Disclaimer: This is a pretty dry chapter as almost all of it is Dialogue. But it needed to be made.
Dante felt all of the anger leaving him, being quickly replaced by shock. His eyes widened. All of the color left his face as it became as white as his hair. He stared at Toshiro, but at the same time he looked passed him, as if Toshiro was there and not there at the same time. It seemed like he didn't know where he was. Toshiro's words dazed him, like they were a fist that sucker punched his jaw.
Dante shook himself out of his daze before asking "Would you mind repeating that?"
Toshiro sighed as he repeated "Vergil is my father."
Dante was about to go back into a stupor but fought it as he had more questions "You're… Vergil's kid?"
"Yes."
"So that would make me-"
"My uncle."
Dante soon lost all feeling in his body. His body was covered by the familiar sensation of numbness. He lost awareness of his surroundings, completely occupied by only one thought.
'Vergil had a kid?'
The same thought hammered in his head repeatedly. Vergil had a son. It seemed so surreal to him. Vergil was the last person that Dante would ever have suspected in getting married.
Yet at the same time Toshiro was so similar to him in many ways. He looked like Vergil, from the same styled haircut to the same piercing eyes, even if they were of a different color. His face adopted that same cold scowl that Vergil wore. Toshiro reminded Dante of his older brother in many ways. The first thing he thought when he saw Toshiro was that Vergil was reincarnated into a little kid.
Dante stopped and focused on that first encounter with Toshiro. He first saw Toshiro when he was at his inauguration for captain. Toshiro never said anything to Dante. Instead he only stared at him for the entire time. There were numerous different emotions across Toshiro's face during that time. For the most part it was confusion, but then it started to slowly change into a slight hint of recognition, then shock. He then started to look paler than usual, and was the first to leave the room when the whole event was finished.
Then a tough struck Dante like lightning as he looked straight at Toshiro, his voice low and barely audible.
"You knew?" When he saw Toshiro's eyes widened, anger crept into him as he sat properly, leaned forward towards Toshiro, and shouted once again "You knew right from when we first met?! And you didn't even tell me?!"
It was Toshiro's turn to shout in anger "I didn't know!"
"So I that look of recognition on your face meant nothing huh?"
Toshiro started to twitch in anger as he responded "Contrary to what you make think Dante, I couldn't remember what happened!"
Dante's anger faded as he remembered. Most souls lose their memories when they pass into the soul society. It is considered a way to help them move on with their lives. Only the strongest of souls are able to remember what happened during their life. That was the reason why he asked if the memories Toshiro was receiving were before he died. Yet that meeting gave him other thoughts.
Dante propped his legs up and leaned back yet again. He then sighed "So you weren't one of the exceptions."
Toshiro shook his head "No I wasn't. I had no recollection of what happened when I was alive before that day I saw you." Toshiro ran his hand through his hair "The moment I saw you there was a weird feeling of familiarity that I never felt before. It was like I knew you from somewhere."
"But you really didn't. It was Vergil who you were thinking of?"
"…Yeah. I kept trying to figure figure out where I saw you before. Then an Image of him came into mind, with the same hairstyle like mine and the same cold scowl plastered on his face. I didn't really know who it was at the time, but I felt sick."
"Was that the night you started to have the dreams?"
"Yeah… In my sleep the memories came back. First, they were hazy patches but as time went on, they became crystal clear." Toshiro took a deep breath "Then after I remembered, I had visions of that fight between you two."
It was taking Dante a lot of time to get a grip on everything that he was told. The information hung in his head like steel beams. However he shook them off as asked something important.
"Was the fight on the tower the only thing that you saw between me and Vergil?"
"Yes."
Dante pinched his nose as an awkward silence hung in the room. He was still wrestling with the news he was given, that Toshiro saw one of his unpleasant memories, that Vergil had a kid, that he was an uncle. It was too much revealed all at once. The fact that he was an uncle still surprised him. He never thought that Vergil would ever be able to woo a woman let alone get one to bear his children. He was always so cold towards people and then quickly grew to hate them. He remembered the first time they reunited after being separated for so long. Vergil changed. Yet here is Toshiro, a spitting image of Vergil.
"So…" Dante awkwardly forced out "Who's the mother?"
Toshiro looked down at the ground "…I don't know."
"Don't know?"
"I never met her. She died shortly after I was born. Fa- Vergil raised me by himself for the first couple of years."
Dante took a good long look that his nephew. He looked like he missed those days. Vergil must have left a big impact on the kid when he was alive. It was sad to see Toshiro like this. And at the same time, it was relatable. Dante knew what Toshiro was feeling.
Dante then sighed as he tried to get Toshiro out of his daze "So, how was it like living with him?"
"It was…good. We spent the first years travelling from place to place. Vergil homeschooled as we wandered aimlessly." A sad smile crept on Toshiro's lips "He was always kind of cold when it came to me. I thought that he despised me those first few years."
"Vergil was always like that. I can tell you right now that you had nothing to do with it."
