Chapter Nine: New Powers

Later, the two teens backtracked all the way to the outskirts of the city. Misa had her jacket over her ripped tanktop--a reminder of whose's ass she would have to beat later and at the pain on her back. Nero walked beside only to stop, looking around. The new area they now stood in was a sunlit forest that ressembled a tropical rainforest. The dark-haired girl scratched her cheek. ''This is getting ridiculous...from hot to cold and now this bullshit.." The white-haired man nodded. "Yeah...a forest?" They both looked down from the cliff. The teen's heightened senses perked up once they felt the presense of someone behind them. Both turned, looking around and spotted the man in red--now known as Dante--looking over the cliff at the forest below.

"What the hell is this?" He said aloud. The older man held his chin, stroking the light beard on his face. "Must be the effect of the gate..." Dante looked at Nero and Misa who had both pulled out their guns, pointing them at him and ready to pull the trigger. He turned to them then held up his arms. "Sorry, kids, this is gonna have to wait." He winked at Misa and walked backwards off the cliff as the two teens rushed to the edge to see him falling down with his arms outstretched. Misa put her shotgun back into the holster on her back, Nero doing the same and stood up.

"How much could he really know?"

--

Inside the Holy Order Headquarters, Knights sat at a round table with Sanctus at the center. The lighting was slightly dim but enough light to see. The newly revived priest had a tired look on his face as he listened to Credo's report. "...and that's the situation so far." The dark-haired man sat back down beside the old man, a look of uncertainty on his face. He thought about his dear, young bride but this was short-lived. The door slammed open as Agnus walked inside angrily. "Credo!'' He yelled, pointing at him. "You knew it all along!'' The Holy Order leader stood up fast. He tried not to reach for his sword at his side. "How dare you raise your voice in the presence of His Holiness!"

"That arrogant kid possesses d-d-d-d-demonic power!" The creepy scientist told Credo. "And your little bride--His Holiness's daughter--has the markings of various b-b-breeds of demons!" The dark-haired man couldn't believe what he just heard. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Absurd," he said as he looked to the side some.

"Absurd?! Don't play me for a fool. Is that boy not your subordinate? That girl your precious bride?" Agnus asked him angrily. "He resurrected Yamato! It's your fault! It's your responsibility! It-t-t-t-t..."

"Credo." The two bickering men looked to Sanctus who looked like he was staring off into the distance. "Yes, Your Holiness?" "Can you apprehend those two?" He asked in a seemingly tired voice. Credo looked at the priest then nodded some. "If that is your wish...though who will then track Dante?''

"I will find Dante,'' Gloria said as she stood from the table in all her erotic glory. "You can guarantee his capture then?" She nodded. "Absolutely." The dark-skinned woman turned and started to walk away until she turned and bowed. "It's good to see Your Holiness has recovered." That said, she left. Credo watched her leave then looked back at Sanctus. "Is she reliable?" He asked. "She once brought to us the sword 'Sparda' and hastened the completion of our Savior."

"But she remains almost a stranger to us all..."

"Which will only concern us should a situation arise. As for her identity, I have already investigated...Now Credo,'' the priest patted Credo's gloved hand on the table, "find us Nero, Yamato, and my dear daughter and bring them back to me." The dark-haired man nodded and bowed. "As you wish, Your Holiness." He turned, walking pass Agnus who watched him walk away. The scientist moved over to Sanctus. "That menace Nero appears to be quite close to Credo's sister Kyrie and his child-bride Misa," he told the priest who looked very interested."More than once he called out their names..."

--

Back in the forest area, the two teens found another Hellgate (as Agnus explained to them). Misa held her arm as she stared at the gate. What the hell...? Why am I shaking...? She gritted her teeth, lowering her head. Nero looked at her then touched her shoulder. "Uh, Misa, you alright...?" He noticed his Devil Bringer arm began to glow. What the...? "Nero!!" The white-haired man jumped at her sudden outburst then got pushed aside by the dark-haired girl. A large worm demon flew past them, destroying two trees in the process. He stood back up only to see Misa run after the demon worm. She cracked her knuckles and grabbed onto it tightly. Green blood trickled out from where her nails dug into. She swung her free arm as she clinged to it, the demon worm trying to throw her off.

