(Drumroll please) Chapter Nine:
Yesterday had not been fun for Dante. Not fun at all.
After the fight, Dante had to take Lady to a clinic- by force. After much swearing and nail digging from her part, he had finally managed to get her there and back to the house, where the sleeping pills finally took effect and lulled the still scowling Lady to sleep on the couch.
Of course, this was not before she had shot him thrice and scorched the front of his second favorite coat (his favorite coat had been shredded beyond recognition long ago) with a haphazardly aimed blast from Kalina Ann.
Lady had to be the toughest and most kick-butt mortal he had ever met in all his life and sometimes it was easy to forget she was just that: mortal. The doctor had said that she needed to take it easy for a while, but knowing Lady, she was bound to be up and shooting as soon as night fell.
Still, Dante was compelled to try and prolong the crazy human's life for as long as he possibly could- so he pulled a blanket over Lady's shoulders and settled on the lumpy armchair for the night.
It wasn't long before he dozed off, only to wake up in an ungodly hour to the familiar sound of a pistol click.
Dante rubbed a crick out of his neck, gazing blearily at the white-clad woman who was taking back her guns and slinging Kalina Ann on her good shoulder.
"What 'cha doing…? The doctor said you're not allowed to be up yet…" He yawned, trying to get comfortable again.
Lady let out a few choice words to describe exactly how she felt about the doctor before shooting him again and storming out the room.
That had effectively shattered all plans for sleeping in the day.
Although the sun was quickly climbing its zenith, Dante refused to move from his sulk on the couch, opting to stare moodily at his bullet-torn trench coat and rub his forehead instead.
"Damn- those bullets really hurt."
The front door opened with a cheerful click, and the scent of sunshine and cookies wafted into the room.
"Good morni…" Kyrie peered in the doorway, her smile changing to concern at his battered appearance. "Dante! Are you alright?"
"No." He sulked, looking more like a tetchy eight-year old than a legendary demon hunter. "I'm tired and hungry and my head hurts because Lady likes using me as target practice."
"Lady shot you?" Kyrie sounded shocked.
"Thrice." He confirmed. So he wasn't above playing the sympathy card… well, there were more pathetic things in life.
"Poor Dante," Kyrie cooed, her maternal instincts taking over immediately. "Why don't you lie down? I'll go cook you a big lunch then you can go back to your room for a well-deserved nap. Go on - just take off your boots and rest your head."
And Dante did so, enjoying the sudden outpour of attention he received. Pillows were plumped out to cradle his head and feet while a blanket had appeared to drape over his legs and the remote control was placed in easy reach of his hand.
Kyrie had retreated to the kitchen and a mouthwatering scent both spicy and sweet soon filled the air. The half-demon sniffed the air appreciatively and found himself feeling full of goodwill for every being on earth that could cook.
"The stew's almost done!" Kyrie called out from within the kitchen. "I had to improvise a bit since there wasn't much food in the cupboard, but it should turn out alright."
"Well, I haven't eaten anything but pizza since I was 16 – and that smell is making me regret it now." Dante gave a languid stretch, as he dropped the remote on the coffee table upon reaching the Disney channel. "Woah- Donald Duck's on!"
The scent of stew filled the air as Kyrie walked over with a precariously balanced tray in her hands. "Here you go! Eat as much as you can – there's more in the kitchen."
Dante sat up eagerly. He swept the pile of magazines off the table with a lazy kick (much to Kyrie's dismay) and took the tray from her with one hand. "Oh man Kyrie- this looks good! Do you cater? I'll hire you here and now if you do."
"You have hired me," She reminded him, primly spreading a napkin on his lap. "I'll start leaving food in the fridge from now on if you wish."
"I BISH!!!"
"Don't talk with your mouth full- and chew before you swallow please." Kyrie began to plump the pillows and smoothed the edges of the blanket. "If you continue to be good, I'll give you some cookies for dessert."