"Yeah… I realized that later. There was this time that we stopped at a rest station. I went to talk to these kids because I never really played with children when we were travelling. They were picking on me because of my hair. I ignored it first because I was told to avoid trouble. But then…" Toshiro took a deep sigh "Then one of them brought up my mother. I got really angry and punched the kid in the face. He then tackled me and we got into a fight."
Dante chuckled "I'm guessing you came out on top."
"Yeah, I was bruised and bleeding though. The kid's father started to shout at me and before I even knew I was on the floor with a stinging feeling in my face. Then Ver-"
"It's all right Toshiro. You can call him dad"
Toshiro raised his head and looked at Dante straight in the eyes. Dante stared back a small grin on his face. Toshiro smiled a little as he continued.
"Father came in and broke the man's arm. The man was screaming wildly." Toshiro looked down at the ground again "Father then looked down at me while I was on the ground and lifted me up. I first thought that he was mad at me so I started to squirm. But he then hugged me tightly and told me that I did well."
Toshiro slowly chuckled "That was the first Time I can remember being truly happy, knowing that he didn't hate me. After that I learned how to pick up his true moods, when he was angry, when he was disappointed, and… when he was happy."
There was silence in the room after that. Dante stared at his nephew. There was a hint of longing in the way that he told that story. It was obvious that the kid missed him. Dante felt cold when he realized that. Thanks to him, Toshiro might never reunite with his father.
Dante then shook himself out of his Daze as he asked "So… How did you die?"
Toshiro said nothing at first. His face showed a little bit of fear. But then there was a sigh, He regained composure and stared right at Dante as he then continued his story.
"A while later we ended up at some town. I don't remember the name. It was an island town, on the sea. Everybody dressed funny there."
"How so?"
"They all wore hoods. It was like you were expected to hide your face we first arrived, the people stared at us, like we were criminals. They didn't like outsiders. Both father and I had to buy hooded cloaks to fit in."
As Dante listened in on the story, he felt a sense of Déjà vu. There was something strangely familiar about the way he described the place, but he didn't know why. He decided to press for details.
"Do you know anything else about that place?"
Toshiro was silent. He seemed to be in deep thought as he scoured his memory for any more information. Then his eyes widened only a little.
"That name, 'Sparda', the one from the vision. It was constantly said there at the town. It was used along another word, 'savior'. I think they worshipped whatever it was" Something else clicked in Toshiro's brain as he continued "There was a chapel in the center of town. They had a statue of the supposed Sparda. It reached to the roof and was made of marble. The face seemed human enough but it had two horns jutting from each side. Its hands were resting on the pommel of a sword as the tip was resting in the ground."
That was more than enough information for Dante. He knew exactly where the place was. However he pushed it aside as he continued the conversation.
"So what happened then?"
A small smile crept onto Toshiro's lips again "We settled down in that town. And Father met her." He gave a look that had a hint of sadness "It's funny. I can remember everything about her looks, from her red hair, to her rosy cheeks, even her blue eyes. Yet I cannot remember her name." He chuckled "She and father fell in love instantly. Thinking back on it, they were so different. Father was cold, but she… she was so warm, so comforting. Even though I wasn't related to her, she treated me like I was her son. I remember being so happy then. It felt like a real family."
Toshiro looked to the ground. "She soon became pregnant. I remember being really being really happy when I heard that I was going to be a big brother. Before I knew it, she was at the hospital going into labor. I remember seeing my little brother, grinning as I shook his tiny hand and rubbed his mop of white hair."
Silence then resumed as Toshiro stared at Dante worried. Dante felt thee blood leave his face. His eyes widened even more, and His Jaw dropped. Dante just stared into space. A single incomplete thought kept hammering into his mind.
'That means he was…'
Dante then saw Toshiro's gaze. It was enough to pull him out of his thoughts. For some reason he felt guilty when Toshiro looked at him worried. He quickly grunted as he asked
"So what was your brother's name?"
Toshiro looked down at the ground. A deep expression of melancholy on his face "I don't know. Father and she couldn't agree with a name at the hospital. It was something the kept arguing about. In fact it was one of the few times I saw fathers mask break a little as he got angry." He sighed before continuing "A few weeks later Father was gone, conducting whatever business that he usually committed. My step mother decided to take me and the baby to the beach. It was late at night when we went; I remember being told it would be easier on my brother's eyes if we did. I remember playing in the cold sand as the moon shone on the lake. She was watching while holding my infant brother… That's when they came."
Toshiro stopped speaking. A deep breath filled his lungs as he forced himself to continue "I can't explain what they were. When the memory resurfaced I thought that they were hollows, but they were devoid of the holes. They were monstrous beasts. Their eyes showed nothing but bloodlust. I can't describe anything else about them. It's just too much to remember." He paused and took another breath before resuming "My step mother was cut down first, almost completely in half. My brother fell out of her arms crying. They then turned their gazes on him and started to circle him and..."
Toshiro moved his head to the side "I remember running to him. The only thought in my mind was to pick him up and escape. As soon as I got near him, those… things… They stopped in their tracks and turned to me. Before I knew it, they were running at me. Afterwards I blacked out."
