sticking out from it—a small coarse-grained material shown after being pulled out slowly, an envelope.
The light illuminated brightly with the envelope held in his hand as he tore it open. There was nothing inside though, perhaps emptied or contents taken before he arrived, but the cover of the envelope clearly stated:
"Dante."
It was addressed to the older Sparda. Nero turned the envelope to its back and immediately noticed the fine print right at the bottom. Much to his delight, the address of the parcel's origin had conveniently been stamped on it.
"Rome Railway Stazione."
Nero dashed out of the room as it slammed shut from his swing. By the time the lass had realized the young male departing, he had already sped out of the motel before she even had the chance to say goodbye.
The coach ride to the station was horrendous—travel across the meadows was rugged and slow before entering the city. Now standing in the midst of the station, Dante proceeded to one of the counters to retrieve his ticket with the endorsement letter he held in his hand.
"Hey babe, care to check my ticket up?"
He slid the letter across the desk to which the receptionist received from the other side. After typing a few initials and scanning the barcode available on the document, she printed out the reserved ticket and handed it back to the elder hunter.
"Thank you for the wait, sir. Your reserved booking will depart at 12.30PM. Please kindly board the train 15 minutes before departure. You may use the storage space above your seat to store your luggage. Have a pleasant journey."
He winked at the mature woman in the booth and went towards the boarding area. Since the train had arrived, he wasted no time boarding immediately to locate his seat. Finally settling into a comfortable position, he rested his feet on the chair opposite, then slouched on his back.
Today'll be a better day.
Shortly the chains rustling began to echo through the cabins as the old metal jolted at its start up. The heat of the sun drowned the older Sparda in agony while the vehicle gathered more speed. The wheels continued moving faster until the regulated travelling speed had been stabilized.
It would be another six hours before the train arrives in Fortuna.
A younger woman looked towards Dante's direction, captivated by the silvery glow from his head. He detected the sharp glare filled with admiration and glanced around—there was no one else around other than the two of them.
How delightful.
The celibate sauntered over, hips swaying from side to side to a soundless melody. With open arms stretched outwards on the back of the chair and legs proudly apart, the elder in his slouched posture welcomed the sexy vixen.
"COME HERE BABY!"
"HSSSS!"
She lapped onto the devil hunter, teasing him with light strokes caressing across his broad chest. Grinding her hips downwards against his groin, she pressed her abdomen against the hunter's torso while running fingers through his hair. The red-clad demon grinned from one end to the other as his hand reached to the back of the bewitching female. Grabbing a handful of her curled hair, he forcefully yanked her away from his body causing her body to strain backwards while he instinctively placed Ebony just right above her motherhood. She hissed at the moaning pain and the touch of cold metal against her skin. Her disdain brought pleasures to the elder's ear as he cuddled close to the nape of her neck, bringing Ivory up to her temples. Disgruntled, she launched from the hunter's warmth, detaching from their overheated intimacy.
Afloat, her lips began to bruise as her skin color decolorized into a deathly pale blue. Those bronze eyes on her face lightened in yellow iridescence as her irises narrowed to a slit. Black painted nails elongated as it protruded outwards from her bony fingers, turning into wolf-like claws. Distortion warped all over her body as the flesh melted off her body, reducing to skin-over-bone features. The earmark of her lynx-like fangs bearing were drooling all over the hot ground, salivating from the wild cackle.
She hissed sadistically as she licked the blood dripping from her sharp manus soon after she landed.
"MAN! Isn't that just sexy? Sweet baby!" Dante sneered loudly, adrenaline getting pumped up after days of boredom. Blood slightly oozed from his torso; the vixen seemed pretty quick with her hands and feet, thankfully.
This is gonna be fun.
"I'm glad you like it, S-S-SSS-Son of SSS-SS-Sparda!" she growled manically as the grin on her face extended, allowing her orifice to distend.
"S-S-S-Son of S-S-S-SSSparda. Why can't any of you get it in your sss-ss-s-stupid head? My name's-s-s-s Dante alright?"
"S-SS-SSSILENCE! YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR MOCKERY!" Snarling at her menace, she pounced with death grips ready to choke the life out of the Sparda son.
"NOW WE'RE TALKING!" Dante hoisted Ebony and Ivory as he latched his back against the floor, gliding across the ground beneath the ghastly figure to capitalize the creature's opening.
Approaching the end of his glissade, he stomped against the side of the train seats and propelled his body up from the ground before the creature managed to drive her jagged feet into his body. He fired a couple more shots, hitting her arms which successfully restricted some of her violent clawing motions. Howling in agony, the feline leaped to the ceiling of the metal scrap, hanging upside down glaring at her nemesis.
"Auuwwww… don't wanna play with your s-ssssugar daddy anymore?" Dante chuffed at the creature, swinging his hands sideways in his renowned Trickster position spinning his babies in playful roulette. He was expecting a better showcase than this.
"FOOLISSSHNESSSSSSS!" she grated, causing the windows in the train to break.
Oblivious to the on-going situation, a young lad speeding on his motorcycle beside the train noticed the commotion.
Despite missing the departing train, Nero had been chasing after it when he discovered Dante had boarded the particular shuttle towards Fortuna from the station counter subsequently. He was able to clarify the credibility of the information with the envelope he brought along, enquiring from the same counter lady coincidentally. It took him awhile to catch up with the heavy vehicle, letting instinct guide his faith.
Finally catching the train in sight, his demonic arm began to glow, indicating some form of response similar to the player or envelope previously. In addition to that, the explosion clearly defined the work of a certain old man.
"Hey hey, no cheating alright? Breaking a few glasses ain't gonna help you." The older male sniggered, assuming consented defeat from the feline.
