Thank you all for stopping by and taking the time out of your busy schedules to a peek.

GWolf: I was honestly a little skittish about it at first, but that you are enjoying that side of our favorite half-devil.

Silentdeath Bringer: I am glad that you like what's going on.

T-Jinzo: Honest! There's nothing up my sleeve... I am horrible at magic tricks. Yes... did I mention that I'm an action junkie?

Satanic Park Of Madness: Thank you for enlisting the help of Master Chief and Auron for me.

Shadow-of-a-Wolf: Lies and Hype!

Please review. They REALLY make my day and help me to figure out what direction I need to take my stories. Enjoy!


Chapter Eight: Child's Play

Screams erupted through the tiny house. They came from the young girl who made the mistake of stepping into that hellish room at that exact moment. Her innocent hazel eyes scanned the room from one bloody wall to the other. Her frightened gaze settled on one of the darker corners of the room. From there, she spotted the platinum haired boy that her foster parent known as Uncle Joe had taken in, covered in blood. What was his name again? Dante, wasn't it?

The boy was about five years younger than her and she had deduced that Uncle Joe had brought the kid into his home for another check. That's was what being a foster parent meant to that disgusting old man, another paycheck and more government money to squander. Old Joe was outwardly a model citizen, but known only to his foster children, he was a hardcore sadist. His idea of discipline included beating the children mercilessly and locking them up in a closet for days on end. Dante hadn't been there two weeks before Uncle Joe decided to beat the boy within an inch of his life.

The girl was force to care for him. She was sure that he would soon die from his injuries. The girl was amazed to learn that he had made a full recovery by the next day. And today, he had taken Dante to the back room for more 'discipline'. She snapped back to reality, seeing that Dante was holding Joe's lifeless body in his arms. The man was so horribly disfigured that the girl hardly recognized him. Sure he had been a bastard, but did he deserve this? She watched as crimson pooled at the boy's feet, staining the hardwood floors and his skin. The vision made her want to vomit.

She began shaking uncontrollably when he turned his head to look at her through a set of vacant, maroon eyes. He dropped Joe's body to the floor with a stomach churning thud and made a slow approach towards her. She wanted to run. Dear God, she wanted to get out of there. Her legs remained rooted in place. There was a disconnect. All calls to legs can not be completed as dialed. Please try again later. She had never been so scared in her life.

Blood dripped off of his arms, creating a trail as he made his way across the room. The boy grinned madly with murderous intent glossing over his eyes. He made a few more steps before she heard two loud and quick pops, like a firecracker. Two bullets bore into the back of Dante's skull just before he collapsed to the floor.

So, old Joe had a little life left in him yet. The girl watched as the old man shot the boy with his dying breath. The boy on the other hand, looked up from where he lay, his eyes returning to its original clear-blue color. His apologetic eyes met hers. Without any words, he spoke volumes. He glazed at her a little longer before finally closing his sad, tired eyes. "Kara," he quietly whispered.

Dante's breathing hitched as he abruptly awoke. He jumped up from the couch in his room where had briefly closed his eyes for a nap. He glanced at the cell phone on the end table. It was nearly six in the morning and he was running late! He had already showered and redressed in normal street clothes as Kayleigh had prescribed.

Mr. Brown entered the room clutching a small stack of manila folders to his chest and closed the door behind him. "I heard what happened to Thompson."

Dante had a sullen look on his face. Sorrow for what Kara had to see and sorrow for he had done to Gabriel and the agent. "How is he," Dante asked in a low voice.

"He'll live," he gave a short answer.

"How are the other two," Dante referred to the demonic hybrids.

"They just outside, waiting on you." Dante made a move for the door and Brow grasped his should, stopping him. "I need to know if you can control yourself," Brown minced no more words, "Can you keep yourself in check?" Dante often wondered that himself. No one else knew about his other personality and wanted to keep it that way.

A smug grin grew across Dante's face as he replied, "No worries." It assuaged Brown's worries for the moment, but he wasn't completely convinced. Brown disengaged the locks and Dante left. Brown pulled out a photo of a crime scene from years ago out of his dossier. It featured the gruesomely mutilated body of a Joseph Kaufman. He could scarcely believe that his charge was able to do that with his bare hands. "For your sake kid," he said aloud, "I hope you can."

Dante met the other two outside in the parking lot. The three met up and followed yet another agent to a black SUV. They all got in and headed towards I-395, to the Pentagon City area of Arlington. For the most part, the ride from the capital was quiet, save for Kayleigh giving directions to the agent that chauffeured them across town.