Toshiro lifted his head and stared right at Dante "When I came to, father was hovering over me. His mask completely broke and he stared at me in pure terror. I blacked out again." Toshiro sighed "That was my last memory of when I was alive. When I woke, I was in the soul society."
Dante sat, trying to comprehend the tale that he was just told. There was sadness in hearing what happened to his nephew. His thoughts then drifted to Vergil. He wondered what his brother thought when he saw his son and bride dead. It would have been too much for any man.
That's when everything clicked with Dante. When the answer he asked for so long finally was answered. He then realized why Vergil seemed so different that time they reunited.
Dante stopped thinking when he saw Toshiro stare at him. He looked like he was expecting something.
Toshiro spoke again "I answered your questions. I want answers myself."
Dante wanted to tell the boy off but stopped himself. It was then that everything really hit him. He was an Uncle. Toshiro was blood. He went on for so long without knowing anything about his lineage. He deserved to know.
Dante sighed "Alright… What do you want to know?"
"What happened after that encounter? What happened to my father? Who is this Sparda? What did you transform into at the end? What-"
"Whoa there" Dante cut him off "One question at a time…" He took a deep breath "Alright let's start at the beginning. Is that alright?" Dante continued when he saw Toshiro nod "Alright let me ask a question. You know of hell right?"
Toshiro nodded "Of course."
"What do you know about it?"
"That it is where sinners are sent to after they die."
"Well Hell is occupied not only by the souls of the damned, but also those of demons."
"Demons?"
"Monsters, Jailers of hell, the ones who torture the sinful for all eternity. The old stories say that they were angels casted from heaven for rebelling against god. What the truth is, I don't know. They range from power and intelligence. You have the lesser demons, primitive intelligence, but rather strong in ability. Then you have the greater demons, sentient creatures that are brimming in power."
"How powerful?"
"They rival the Vasto Lorde. Some might even surpass Aizen in terms of power."
That answer shocked Toshiro to the bone. He seemed frozen as his mouth was wide open from his reaction. However a chilling thought went through his head. He quickly pulled through and asked
"Hueco Mundo had a king. The soul society has a king. Does hell have a king as well?"
"It does." Dante's expression shifted. A hint of anger was visible in his voice "Or it's better to say it did. He was incredibly powerful, enough to change hell on a whim and create demons with only a thought."
This startled Toshiro but a single question broke into his mind "Why are you telling me this?"
Dante sighed, as he realized he was beating around the bush "2,000 years ago... there was a war between hell and earth. The demon king invaded earth and tried to subjugate the world. But he was stopped."
"Stopped?"
"One demon alone, a knight of hell, rose up and fought his own kind for the sake of humanity. His power was so great he was able to defeat his former lord and seal hell away from earth."
Toshiro was awed by the tale but asked the same question "Why are you telling me this Dante? What does this have to do with you?"
Dante looked hesitant but fought through his emotions "The knights name… was Sparda."
Toshiro's eyes widened at that "The same Sparda that the town worshipped?"
"The same."
Toshiro sat in silence. It seemed like a weird coincidence, and he still didn't know what it had to do with him. But then he froze. He felt cold, a strange sensation for the wielder of the most powerful Ice Zanpakuto. Words rang in his head, words in that vision he received, words from his father Vergil.
"The power of our father Sparda"
Toshiro then forced out "You don't mean-"
"Sparda is my father. He met a woman named Eva. Shortly afterwards, me and Vergil were born."
Dante carefully eyed Toshiro. The tables turned on the two. It was now Toshiro who paled. He was the one who now looked like he was sucker punched, and looked at and through Dante at the same time, just like Dante did a few moments ago.
Toshiro was only able to mutter "So…You're…A demon?"
"Are you asking me, or yourself?" Dante saw Toshiro flinch at that and immediately understood what he meant. Toshiro was starting to think that he was a monster. Dante sighed as he continued "Toshiro I'm more human than demon. My mother was a human."
"Then…What does that make me?"
"Even less of a demon than me. You probably only have a quarter of Sparda's blood in your veins."
There was doubt, uncertainty, in Toshiro's eyes mixed in with confusion "Did father have any Reiryoku?"
"No"
"Then why do I have the power of a Shinigami?"
"I'm thinking one of two options. Either your birth mother was a human high in spiritual energy, or she was a Shinigami herself."
Dante carefully watched Toshiro. His eyes still showed doubt, mixed with a tinge of despair. He was still in shock of what he was just told. He was still unsure of what he was.
Dante sighed "Have you ever cried Toshiro?"
Toshiro broke from his daze and gave a slight glare at Dante "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Please just answer the question."
"Sure I've cried. Who hasn't?"
"Then you have nothing to worry about." Dante watched as Toshiro became confused "Devils never cry. Tears are a gift that only humans have. So you have nothing to worry about Toshiro. You're not a monster."
