To say that the day started out average enough would be an insult, because all the tragic days begin normally

To say that the day started out average enough would be an insult, because all the tragic days begin normally. They all start with your basic routine, your favorite cereal and your car making that whirring noise that you meant to get checked out. That's all part of the tragedy, being torn from your normalcy and thrown into a nightmare.

This day was normal. It was normal when Trish was trying to get Yuki up for school, it was normal when Yuki all but welded herself to the mattress, it was even normal when she threw her cereal bowl at Dante. Yup, it was going to be a normal day.

Right?

Yuki had returned from school and was systematically cleaning her pistol on the floor of the Devil May Cry. Dante was in his classic position, feet up, head back, and Trish was leafing through a magazine on the couch, waiting until at least 6:30 before she would suggest Chinese food. Everyone was relaxed, this was the routine. Dante was considering grappling with Yuki later, or maybe they would do shot practice. Yuki was thinking about the shopping trip she was going on with her mother tomorrow.

The phone rang.

"Devil May Cry," Dante answered, already deciding that he wasn't going to take the job.

"Hello Dante." The voice stopped Dante cold.

"Sid," he snarled into the receiver.

"You remembered! I am truly honored."

"I try and remember the names of the guys on my shit list; you're the only one still alive."

"Such big words for a man who wasn't able to kill such a weak demon as myself."

"Allow me to fix that problem," Dante growled in a low voice, Trish and Yuki were staring at him.

"Absolutely, just come outside." Dante was temporarily stunned, but her threw the phone back onto its hook and stalked across his shop until he reached the door. Yuki was close on his heels.

Dante looked at her, "Stay," he ordered fiercely. She reluctantly obeyed. Once outside Dante looked around. It took him only a moment to spot Sid standing on top of the building opposite the Devil May Cry. "I thought you were going to give me a chance to kill you," Dante shouted in his direction, "so what's with the hiding?"

"Oh, not hiding Dante, not hiding at all. I'm simply waiting, and watching."

"Waiting for what?" Dante asked suspiciously.

"That," Sid pointed to the sunset.

"You're watching the sunset, how touching," Dante leveled his pistols at Sid, "I'll consider it your last request."

"No, no. Not yet Dante." Sid was practically giggling.

"Why the hell not?" The situation was becoming more peculiar by the moment.

"Because HE must be here first."

"Who?" The ground around Dante rumbled, it was then that Dante noticed the symbols scribbled across the streets and under his feet. "Who is coming Sid!" Dante yelled with urgency. His only response was Sid's gleeful laughing.

Parts of the street started to crack and fall into the sewer beneath. The air became hot and thick with the potent feel of evil. This was bad. Really, really bad. His thoughts darted to his wife and child. He needed to get them to safety before whatever this was manifested.

"Trish!" Dante yelled behind himself, "grab Yuki and RUN!" He wasn't sure if she got the message because at that moment a wide portal opened up in the street in front of him. Hundreds of demons spilled out and Dante wasted no more time on Sid. He began systematically killing the demons in a barrage of bullets, dozens of them were felled just outside of the portal, but there were too many. The demons began running through the streets, Dante could hear the screams of people in the surrounding buildings. The creatures were killing, not hunting but just killing as many people as they could.

The situation was dire, but Dante knew that it was going to get worse. Sid had said HE, as in one. Meaning the big guy hadn't even shown up yet. There was no time to dwell on this realization however, the demons that were present were falling on Dante, their massive numbers beginning to take a toll on his defense. There were too many, he was being overwhelmed

The earth gave a great shudder once more, the sky darkening to the color of ink. This was it. HE was coming. A great wind began to circulate the portal, so powerful that it sucked some of the demons back in. A shill screech sounded from deep inside the mystical door and immediately the demons began to fall back. No, they weren't just backing up, they were fleeing. Not good.

Dante turned to face what would soon be his opponent. Still some persistent demons doubled back, determined to get a piece of the devil hunter before the head honcho showed up. Between the wind and the screeching Dante didn't even notice their approach. They were in striking range before Dante's sixth sense went off, warning him of a danger even closer then he thought. He spun around, seeing that the demons had come too close for him to fight them all back without sustaining some injury. The demons were ready to spring when great bolts of lightning killed them where they stood. Dante looked over to his wife, a new terror rising in his chest.

"Where's Yuki!" he yelled over the howl of the wind.

"Safe!" was Trish's only response before she threw herself at other demons making their way through the alley ways and buildings. He couldn't worry about Yuki right now, if Trish said she was safe then she was safe. He needed to concentrate on what was beginning to pull itself out of hell. Ferocious claws gripped either side of the portal and a great winged body was hoisted into the human realm. The devil was larger than Dante had thought it would be, and he could see an intelligence in the beasts eyes.

"Dante."

He was taken back when the demon spoke his name.

"Son of Sparda," it continued, "it will be my great pleasure to kill you and your spawn!" With that the beast attacked.