Some ten minutes later the Government gas-guzzler pulled up to a public park. Kayleigh directed the agent to park closer to the swing sets. As soon as the car was thrown into park, Kayleigh grabbed three black knapsacks that were tucked under the car seats and made a break for the playground. She began gleefully climbing up the jungle gym.

"So, we came to baby sit her as she plays on the damn monkey bars," Dante questioned clearly annoyed.

"Dante, its more than just playing," Gabriel began, "Haven't you ever realized that the games you played as a child helped to shape you as a demon slayer?"

Dante looked perplexed, Gabriel goaded, "Come on and you'll see." He exited the truck and Dante followed. The agent, directly pulled off, probably headed back to headquarters.

"Where's he going," Dante questioned, slightly concerned that there was no one there just in case either of his companions go off the deep end again.

"Dante my man," Gabriel casually replied, "You worry way too much. You think that the U.S. Government would just leave us to our own devices? They have ways of keeping tabs on us. You see that woman walking with the stroller?"

Dante spotted said woman in under-armor spandex and Gabriel continued, "She's an agent who is watching us and there are several others in the area." Dante thought about it and then decided that he would say with an incredulous glare, "How do I know you are not just being paranoid?"

Gabriel let out a chuckle and said, "Take a look at her. The baby she's carting around isn't even real. It has been quiet as a church mouse and she has yet to make an attempt at picking it up."

"So? Babies sometimes are quiet."

"Don't you get it, Dante? That baby is way too quiet. Most mothers don't go through a moment where they're not making some kind of contact with an infant. Don't you think it's a bit strange to have a baby out in the cold like this or as early in the day as now? Hell, the sun isn't even up yet! Also you need to look closer at the woman, herself. Look at her figure. There's no way a woman can keep that figure after a baby that young!"

Dante studied the features that Gabriel had pointed out. The woman was curvy with firm buttocks, a runner's body. Surely he would have loved to get to know her under different circumstances. "Whatever, dude" Dante shrugged off the swirling thoughts, "why'd you drag me out here at the ass-crack of dawn anyways?"

"For the fresh air," he joked as began to walk to the area of the playground where Kayleigh was playing. Dante later joined the two by the sliding board.

"Oh," Kayleigh gasped enthusiastically, "let's play tag!" Her eyes were wide as dinner plates.

"That sounds like a great idea," Gabriel chuckled lightly.

Tag, Dante thought, what the hell's that going to accomplish?

"We haven't played since, Jason –" Kayleigh trailed off.

"I know what you mean," Gabriel rubbed her back in consolation, even when it seemed that he needed it more. He forced a smile for her and said, "Let's dedicate this game to him." He grabbed the knapsacks from the top of the one of the playground features and said, "The name of the game is tag and the rules are simple. You have three days to find your target. In your supply bag, you get five protein bars... use them wisely, three bottles of water, a watch synchronized to everyone else's time, a photo of your target and last but not least..." Gabriel reached into a random bag and produced a full metal, glock with an orange painted tip and tossed it to Dante. It was certainly weighted like a real gun.

"We each have a paintball pistol, each with different color markers," Gabriel continued. The clips hold only fifteen rounds and you get enough to reload twice, totaling at forty-five paintball rounds. They clock in at five hundred feet per second, almost enough force to feel like a real gunshot and seriously hurt someone. Needless to say, hitting a civilian will disqualify you. You must evade your tail and take out your target for a win. Everyone gets a two hour head start. To get to your target, anything goes! The entire Metro area is fair play. Everyone get it? Any questions?"

Neither, Kayleigh nor Dante said a word. "Good," Gabriel said as he tossed them their packs and slung his own over his shoulder, "See you seventy-two hours." Everyone walked into their own directions and into what was sure to be a game of tag they'd never forget.


Eric: This is a lot short than I normally write, but I thought it was prudent to end it here. (spots Gabriel, shields himself) Ngah!

Gabriel:What? I came to wish you well.

Eric: Why? (suspiciously)

Gabriel: For AUSA.

Eric: Anime USA's only a con, I'm pretty sure that these fine people have been to one before.

Gabriel: Yes, but how many of them have been there with me? ... Cosplaying as Dante! (quick changes into cosplay)

Eric: Huh? Whaaa?!

Gabriel: Eric, this looks like the beginning, of a beautiful friendship. (hugs Eric close)

Eric: (looks frightened out of his mind, mouths to readers) Please... Help!

Dante: Only your reviews can save him now!