The look in Toshiro's eyes changed. Any look of despair left as quickly as it appeared. There was still shock but it was far less than before. Silence filled the room again, not oppressive or awkward like the previous absences of sound. Toshiro then focused on Dante and began to speak.
"Why didn't you tell anyone this?"
"Take that up with Unohana and Old Man Yamamoto. They wanted to keep my lineage under wraps."
Toshiro seemed surprised "They know?"
"Yep, apparently they knew my father and also knew about me before I died. That's the reason wanted me as a captain."
Toshiro was silent again for little while. He seemed in deep thought. Then the sudden Image of Dante's transformation pierced his mind. He was about to speak stopped. He seemed hesitant before he finally opened his mouth
"That thing you turned into, at the end of the memory, what was that?"
"That was when I my blood awoken, when I got my devil trigger."
"Devil Trigger?"
"It's… hard to explain. Basically it's when my demonic blood kicks in. My body changes into… that."
"What does it do?"
"Makes me faster anger stronger, Powers up my attacks, heals my wounds instantly although I can do that outside of devil trigger. Stuff like that."
There was silence again. Toshiro looked away before looking back at him "Do you think I have a devil trigger?"
"Most likely you do."
Toshiro instantly changed. His eyes shot up. His face contorted to an expression of eagerness. He seemed far more energetic as he started to speak, a subtle hint of excitement in his voice
"Can you teach me?"
"What?"
"Teach me how to awaken my demonic blood, to unlock my devil trigger. Can you do it?"
Dante seemed surprised at Toshiro's request and slightly unnerved "Sorry kid, I can't."
Toshiro's face fell "Why not?"
"Toshiro, unlocking your devil trigger isn't something that is taught. You saw how my demonic blood was awakened."
"What do you mean?"
"It was awakened when Vergil stabbed me with my own sword."
Toshiro's face became white at that information. Dante paid no mind as he continued
"I almost died back then. I'm not willing to stab you with Hyōrinmaru to see if you can DT."
"There has to be another way."
"If there is I don't know about it."
"But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!"
Dante carefully eyed Toshiro. Determination showed in his eyes. But there was something else there. Dante couldn't pin point it, but it felt all too familiar. And for whatever reason, it unsettled Dante. No… unsettled is the wrong word. The look in Toshiro's eyes disturbed Dante.
Dante asked cautiously "Why are you so dead set to unlock your Devil Trigger?"
Toshiro broke away from Dante's gaze. Any eagerness was replaced with hesitation as he was only able to mutter out a couple of words.
"I need to get stronger"
"Toshiro you're already strong. They don't hand out the captain position for nothing."
Toshiro turned back at Dante, His voice raising as he spoke "But I'm not! I couldn't even fight against Aizen!"
"You weren't the only one. Not even Old Man Yamamoto could fight against him."
"That's not it!" Toshiro looked to the ceiling "I was too easily enthralled by his Shikai! Because of my weakness, I…" He stopped for a minute, looking as if he was pained to speak the next words "Because of my weakness… I almost killed Momo!"
He then lowered his head back to Dante and gave a glare of pure determination "I can't let that happen again! I won't allow it to happen! I can't stay weak anymore!"
Toshiro's voice rose even higher as he shouted at Dante
"I NEED MORE POWER!"
Toshiro stopped and froze. And immediate sense of guilt and regret flooded over him as he looked at his uncle. Dante gave a look of absolute horror. His skin paled to a complexion as white as his hair. His eyes were wide as globes showing a deep sense of pain. Those four words wounded him greater than any sword. A few seconds passed, and Toshiro didn't know whether he should say something. He was quickly pulled out of the thought by Dante's voice.
"Toshiro…"
Toshiro's eyes widened as he looked at his uncle. Dante was now sitting properly again, leaning towards the small captain. Any look of horror was gone from his face. His eyes narrowed into a rigid glare, and his mouth formed a hard frown. Toshiro started to squirm as he was under Dante's glare, a feeling of nervousness creeping on him.
Dante spoke, his voice completely serious as if he was lecturing Toshiro "You are walking down a dangerous road, one that will kill you if you continue down it."
"But-"
Dante cut him off "Your father walked down that road. And it led to his ruin."
Dante watched carefully as Toshiro's face shifted to one of hurt and confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Dante was silent for a moment. Then he sighed as he leaned back in the chair, not kicking his feet up this time. His thoughts drifted back to the tale that Toshiro told. He thought of the sense of familiarity the ending brought; it had felt strangely similar to the Son of Sparda. With his hand on the desk, he started to speak.
"We… went through something a lot like what happened to you. When I was young, Sparda… my father, left the family. My mother wouldn't tell us what happened to him. It wasn't until years later I learned that he died."
Dante then looked away "Then years later…" He paused before continuing "Demons attacked our house. They were sent by the demon king Mundus, who wanted to remove any potential threat from his plans. Me and Vergil… we tried to fight them off, but we were too young and way over our heads. And our Mother… "
There was a long silence. Dante didn't speak. Instead he closed his eyes and was still like he was turned to stone. Toshiro kept quiet, not even daring to pester Dante into speaking. He waited patiently for his uncle to continue his story.