''Misa!"

The demon worm, which ressembled a flower, flied up and around the forest as Misa climbed on top of it and ran towards its head. The demon flew downwards, making the girl fall down onto her knees. She let out a guttural growl from the back of her throat and punched the demon in the head several times. The demon hissed and threw a seed at her, finally throwing her off near the Hellgate where Nero ran towards her.

"Try some seeds on for size!" The demon yelled, throwing more seeds at her. Misa cracked her knuckles again then put her arms in a X-stance and threw them open, flurescent black cresent marks flying from her hands. ''Blades of Hell!" The blades sliced the seeds open as their remains fell to the ground. Nero looked at Misa who looked wild and angry with the green blood on her fingertips. The demon worm screeched at the sight.

"My children! You bitch!"

The flower at the demon's head opened to reveal a demon woman inside. She roared, rushing at both Nero and Misa but the two jumped back. He landed on a tree while she skidded back against the ground in an crouching position. "Sorry, but having you around is more than enough,'' the white-haired man said to her. Misa cracked her knuckles again, glaring at the demon. ''So be a good demon, and get the fuck back to where you really belong." The female demon hissed at them. "Your insignificant insults have no effect on me. Though I will tear your bodies to shreds!" She screamed and flew at them. Nero grabbed hold of Red Queen from its holster. ''Come on then!" He jumped from the tree as Misa jumped back, the female demon crashing into the tree.

I hear His Holiness found the little girl on the steps of the cathedral...

Yes, in the middle of a storm, I heard...

I bet she's a demonic child! Look at her ears and eyes!

Misa growled and landed beside Nero, holding up her hands. "Fire, water, earth, air! The Four Elements combine!" She yelled. The demon woman turned to Misa then hissed. ''That spell...you can't be HER daughter can you?!" Wha..? ''Four Elemental Destruction!" Red, blue, green, and light-blue light flew at the demon, instantly binding her and shocking her. She screamed loudly. "Nero, finish the bitch now!" He nodded, taking out Blue Rose and shooting the demon several times. He then rushed at her as he unsheathed Red Queen. He jumped up, letting out a battle cry and slashed her across her chest. Nero landed behind the demon. The female demon coughed up blood then growled, flying back towards the Hellgate. The white-haired man used his Devil Bringer arm to grab her by the tail tightly.

"Don't even think about it,'' he said.

"How shameful to be beaten by humans...!" The demon struggled against his demonic arm and managed to twist out of his grip. She flew into the gate as it closed, leaving a strange fruit behind. Nero sheathed his sword and walked over to the Hellgate. He narrowed his eyes. "Hey, don't step up if you're not going to put up a decent fight!" He looked down at the fruit and picked it up. "Didn't your mom ever tell you not to litter?" His Devil Bringer arm glowed as the fruit was absorbed into his hand, sighing. Misa looked at the green blood on her fingers then gasped at her elongated nails. They looked like claws.

Shit...what if that creep was telling the truth..?

''..isa.."

What if I am..a...a half breed..?

''Mis..."

All those years of people talking about me...were they true?!

''MISA!" The dark-haired girl gasped, breaking from her trance as she stared into Nero's blue irises. "..You okay?'' he asked her. She looked away and sighed. "No...I'm usually back-up for you in fights like these but..." Nero patted her head lightly then watched her move around him and walk ahead of him. "We should get to Headquarters instead of gabbing like this," she said. The white-haired man followed after her as he looked at her back. Wasn't she in pain when we left that facility?

End of Chapter 9

Misa's changing...o.o And I paid homage to InuYasha and his Blades of Blood attack. R&R.