The celibate lowered her body from the ceiling and stood poised before Dante, appearing nonchalant to his ridicule. She slowly closed her eyes, then let out a sudden snarl as she violently swung her claws rampantly.
Dante made notice of her abnormal behavior and evaded her vicious attacks. However, the main focus seemed to be the winds coming into the cabin from the broken windows, stirring the furniture in brutal waves. The older Sparda brought his arms closer to his body, defending himself from the burring splinters. He clasped the grip of his pistols tightly, knocking wind away to clear vision for aegis. However the current was still too strong as the vixen slowly diminished from his sight, needless to say proven fatal in his current circumstances.
Before he could recover, blood gushed out from his thighs as the creature ripped his flesh. She was one with the winds—almost impregnable. Dante collapsed, kneeling on one knee to maintain his defensive stance. Tugging the curtain of zephyr before his sight, it was so intense that all he could perceive was a grey piece of molten mash. Even hunting for the sight of the window was impossible, despite standing just next to it.
While contemplating the leeway to punish, he suffered additional injuries across his torso as fresh blood trickled downwards before drying up instantly. The experienced hunter fired a few shots randomly though in futile attempts. Bullets had barely managed to hit anything and Rebellion wasn't helping in the situation as well—no matter how hard he tried cutting through the mistral, they only formed back before he could walk his way through it.
The number of injuries began to accumulate all over his body. Panting softly, the lack of oxygen in the current began wearing his respiration system down instead of the wounds.
"Giving up s-so s-ss-sss-ssoon already, SSS-S-S-SSon of S-SSSparda?" she humiliated the hunter while enjoying the moment of victory in her hands.
Vain attempts of retaliation were getting harder each and every time he tried. Grasping onto his babies, he gave one last desperate shot in an unknown direction before he fell onto both knees.
The bullet sliced across the gale and barely managed to drive through the window from the train. Coincidentally, this weak bullet dropped right in front of Nero's eyes and he reached out to grab the ammunition.
"OLD MAN!" He yelled aloud from the side of the train, balancing his ride over the rough ground spread along the meadow. Reaching for Blue Rose from his back, he looked into the train and quickly searched for the familiar old man.
Despite the depiction in Dante's head, the ex-Order member saw an entirely different sight. All he could see was a spherical round-shaped grey space gathering in a corner of the room and the rest of the room was perfectly intact. Although he couldn't find Dante, he definitely saw the ugly beast.
Immediately, Nero rounded a few shots into the train. The feline noticed his interference and lifted one of the furniture, throwing it towards the punk who skid his bike sideways to avoid the attack. The rampant toss tore a hole on the side of the train, allowing the young lad more vision and precision to take the demon down. He fired a few more rounds where one successfully hit the vital of the beast—a wind-like tattoo forged on her blue skin just above her heart.
Instantly, the constitution dissipated through the windows of the train as the wounded hunter was released from the vise. The feline tightly clasped the wound and hissed at Nero painfully.
"You bastard…"
"SNAP OUTTA IT OLD MAN!" the young comrade hollered at the old devil hunter who was coughing from the lack of oxygen.
"… Kid?"
"DUH? TAKE IT DOWN BEFORE IT RUNS!" Nero instructed, observing that the demon was attempting to flee.
"HSSSSSSSS! I WILL BE BACK, S-S-SSSS—!" she yelped, as another bullet shot straight into the same wound that Nero had aggravated earlier. The beast dropped onto the ground from the window sill, her eyes fading out of the golden glow. Slowly, she started to stiffen and erode into a pile of black substance before drying up into dust scattering into thin air.
Dante staggered to get up after apprehending the demon and leaned against the torn wall next to him. He gazed out the window and recognized the flushing young boy riding alongside of the train, looking at him the same way as he did.
His heart palpitated vigorously; the anxiety rushing into his head then back to his heart, over and over again.
Nero watched the old man on the train, covered in blood and bruises as far as he could see. Time seemed to have stopped in each other's presence silently. The young devil steered his bike closely to the ruptured train, in fact right next to the tearing entrance the demon had caused.
It took a while before it struck Dante that the boy he had meant to find was right in front of him.
"HEY KID! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE! YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S FINDING YA!" he screamed in the noisy background.
Which, Nero could hardly make out what he was saying from above.
"HUH? SAY WHAT?"
"I SAID! YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S FINDIN' YA!" Since his body had yet to recover from its beaten state, shrieking like a mad hound was no doubt a bad idea after being choked the life from. He glanced at the young punk who seemed very lost at his words as well.
As Nero prepared to make a jump on board from his seat, Dante noticed the dead-end coming up where the train would travel across a bridge over a valley before entering the mountains. It was barely a hundred feet away so the kid had to stop before he crash-land into the pits of debris from the plunge.
"NERO WATCH OUT!"
With one final attempt, he vociferated with his weakened voice as he pointed his index finger ahead, signaling to the young devil. Thankfully, Nero took a hint at last and realized the peril ahead. He slammed the brake tightly on the handles and the rapid vehicle screeched powerfully in order to come to a complete halt before the cliff. It jerked some meters over stones and rubles, wearing the tires out blunt then died at the edge of the meadow.
Dante slowly withered out of his sight as the train rolled across the slim rusty bridge, heading into the dark mountain tunnel that would slice through to another state of the country.
Using one foot to balance the bike on the ground, Nero watched the train dived into the pitch-black. Dante had disappeared along with it. He slammed a fist against the steering handles of the bike and cussed frustratingly.
"FUCK!"
The old man smiled slightly in the train, as though he had heard the words coming out from the angry little kid just before he drifted out.
Giving plenty thanks to those who have continuously supported me this far.