Time passed for what seemed like ages until Dante finally continued "Our mother was killed before our eyes." He opened his eyes and gave a soft sight "Me and Vergil finally ran away from the scene. When we got far enough away we saw our house burnt to the ground."
Dante then got lost in his thoughts as he was pulled back to that scene. He remembered the smell of burning timber assaulting his nose, the heavy smoke stinging his eyes and filling his lungs as he coughed violently. He remembered the fire roaring around him and Vergil, climbing up to the roof as if it was a Chimney and the house one big hearth, the fire singing him with burns that would heal only a few seconds later. He remembered the walls shifting and changing, rippling like water as the demons willed themselves into their home.
And he remembered his mother. He remembered her long golden hair, and luscious blue eyes. Both he and Vergil were shoved by her away to the door, burning debris falling and blocking the two from coming towards her. The Demons crept behind her, ready to sink their fangs into her.
But most of all, Dante remembered his mother's face in those last few moments. Not even paying heed to the beasts behind her she looked on at her two boys. The face that was contorted in distress was now gone. What was in its stead was a sight that Dante loved. It was her smile, a smile that the angels would try to steal out of envy, a smile that always filled Dante with glee. That was the last time he ever saw that smile, and the last time he heard her voice, in that soothing calm tone as if she was singing a nursery rhyme to her boys.
"Don't worry. It will be ok."
Dante relived that horrible sight. His mother turned her back to the twins, facing her murderers. When she turned the demons leapt into the air like beasts ready to pounce on their prey. Just as the demons fangs were about to close on her neck, the fires rose in front of the twins, blinding him from the sight. There were no noises from their mother on the other side of the fire, no screams or groans, just a crunching and squirting sound, the sound of jaws crunching bones and chomping on flesh.
Dante immediately snapped out of the memory and started to frantically look around, trying to confirm that he wasn't really back there. His eyes then met Toshiro. He was looking at Dante, obviously worried about him and probably wondering the red coated Taichou went quiet, yet he stayed still and silent, patiently waiting for Dante to continue.
Dante then sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. That memory was still as vivid and real as the first time he witnessed it. The memory used to haunt his dreams for a time so long that Dante can't really remember. Sooner or later it lost its grip on his dreams but it still remained in his mind, easily remembered on a moment's whim. That memory was burned into his mind, the only burn that stayed with him that night.
Dante pulled his hand from his face as he continued "Me and Vergil traveled together for a while. It was brief though, it seemed like it was only for a few months. Then one day I woke to Vergil missing. I searched near and far for him, but it was too late. He left like our father."
Dante then took his gaze to his right "We met up again, much later. However when we did…" Dante stopped and his eyes glazed over for only a second before he refocused "Vergil was different."
Toshiro broke his silence "How so?"
"He… was obsessed with obtaining our fathers power. He wanted to cast aside his humanity and become a full demon. As you know he was always kind of cold but when we met again… it was on a new level. He was like ice."
Dante pulled his head back before resuming "I always wondered why he changed like that. I could never find an answer on my own. But now I know. Our reunion must have happened shortly after what happened to you."
Dante lowered his head towards Toshiro and watched him carefully. Toshiro's face shifted. He gave a look of sadness with a touch of hurt.
Toshiro muttered "What happened after that?"
"He attacked me, and we got into a fight."
"Why?"
Dante put his thumb to his neck. His thumb went down to his chest and into his clothes. He then pulled out that Amulet that Toshiro watched his father take in the vision. Dante then started to speak
"He was after this. Vergil had one just like it, only that one was gold instead of silver."
"I saw that one when I was still alive. Father would look at it and put it to his head. He always looked sad when he saw it."
"Both were keepsakes from our mother. It's the only thing I have left of her, besides the picture on my desk."
Toshiro then looked at Dante curious "Is that why he was after it? Because it was a keepsake?"
Dante shook his head and pushed the amulet back into his clothes "Little did I know at the time that both amulets combined into one was the key to opening the gate that separated our world from the demons, and the key to unlocking Sparda's power. He wanted to open a portal to hell and claim our father's power that was trapped there."
Toshiro looked horrified at, but forced himself to ask "And after that?"
Dante looked away and took a deep breath "We were forced to separate yet again. We met a year later… at Tem-Ni-Gru."
"Tem-Ni-Gru?"
"That large tower that you saw in your vision. It's actually a tunnel between Earth and Hell. Vergil raised it with the help of Arkham, the other man that you saw in that vision. You remember?"
Toshiro nodded.
"I was 'invited' by Vergil to meet with him at the top of that tower. I got to the top and…" Dante sighed "You saw what happened."
"But it didn't end there."
"No… it didn't. I caught up with Vergil at the bottom of the tower, right where the seal was. We fought again." Dante looked away again "This time it was a tie. We both wore each other down, and that's when Arkham made his move." Dante took a deep breath before continuing "It turned out we were puppets on his strings. He wanted our father's power for himself. He manipulated us into fighting. Hell, he even manipulated his own daughter who came to kill him."
