That ought to keep the kids' mind off our unexpected guest for a while…

Sure, I could have probably simply reminded the kid about the letter he had yet to deliver to his old girlfriend across the pond, but this means of keeping him far away from Missy would prove more entertaining. After all, in the unlikely event if the kid were to decide to go and fuck it up, literally, Missy would probably kick his ass in the process, and I'd get a piece of the leftovers… A promise is a promise after all.

And even if he did take my threat seriously and decided against putting the moves on Missy, I couldn't help but think of the impression I left on him following my little move back there.

I also couldn't help but notice after the fact about the lack of a struggle he put against me, most would probably pull away, afraid they might like it.

Dare I say… he enjoyed it?

That thought lingered in my mind playfully as I occupied myself with making a list of ingredients for supper…

I had to take into consideration that my presence might be given away should the usual traffic continue to stop by Devil May Cry, and signal my ex landlord to the premises to have me removed again.

It went without saying; I was going to have to learn to cook my own Homemade Pizza for the time being.

Upon completion of the list, I sauntered back into the living room to find a still statue version of Nero still sitting on the couch, not having moved an inch since I'd left him there. It was to laugh.

"s'matter kid?" I asked lightheartedly, "A little cock struck now that you've had a taste?"

And as though a spell had been lifted, the kid's body came to life, his eyes as wide as star gate, "What!" He squawked, " It was you that-!"

"Hey, I'm merely observing after the fact," I explained taking my seat at the desk, legs propped up. I looked over the list again before giving the desk a swift heel kick, bouncing the receiver from the telephone, which unexpectedly crashed to the ground as if slipped past my grasp.

He scoffed, "Nice catch"

I bent down towards my right to retrieve the fallen phone piece, and retorted quickly, "oh just a little rusty is all, s'been a while since I've had a phone to play with, remember?"

"tsk, whatever."

I shot him a seductive glance which didn't go unnoticed, he was quick to avert his gaze and mind his manners elsewhere.

"Lady," I called into the phone, keeping my eyes fixated on the kid now laying face inward into the couch, admitting defeat. " I need you to pick up some things for me."

"Dante?" She shrieked, "How did you get back in?"

"Long story, Lady" I sighed shaking my head, redirecting my attention to the long list, "Long, extorting, manipulative story."

"Hey listen, you haven't happened to have had any unexpected guests have you?" She asked ignoring my attempt to deviate the conversation.

"A couple actually.." I admitted, now curious, "Why do you ask?"

"Who's there?" She pressed on urgently.

"Why so serious?" I asked, intent on annoying her slightly. I did miss her after all. "Someone here that belongs to you?"

"Damnit Dante,"She caved in , "Is Missy there?"

"Aha!" I bolted upright and pointed into the phone, knowing very well that she couldn't see it, but it made me feel better… " You were hiding her at your Place! Why didn't you tell me!"

A sigh was heard first, followed by silence…

"I didn't want you two to see each other again, just.."

"I know why, Lady. I'm not stupid," I declared, now slightly miffed, but I knew better than to get mad. Lady had after all seen the aftermath of that night so long ago… But still." We've both… kinda put it behind us now."

"And that's fine and everything, I just didn't want her getting into her Devil Hunting Desires again either… That's all."

Well… That made sense… But why did Missy lie about finding Nero's Add in the paper and flying down here to investigate…?

I figured I'd get answers sooner or later, perhaps over dinner, speaking of, I still had a mission for Lady.

"Anyway," I pressed on, eager to get the evening underway and resumed my seated position, I noticed my sudden outburst caused the kid to jerk out of his laying position to take in my now calm state, "Yes, she's here, but I have a job for you."

"Great…"

"Since I'm not supposed to be here, I need you to pick up some basic ingredients so I can make dinner tonight."

"And by Dinner you mean a pizza…"

"Bingo."

A more annoyed sigh was emitted over the phone line, I couldn't help but smile again, "Dante, why don't you eat something else for once… You have a famous rock starlet in your home, and you're going to force feed her your cooking?"

"I can pull it off!" I lied, knowing damn well I'd never baked a pizza in my life… not even those little Pizza kits ever came out right when I was in desperate need… It eventually found the bottom of my trash can.

"You're going to kill a rock star…"

"Hey at least she's not going the way of John Lennon…"

"That's just mean."