Dante nodded vigorously. "Iwe be goob! Iwe be goob!"
Kyrie beamed. "Alright, I'll just warm up the cookies then."
She rose and caught sight of Vergil who was standing stock-still in the doorway, his eyebrows raised to amazing heights. "Vergil!"
Dante grinned at his older brother. "Yo Verge! I'm getting cookies!"
"…Hm."
"Would you like some too?" Kyrie turned the same bright smile on him, and he experienced a disconcerting self-consciousness. "I baked some this morning and they taste really good with coffee. They're--"
"Chocolate chip." He spoke with sudden understanding.
"That's right." Kyrie looked pleased. "If you'd like some…"
"I don't like sweets." Vergil replied abruptly.
She clasped her hands behind her back, looking slightly abashed. "Oh… Okay then…"
"Don't waste your time on that guy Kyrie. Heat up the cookies and watch some TV with me!" Dante patted the space next to him with an inviting grin.
Vergil glanced at the tiny couch and found that he did not like the idea of leaving her together with his infamous flirt of a brother. "…Coffee sounds good though."
"Coming right up!" Why did she have to look so happy? – Vergil wondered. "Are you certain you don't want any cookies?"
"Coffee." He dropped gracefully on the armchair. "No milk."
Kyrie left for the kitchen as Dante gave a happy shrug and returned to his show, continuing to scarf down his meal with a speed and appetite that made his older brother queasy.
Vergil turned his attention to the screen, a look of disgust crossing his face.
"…Donald Duck. I hate Donald Duck."
"What?!" Dante turned his head indignantly, spraying pieces of undistinguishable foodstuffs into the air. "But he rocks! There's nothing better on a rainy day than to bum indoors with cartoons on the tube… Sides, he wears blue. I thought you liked blue."
Vergil stared at his brother. "How did you know I liked blue?"
A broad grin crossed the devil hunter's face. "Have you seen yourself in the mirror lately? You're really going for the monochrome look."
Vergil raised an eyebrow. "What are you – a fashion expert now?"
"Me? I'm God's gift to woman kind." Dante turned back to his show smugly. "Gotta pay attention to these kinda stuff too ya know."
Vergil shifted slightly, unsure of what to make of the strangely domestic, and for once, peaceful atmosphere. He couldn't remember the last time he and Dante had been left alone in a room without an exchange of a death threat and some broken bones. This amiable Dante, who acted like the brother of his childhood, unnerved him more than the usual vein-pulsing, irate Dante wielding Rebellion rival of the present.
"Ah… So remind me again why there's no woman here you don't pay to stay?" The insult came out before he could stop it.
Raw hurt flashed across Dante's face before being covered up with forced carelessness, but that split second vulnerability didn't escape Vergil's notice.
He knew that Dante had still harbored hopes of salvaging the tattered remains of the family they once had, naively hoping that they could start all over again. Dante had been there from the moment he had woken up from his months long sleep, and had been attentive to his every need. But the unexpected kindness had made Vergil more skittish than if he was showered with the abuse or blame he had expected to receive. So he hid behind his whipping wit and stoic façade, driving Dante, Lady and Trish as far away as he could.
He could handle hate.
He deserved to be lonely.
But the stubborn fool, who was unfortunately his brother, refused to take the hint. Even after every verbal abuse and violent demonstration, Dante continued to face Vergil with his dauntless grin. Vergil wasn't certain what exasperated him more: Dante's willful disregard of the fact that they had once become enemies, or the fact that there was this voice in his head that told him he needed this reconciliation more than Dante did.
Before Dante could open his mouth to retort, Vergil had snatched the remote from the couch's arm and began flipping through the channels.
"Hey! Some of us were watching that!"
"Well, some of us don't matter."
"Verge – gimme back the remote!"
"No. Get your own."
"That IS mine!"