"Why?"
"There was a seal on the gate. In order to break the seal, you needed enough of Sparda's blood and the blood of a woman. Me and Vergil shed enough when we fought that second time, and before we knew it he he sliced up his own daughters leg."
"You couldn't fight him?"
"Not then. Both I and Vergil were too weak after fighting each other. He planned it that way so it would be a piece of cake for him to get dear old Dads power. Any opposition was swept away, as he broke the seal and ran into hell."
Dante took another breath "I caught up with Arkham in hell. By then he was changed into a demon. We fought for a little bit before Vergil caught up and joined in on the fight. For a few minutes, we were allies as we kicked Arkham's ass."
"Did you kill him?"
"No, but it wasn't due to a lack of trying. He was stripped of our Dad's power, and flung back to earth. His daughter was there waiting for him, and she put a bullet in his head."
"Your fight was far from over however…"
"Yeah…" Dante closed his eyes again. Now was the time that he dreaded most. He was sure that Toshiro would hate him after telling him this, but he deserved to know what happened to his father. Dante opened his eyes and continued to speak.
"After we defeated Arkham, the Amulet split. We grabbed each of our half. Shortly after, we found ourselves on the edge of both hell and earth, a waterfall over a black void. Vergil was still obsessed with obtaining Sparda's power. He demanded I gave him my half of the amulet, and we ended up fighting each other one more time."
Dante stared right at Toshiro, a sad yet serious expression etched on his face "He said those exact same words that you said to me only a few moments ago."
Toshiro paled as his face contorted to one of shock. As Dante looked at his nephew, his thoughts drifted back to that time. He remembered the edge vibrantly. The waterfall was still clear in his mind, flowing endlessly into the abyss below. Columns of twisted masonry rose from the ground like stalagmites as they held up a roof like a crude imitation of the Parthenon. Monoliths of stone, as twisted as the columns, were off two the sides of the waterfall. Off in the great distance, past the waterfall and above the abyss, was the portal to earth. It looked like a large burning eye, completely overshadowing the two as if it was the eye of god observing the brothers. Wisp's of ebony danced and twisted around the portal, like smoke in the air. Despite this The portal was the only source of illumination in that dreaded place, as it shone down rays that pierced the abyss like the rays of the sun that pierce the darkness of space.
And more vividly than the waterfall or the eye of god, Dante remembered seeing his brother. His back was turned to the void and the portal. Their father's sword was clenched in his right hand. Dante remembered how his brother brought his left hand up to his face, and slowly spoke those four dreaded dreaded words as he closed his hand into a tight fist.
"I NEED MORE POWER!"
Dante was snapped out the memory by Toshiro's desperate question
"What Happened?"
Dante was silent for a moment, not knowing how to continue. He looked at Toshiro, carefully reading his expression and looking for changes as he replied.
"We fought and, somehow I won."
"You…" although it was obvious he dreaded what was coming, Toshiro struggled as he tried to continue "You killed him then?"
"No, I couldn't. Despite our differences, he was still my brother. But after the fight, he started walking towards the edge. I ran towards him and he put his sword to my throat. He said that he was staying in hell. And as soon as he said that, He fell off the ledge. I tried to grab him, but when I reached out…" Dante stopped. That moment left a wound on his heart that never healed. It only scarred over on the surface.
Dante then forced himself to finish "…When I reached out he sliced my hand. He then fell into the blackness and faded from my sight."
Toshiro looked horrified and forced out "So… He's trapped in hell?"
"No." Dante took in Toshiro's stunned face before he continued "I started working as a devil hunter and about a year later on a job, I came across him. But He was… changed, corrupted. He was a demon like he wished. I didn't even know it was him. He was completely unrecognizable and never spoke."
Dante forced himself to look at Toshiro as he finished the tale "He ended up attacking me. When I learned that it was him…" He took a deep breath "…It was after I killed him."
Dante then waited after finishing the tale. He waited for Toshiro's expression to change. He waited to see anger, disgust and loathing in his nephew's eyes. He expected Hatred for him, for what he did to the boy's father. Toshiro's expression changed, but that hatred Dante expected never came.
There was sadness in his, no doubt about it. But the stare also worry, not for himself but for Dante. He showed great concern for his uncle. It almost made Dante feel sick to his stomach.
Gently, Toshiro spoke three words "Was it hard?"
Dante knew what he meant and force out a somber reply "The hardest thing I've ever done."
There was a silence for a while. Dante and Toshiro broke their gazes from each other and looked away. Both were engaged in their own thoughts. The silence and the hold on their thoughts as Toshiro started to speak.
"If you killed him, then does that mean that he is in the Soul Society?" There was a hopeful tone in his voice, one that Dante felt bad to break.
"I don't know Toshiro. I've been asking that question since the day I've got here. Those first couple of weeks I was here, was spent searching for him and my mother. Even as captains I still have people searching for him but…I just don't know."