"Can I give you the list or not?"

"No I'll send up something for you two."

"Three."

"Three?"

"Did I stutter?"

Another sigh, exasperated. Mission accomplished, "Give me the goddamned list."

I recited the list of ingredients to her, forgetting to ask if the kid now buried in the couch disliked anything being added. Whatever, he can pick off anything he doesn't like.

Upon completion, we bid our goodbyes and hung up… And then I remembered something.

"Don't you have a letter to deliver?"

It looked as though someone had tazed him, he sat upright again, and his look said everything, his widened eyes followed by a shocked gasp, his hair stood on end, and he quickly found his feet and made his way absentmindedly towards my bedroom door…

"Hold on there, kid, Forgetting something?"

His hand was just barely touching the door handle when he stopped and dejectedly offered it to me, "Please, it's in my overcoat."

"I know where it is," I waved him off and made my way upstairs, careful to knock several times and demand entrance into my own bedroom, "Missy? Missy are you awake? May I come in?"

"C'mon in, Dante!"

I pushed the door open to my unfamiliar bedroom, I'd forgotten just how big the new bed looked from this point of view, and Missy was taking up just a small fraction of the king sized dream boat.

"S'up Handsome!" She chimed, making sure to lower the volume on her headphones seated across her neck.

"Just getting something for the kid," I explained reaching down on Nero's side to retrieve his coat, but I quickly thought to ask her while we were alone, " But I do have to ask..."

She tilted her head awaiting my query, and I was sure to try to word it so I didn't sound mad or suspicious.

"Why… Am I just learning now that you've been with Lady for the last week?"

Her chipper smile soon turned to chagrin, she looked away but was quick to explain, "It's not what you think."

"Care to enlighten me?" I asked taking a seat at the opposite side of the bed.

"I originally came here first, but you were still gone. When I went to Lady's she'd been trying to convince me it wasn't a good idea for me to see you again. Because… Of—"

"Before.."

"Yeah… But then I saw that add in the paper and knew you had to have come back. I wanted to see you again and maybe—"

"Start training…? But why didn't you just tell me that?"

"I didn't want Lady to get into trouble!"

Lady…Of all people… She had killed the rest of the Incubi herself! How on earth did she even think that it was possible that Missy would be in any kind of compromising position under my roof anymore? She even admitted it wasn't my fault! This did unexpectedly bring my piss to a boil!

"How can she even think that…" I asked bewilderedly into the air, lost for words.

A question that was soon answered, "Dante, look at me."

Her simply getting up and standing, hand on her hips, leaning into her one foot, demanding that I take her in… It was then clearly obvious why Lady would have wanted to keep me away… The same reason I wanted to keep Nero away…

The more I looked at her, she certainly wasn't the lanky teenager I'd met years ago. The weight she gained went to all the right places, her face beamed with feminine seduction, without even trying it seemed. The corset she adorned shaped her body into a bombshell figure that I'm sure existed without the use of her attire.

"So?" I tried to lie and act nonchalant.

She scoffed and shook her head, disbelieved that I was playing it off as though I didn't notice that she'd certainly undergone a night and day change.

"You're clueless." She concluded, "Guess guys are more entertaining nowadays for you..."

I sat blankly across from her… demanding elaboration.

"Oh don't think I didn't catch a glimpse of you totally macking on that guy downstairs." She smiled devilishly, "Guess that's your new thing now huh?"

I could feel the blood draining from my face,"When did you see—"

She pointed towards the floor… Where close towards the middle of the room sat the air vent... The living room clearly visible through a thin separation that was this bedroom, and the floor below us. In plain view was the couch, and Nero, still waiting patiently for me to return with his letter.

I slowly turned to look at her, who was still smiling as though she'd found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

"It was pretty hot actually…"

A sudden rush of blood caused me to blush uncontrollably.

"You give me another show like that, " she began to proposition reaching into her corset to pull out a few bills, she waved it almost in a blackmailish way, " And I might slip you a couple of Benjamin's for later."

She winked… Was she really paying to watch me screw around with the kid?

"Waddya say cowboy?"

I snatched the bill from her hand, pocketed it quickly and swung the kid's coat over my shoulder, "I say it's time to save a couple o' horses!"

Oh how the fun begins XD