Trish could only watch as Dante withstood a barrage of attacks, each time only narrowly dodging. The demon moved more quickly than one would think something of that size could move. Its massive tail curved and swept under Dante while claws were aimed straight at his heart. Dante moved, wove and ducked but still a claw found him and pierced through his shoulder. He didn't miss a beat, calling Rebellion to his side, Dante began to slash at the demon. Soon the two of them were a blur of motion, each one giving and receiving harsh blows.

Trish couldn't watch Dante for long, she was preoccupied with the other demons. After recognizing her as a threat, they gathered to attack her in force. She was doing well enough against them, not even getting a scratch. She just prayed that Yuki stayed in the locker.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Back inside the Devil may cry Yuki was sobbing. She was terrified, but her mother had told her that she would be safe. This locker had special wards to protect it against demons, though Yuki didn't know why. She fumbled around for the flashlight her mother had given her and flipped it on. The locker was big enough for her to sit up in, and long enough that she could stretch out and still have room. There were some folders with papers in them, a couple old statue looking things, but nothing that looked important enough to warrant such a secure location.

Yuki swept the flashlight back and forth until she noticed something catch the light. She reached out to the object and felt a chain, reaching further she felt soft velvet covering what ever was on the chain. Chains, she corrected herself, there were two. Setting the flashlight at an angle so she could still see, Yuki unwrapped the velvet and gasped. Hanging on the end of each chain was a blood red stone set in the middle of what she could only assume was gold. The necklaces were pretty and she could feel that there was something carved on the two of them, but the light was too dim to read by. Another crash caught her attention and the locker rattled, knocking the flashlight over and pointing it to one of her old stuffed rabbits. She grabbed for it, grateful that there was something familiar and comforting with her.

Another crash, again the locker shook, this time more violently than before. Yuki knew that her parents were out there fighting, she had seen the demons crawling out of the glowing circle in the street and she was sick with worry for them. She leaned back into the locker wall and sat up again quickly, something hard had dug into her. Reaching back, Yuki pulled out her little pistol. She suddenly remembered tucking it in the back of her pants when Trish had grabbed her.

That's right, Yuki thought, I know how to fight, I know haw to shoot a gun, so why shouldn't I be out there helping my family? Her mind was made up. Yuki grabbed for the flashlight again and pointed it up towards the door, she was looking for the safety release, the kind all lockers had so people didn't end up getting stuck in them. There! The release was in the center of the door, right where she thought it would be. Yuki reached up and pulled the latch, she heard the lock click open and pushed on the door. It was heavier than she thought it would be, but after pushing up with her back she eventually got it open. Slowly, cautiously, Yuki stepped out of the locker, looking around and holding her gun out in front of her. The room was clear, and so was the front room, but the horrifying scene was clear through the windows. Yuki saw her father take a hard hit and go spinning onto the ground, blood leaking from his mouth. Yuki gave no thought to the enormous demon standing just feet from his form, her eyes were locked on Dante, she tore out of the Devil May screaming, "Daddy!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dante was gaining the upper hand and both he and the demon knew it. Though both were bleeding from various wounds, the demon was getting slower and Dante was getting faster. In a desperate attempt the demon lashed out, exposing his side and belly. Dante moved in to take the hit and used the momentum to slice a clean line up the side of the demon. Dante fell to the ground panting, knowing that he had mortally wounded the demon. A small smirk was forming on his lips, until he looked up. Trish was being overwhelmed by the numerous demons and he saw one slide up behind her, its dagger-like arm raised high. He was going to shoot it, but in the same instance he made that decision a small figure came running towards him.

"Daddy!" Yuki cried. There was a demon behind her, just seconds away from pushing her through the portal and into hell.

Who would he save, Yuki or Trish? He didn't have time to save both. In that perilous second Dante froze. Regaining his senses, Dante acted, but it was too late. He saw Trish get sliced in half and Yuki fall into hell. A loud yell erupted from his throat, and at the same time the great demon seized its chance and retreated back into the portal. Dante saw it and dashed over, ready to throw himself into hell after his daughter. Once the demon had gone back through, however, the portal snapped shut, leaving nothing behind. Dante yelled again and beat the ground.

"Yuki!" he screamed and beat the ground harder, "Yuki!"

The world had become quiet, the sky was now clear and Dante looked around, remembering that there were still demons to fight. Except there weren't. Everything was gone, every demon had vanished when the portal had closed. His eyes continued to scan his surroundings, looking for what he prayed he had not seen. There was Trish, in the alley way. Dante rose, not in one of his usually graceful movement, but in a wobbly, numb kind of way. Slowly he trudged to his wife, as he got closer her features became clearer. Her lifeless eyes were staring out blankly, and it was clear that she had been sliced at an angle. Dante's legs gave out and he crashed heavily onto the ground. Tears were streaming down his face before he had even choked out a sob. He gave a heart wrenching scream, his agony and shock bubbling over.

There, beside the corpse of his wife, Dante cried.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'm sorry it took me so long to update, I've been avoiding this chapter and I'm sure you all understand why. I'm going to update the next chapter quickly so that I don't leave you all depressed. Please review!