"And I'm like him." Toshiro's statement caused confusion to Dante as he looked to his nephew, whose eyes gazing on the floor. "Just like him, I want power, Even though that caused his downfall."
Dante became worried as his nephew finished. There was sadness in his voice, despair even at the thought of following down the same path.
Dante then forced out a reply "You're a lot like him, not only in looks but also in attitude. But Toshiro, just because you're his son doesn't mean you have to follow down the same road." Toshiro's gaze lifted and he looked at Dante. Dante smiled softly as he continued speaking.
"You're your own man Toshiro. You can take what road you want to. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get stronger but don't obsess over it. There is more to strength than just power."
Toshiro looked confused "What do you mean?"
"Sorry, you have to find that answer yourself. Just promise me you won't end up like Vergil."
Toshiro didn't say anything. He just gave a solemn nod, and looked away. Silence returned, and just stared at his nephew for a few moments. Then his face shifted, as if he just realized something. His hands went back into his Shihakushō. He pulled out an object obscured by his hand.
Dante then looked back at his nephew and yelled "Toshiro."
Toshiro's head snapped back towards Dante, just quickly enough to see something tossed towards him. Effortlessly, he caught it in one hand and put the object towards his face to see what it was. His eyes immediately widened at the sight.
It was his father's amulet, almost identical to Dante's, but made out of gold instead of silver.
Toshiro then stared at Dante wide eyed "Where did you get this?"
Dante grinned "I got it after that last fight with Vergil. I had to pull a favor to get it from earth after I died, as well with some other items."
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"It was Vergil's not mine. And since he isn't here, I think it's only fair to entrust it to you. He probably would've wanted it like that. I would've given you his sword as well…" Dante's grin grew "but I already entrusted that to your brother."
Dante almost laughed as he watched Toshiro. He didn't react at first; his mind probably had a problem comprehending what he just heard. But when the information finally processed, it was such a sight. His eyes widened even more, and he almost shot out of his wheelchair.
Toshiro shouted "HE'S ALIVE?!"
"Alive and well."
"And you knew him?!"
"Remember that 'someone' that I thought was maybe related to me? After hearing your story, it turns out that that someone was your younger brother."
Toshiro tried to speak but started to trip all over his words. It was obvious that he had too much to ask. With a few short breaths he forced a question.
"What's his name?"
"Nero."
"How did you meet him?"
"We met when I was on a job in Fortuna, the town that you used to live."
A hint of recognition crept onto Toshiro's face as he continued "What's he like?"
"He's a punk for one, short tempered and foul mouthed. But he's also a good kid."
"Is he…" Toshiro felt hesitant to ask "Is he well?"
"He was last time I checked. He's even married now."
Toshiro's eyes widened after hearing that, before softening yet again. Silence came again, however it was not tense, awkward, or uncomfortable like the previous silences. Toshiro looked back at the golden amulet in his hand. A small smile then crept onto his face as he did so.
Toshiro looked back at Dante and smiled "Thanks… Dante"
Dante grinned on "Don't mention it. You're family."
Toshiro seemed caught off guard, but quickly that smile returned. Dante looked around his room, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. For the entire talk, he was almost completely serious, which wasn't like him. Then a mischievous grin crept on Dante's face as he decided to speak.
"Well, it's good that I shook you out of that mood Kid."
Instantly the smile faded from Toshiro's face as he glared at Dante and shouted "I told you, I'm not a kid!"
"If you're my nephew then you're a kid."
Toshiro's went slow seething in anger "Dante…"
Dante burst into laughter "Calm down Toshiro. I called Nero a kid as well and he's only an inch or two shorter than me."
Toshiro didn't soften his glare. Dante continued to laugh at the aggravation of nephew. Only a few seconds later, Toshiro's glare softened and turned into a mischievous grin.
Toshiro then spoke slowly "Anything you say… Old man."
Dante stopped laughing and glared at Toshiro "Hey!"
"What?" Toshiro's smirk grew "You're way older than me… uncle Dante"
Dante didn't respond. He only gave a "Tch" as he looked away, leaning back into his chair and planting his legs onto the desk yet again. Toshiro started to laugh. Seconds later into Toshiro's laughing, Dante gave a small grin, though he made sure to hide it from his nephew.
Seconds after the banter stopped, two sets of footsteps could be heard behind the door. Dante and Toshiro turned towards the door, and shortly they heard a voice call out the formers name. The doors slid opened, revealing Momo and Toshiro's busty bombshell of a lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto.
Momo shouted as she entered the room "Dante! Let's play a -" She stopped as she saw Toshiro in the room "Oh Shiro-Chan! I didn't know you were here."
Toshiro swiveled his wheel chair into the direction of the door, he looked annoyed as he replied with
"It's Hitsugaya –Taichou, bed wetter Momo."
Momo huffed, but did so without any main resentment. It was simple banter between them. Toshiro then looked Matsumoto and stared at her, with interrogating eyes. Matsumoto began to sweat As Toshiro glared at her accusingly.
