Nero didn't cry out as the ground rushed towards him, he just kept his eyes open, watching as the demon who had taken Kyrie sailed further away from him. Not able to look any more, he just closed his eyes and waited for the blackness to come. He didn't care anymore. He had failed. Again.

-

THUD.

-

Nero's back crashed against the ground and his head cracked against the hard soil. He stayed still, dimly wondering why the fall hadn't killed him.

He barely noticed the sound of running footsteps, and then Cyrus slid to rest beside him, the boy slapped him gently on the chest, "rise and shine, laddie!" he grinned.

"Piss off." Nero muttered, bringing a rush of laughter from Cyrus.

"So, what fun did I miss then?" A cocky voice sounded somewhere above him, and the face of Dante came into view.

"Kyrie's gone." Nero growled, sitting up, albeit painfully.

Cyrus carefully supported Nero's back as he sat up, "whoa there, that was quite a fall you took, I'm surprised you survived." He said cautiously.

"What are you, my mother?" Nero snapped, bad tempered to having screwed up again.

"Nope, did you find out why he came?" Cyrus asked.

Nero gave Cyrus an odd look before speaking. "No, he just said Valkyrie." He said quietly, not seeing Cyrus's reason for asking the question.

Cyrus narrowed his eyes, "Valkyrie? Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, course I'm sure, why?" Nero asked Cyrus.

"Shit." Cyrus muttered, lowering his eyes.

Nero glared at Cyrus, but Dante spoke for him, "well spit it out, you obviously see to find something bad in the word 'Valkyrie'." Dante pointed out.

"It's not the word, it's the speaker." Cyrus growled, glancing at Jade. "Heart of the Valkyrie." They said together.

Dante raised his eyebrows, "Ah. Sorry, kid, but I think your bonnie lass is as good as dead." He said coolly, cleaning out his gun.

Nero's eyes widened in shock, "Why?" he gasped.

Cyrus didn't meet Nero's eyes, "Kyrie is a Valkyrie, I knew it the moment I saw her." He said softly. Guardians of the battlefield, helping the mortally wounded die peacefully and help the survivors keep on fighting. It was all making sense now. A Valkyrie was an immensely powerful spirit, if that was what Caedis was collecting, it would make him more powerful than ever.

"Caedis is going to steal Kyrie's heart right out of her chest."

"No!" Nero's light eyes burst into bright red, and distortion clouded his voice. He couldn't loose Kyrie. Not her…