Kyrie smiled at the sight of the two men squabbling over the channels, with Dante button mashing the controls on the television and Vergil pushing the remote's buttons with the appearance of calm, but no less fervor. She set the tray down on the coffee table with a muted thunk, eyes fixed on the screen.
"Ooh – is that Pride and Prejudice?"
The two paused their channel surfing battle to stare at the screen with looks of mingled horror and disgust.
"A chick flick?" Dante groaned.
"No." Vergil agreed firmly.
"It has a really interesting plotline." Kyrie insisted, curling up in her chair and looking absorbedly at the screen. "Look – that's Darcy, the dashing, conveniently available bachelor and …"
Somehow, the two brothers couldn't find it in themselves to change the channel with the rapturous look on the girl's face. Dante gave a breathy sigh and dropped back unto the couch, while Vergil silently nursed his cup of coffee.
"At least we get cookies." Dante popped one in his mouth and chewed mournfully.
"Shhh!"
"Heads up!"
Credo threw Nero an exasperated look, quickly sidestepping the Hell Pride that the younger man had launched his way.
Credo's blade ripped a through the air and the last demon tottered unsteadily on its feet before exploding into dust.
"Are you usually this reckless?" Credo looked disapproving.
"'Course not. What ever gave you that idea?" Nero swung his sword into its case with one lazy movement. "So, why the sudden urge to tag? As you can see I'm perfectly capable of fighting off these uglies."
"I have some business here myself." Credo wiped his blade with a handkerchief before resheathing it. "There's someone I have to meet..."
"Wait - you mean like on a date?" Nero asked incredulously. "With an actual girl?"
There was a throaty chuckle. "Well, Credo's quite the charmer when he wants to be."
The two turned sharply to see Gloria approach, walking casually through the remains of the battle.
She gave Nero a predatory smile and put a carefully manicured hand on his arm. "Nero... I've heard good things about you." She purred. "The name's Gloria."
Her proximity made his stomach lurch uncomfortably, and he felt the hairs on his nape rise. "…Right." Nero turned away to look at the floor where a Hell Pride lay on its death throes, ignoring Credo's disapproving glare and Gloria's throaty chuckle.
"Well aren't you the bad boy." She raised one stiletto-ed foot and brought it down with lightening speed on the fallen Hell Pride. There was a dull crack as its neck broke and it shuddered once before sifting into dust. Nero's head shot up, his eyebrows raised in surprise at the venom of her actions. "Lucky me. I'm a bad girl too." She winked.
Nero couldn't help it. He blushed. "Look here– "
"High Priestess Gloria has been sent by his Holiness to investigate the sudden spikes in demon activity concentrated in the city." Credo interrupted. "She has asked me to bring her to the haunts of the city, but no one knows them better than you do."
"So what do you say boy? Feel up to giving me a tour of your lovely city?" Gloria's icy eyes glittered with humor.
Nero shouldered the case of his blade and scowled.
He had always been somewhat of a lone wolf even in the task force, choosing to work on assignments alone, and the load itself had never left him much time for socializing. In fact, he could barely remember the last time he had talked to any woman aside from the demure, unpretentious Kyrie – definitely a far cry from the wily Gloria whose every move seemed calculated to seduce.
He glared at Credo, who dutifully ignored him, and heaved an impatient sigh.
"Whatever. Let's get this over with."
AN: I LIIIIIIIVVVVVEEEEE!!!!!!!
I'MSORRYI'MSORRYI'MSORRYI'MSORRY!!! I can't believe how long of a break I took. It's just that college applications and the final exam reviews are taking up so much time and will to live (ARGH!) that I just haven't had time to write. Rest assured though, I'll never abandon this ficcy – and I'll post up the next chapter soon just to prove it! I'm really sorry for taking so long...
I also apologize, but I think I'll be flooding people's inbox with updates in a little while. I thought some parts needed desperate tweaking, hence I'll be revamping a couple of chapters sometime this week.
So… anybody wanna welcome me back?