Matsumoto began to stutter on her words as she spoke "D-don't worry Taichou! I-I got the p-paperwork done!" Rangiku grabbed Momo and placed the short girl in front of her "Momo helped me since it was her day off. We got through it together."
Toshiro continued to glare at her but moments later, much to his lieutenant's relief, it softened. He swiveled his wheel chair back to Dante and began to speak
"I have to get back to the office. Can we talk more about this later?"
Dante only nodded at his nephew, a small grin on his face as he looked towards his fellow captain. Toshiro found himself smirking as well. Toshiro then swiveled his wheel chair back towards the door. Momo and Rangiku made way for him as he left the room and continued to push the wheel chair down the hall.
Rangiku closed the Door and Momo and walked towards her captain. For some reason she seemed rather nervous.
Momo asked Dante "What was Toshiro here for?"
"Just to talk."
"About What?"
"Personal stuff" Dante watched as Momo looked dejected at his answer. "You worried that we might have been talking about you?"
Momo was caught off guard "Wha-?"
"Well, are you?"
"Umm" Momo looked away unable to answer.
Dante sighed as he spoke "Momo let me tell you right now, what we were talking about had nothing to do with you. It was about something else that was on Toshiro's mind."
Momo looked back at her captain "Are you sure?"
Dante smiled "Do you think I'm lying?"
Momo shook her head. The look of worry started to melt from her face and was replaced by one of relief. Dante gave a small grin as he put his hands behind his head started to speak.
"So why did you decide to bring a friend along?"
Momo then quickly recomposed herself. She then reached into her Shihakushō and pulled out something before walking closer to desk. Suddenly she slammed the object onto desk and lifted her hands from it, revealing a deck of cards.
Momo then shouted energetically "Let's play cards!"
Dante looked down to the deck before looking back up at Momo. He stared at her, scrutinizing every detail of her face. The stare was just as serious as the one that Toshiro gave Matsumoto before she left. However unlike Matsumoto, Momo didn't flinch.
Dante then sighed as he asked "All right, what's the deal this time?"
"What makes you think that there is a deal?"
"Momo…"
Momo started to chuckle "All right, we're having some problems at the SWA."
"What do you mean?"
"President Yachiru used all the money for sweets again."
"And you came to me why?"
Rangiku decided to respond this time "Well, we did a certain activity to raise money in the past. We took pictures of famous Shinigami. It worked so well last time; we decided that we could try it again."
"What's the catch?"
"What makes you think that there is one?" Rangiku froze when Dante stared at her "Well the best sellers were when the targets showed a little skin… so …"
"So you want me to model in something like a male fitness magazine." Dante took the silence from Rangiku as conformation. He then turned to Momo giving a deadpanned stare "Really?"
Momo smiled "Well that's only if you lose. If you win, I'll do your paper work for next month."
Dante's grunted at Momo's offer. Of course she was bringing out the big guns. She knew that he couldn't say no at that offer.
He quickly shook his head and he turned towards Rangiku before asking "Is she playing?"
"Yep."
"Well what is she going to do if I win?"
Rangiku gave a small wink as she decided to chime in "Well what do you want?" However she was then quickly off put when she saw a devilish smile from Dante.
Dante then turned back to Momo "All right, if you two win, Ill model. But if I win" He pointed at Momo "You'll do the paperwork," Then he pointed to Rangiku "And you'll give me your stash of booze."
Rangiku's eyes almost bulged out of her head when she heard that, but before she could say anything Momo slapped her hand on the desk and shouted
"Deal!"
Dante closed his eyes and sighed. This was probably going to backfire on him, but the rewards were too good to pass up. He silently cursed his gambling problem.
Dante opened his eyes and spoke "Well take a seat." The two quickly pulled up a chair in front of Dante's desk. Dante then planted his feet back on the ground and leaned forward towards the two. He looked to Rangiku and motioned her to the cards "Deal"
Rangiku nodded and shuffled the deck, and threw a hand of 5 cards to each player. Dante picked them up and smiled. It was a good hand. Maybe he would was actually win this time.
"All right" Dante stared at the two giving his best poker smile "Lets Rock!"
Time for a long ass authors note.
It's been close to 5 months since I've updated this story. I've been writing this chapter on and off during the past few months due to: a) Working on another story titled Blackwatch (Which I updated the same time I've updated this story) and b) Lack of interest.
This was a pain to write due to how much is here. When starting to write this, I felt bad about breaking it from the last chapter because it seemed like it was going to be short. Then it turned out to be even longer than the previous chapter at over 8,000 words (20 pages). This made me have an epiphany.
These chapters are getting longer and longer. The chapter I just posted for my other story Blackwatch was topped off at over 10,000 words (around 25 pages). I wasn't really used to writing that much (In fact I never thought I could do it), so that made me feel like they were too long. But after going through these chapters, I realize that they go by rather quickly, and I'm liking a slower pace.
So expect long chapters. I'll refrain from giving you a 90 page chapter, but these chapters will start to be rather wordy.
Till next time.
