AUTHOR'S NOTE: I personally enjoyed typing this chapter. It was an absolute treat! Hope you guys like it.

Reason 9: Love

Modeus spent the majority of the day with Patty. Her crying though had only made him sadder. He'd been in a dark mood ever since he had left Dante in his demon form that night. He knew something between him and the devil hunter was inevitably going to change. Both of them knew the truth now. If Modeus lost control it would spell disaster for anyone who had incited his wraith. This put him on edge as it was and he wondered what would happen now.

The night Modeus had left he had not known where to go. He had gone to Baul's grave and just stayed there for a time. Gazing down at the swords of his brother he had sunk so deeply into the Earth. When that nasty little demon had come along, whose name Modeus had learned was Sid, the demon lord had not been expecting him. In the early morning just as the sun was rising, he had just been leaving. It had been only a few hours after Dante had slain Baul.

Sid had come creeping along towards the gravesite. Modeus had not been alarmed at first. He often saw small, weak demons lurking about. Some of them simply wished to live in peace within the human realm. One named Bradley, whom Modeus had become close friends with, had even fallen in love a human female. Just as he had turned his back he heard a rustling in the bushes. The sound of shifting of dirt had drawn the demon out of his sorrow. He had spun on Sid then, just in time to see him drawing one of Baul's swords.

"Put that down!" Modeus had yelled at him. He had been on Sid in an instant. Reaching out with his hand as it transformed into claws. He had slashed the demon's face in a fury. Still hurt over the loss of his twin. Tearing at him with a roar as he cut and slashed until the weaker demon was ribbons-until the body no longer twitched or a breath passed Sid's lips.

Modeus had taken the body down to the river then. He buried it atop a hill. Not really doing it out of respect, but so Dante would not find it. Oh, how much had been divided about the devil hunter at that time. How much he had wished to drag him down and kill him. As Modeus went his way down to the river to wash the blood off himself he had remembered Eva. Oh, the promise he had made her so long ago.

When Modeus had first met Eva it had just been confirmed she was pregnant. At the time Sparda had been on high alert, always shadowing her wherever she went. Not even put off when Eva would, annoyed with what she called his "crazy antics", would wave a gun in his face. One of her modified 1911 Colt Pistols she was always threatening to shoot him with. Sparda, being partially a gentleman, would humor her by backing away. Only to follow her afar, and thus repeating the process all over again.

"No, no, and no again! I'm not having it! You need to stop this nonsense before I lose my mind!" Eva had yelled at him. It had been almost thirty years ago to the day. Sparda had summoned Modeus only a few months previous. When the demon lord had walked in he had seen his old mentor attempting to soothe the woman.

"Sweet heart, please, it's for your own safety." Sparda was saying to her. In his human form Sparda struck an elegant figure. Dressed in his purple coat and slacks, a monocle in his eye, gave him a scholarly air. His mentor looked the perfect picture of royalty, but right now he seemed haggard from attempting to deal with his human love.

"Sparda, for the last time, no. It's always about what you want and what you feel is best for me. And do NOT use the 'I'm older and wiser than you so you have to listen to me' line, either. I don't care if you're a year old or five thousand years old. You're not carrying this baby for nine months, now are you?" Eva said to him. Sparda sighed, pushing a hand through his white hair. His monocle dangled from the collar of his shirt now. He had even discarded his coat and carelessly flung it to the floor. Modeus silently picked the coat up and smoothed it out. Hanging it on a hook as he quietly slipped into the room, not wanting to be instrusive.

"I'm aware of that. And I know you don't like me interfering with your freedom. I respect that you're independent…" Sparda stated to her gently. Attempting to act the diplomat and failing miserably.

"But there's no getting around it. Our child is going to be born a half breed. Common demons go nuts when they hear a half breed is going to be born. They'll do anything to get at you and the baby. I just want to make sure you're safe." Sparda pleaded with her. Modeus could see his mentor was struggling not to lose his composure. He had heard the rumors Sparda had become smitten with a human woman, but had never believed it until now. He stood silently by the door. His hands clasped behind his back as he watched them argue back and forth.

"Which is why I'll have my guns with me. And I know you've been following me. I saw you trailing me earlier in the market place. When I told you to leave me alone you sent your henchmen, didn't you?"

"You act as if what I did is a bad thing."

"They followed me into the bathroom, Sparda."

"I admit, that was unfortunate. You must forgive him for that. He was simply following my orders. Was it necessary to punish him though, my dear?"

"All I did was shoot him in the foot."

"Eva…"

"He broke into the bathroom to get to me. I don't care if it's you. Unless I'm literally bleeding out on the floor, don't bug me when I'm in the bathroom." Eva challenged him. Sparda frowned at her, but he didn't show his agitation. It was then the couple noticed Modeus standing in the room watching them. Sparda let out a heavy breath as he turned to his student and waved for him to come forward.

"Another henchmen?" Eva asked. Sparda shot her a sharp look, but Modeus only smiled to her politely. He gave her a slight bow in greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Eva. I'm a student of Sparda's actually. I trained under him a long time ago. I hope you and the little one are doing well." Modeus said politely. At the time no one had known Eva had been carrying twins.

"I think the baby is the size of a bean at this point, but thank you. At least you're not like the last one who kept shooting me nasty glares. Sparda, why can't they all have nice manners like this one does?"

"Eva, for the love of-"

"What's your name, pretty boy?" Eva said cutting her husband off. Modeus couldn't help the smile. He could tell she was making Sparda frustrated for her own amusement. No wonder his mentor was mad for her.

"Modeus Aisengard, should the information please you." Modeus answered politely. He glanced at Sparda who had crossed his arms and was glaring at his wife. Quickly letting his composure fly into the wind.

"At least you're civilized."

"Eva, you say Modeus is civilized, but you lose your manners with me." Sparda accused her. Eva only gave him a shit eating grin as she flipped her long, golden hair over her shoulder. She was gorgeous in her red dress and black high heels. There was a fire about her Modeus liked right away.

"That's because we live and sleep together, honey. And you can't be the big badass with me like you are with your cronies. No offense, Modeus." Eva said to him. Modeus only nodded politely unsure of what to do. Sparda sighed, going to sit down behind his giant oak desk. He poured himself some scotch from a silver decanter as Eva leaned on the edge of it. She herself drank some sparkling cider as Sparda offered a glass to Modeus.

"A drink?" The demon lord asked. Modeus smiled, and accepted it politely as he took the glass. Taking a sip of scotch as he wondered what Baul was up to at the moment.

"I'll be quick about this. Eva, since you keep complaining, I've decided to have Modeus be your personal bodyguard. And before you harass me, woman, let me explain first." Sparda said sharply. Eva raised an eyebrow at him at his sharp tone. She put down her glass of cider and walked around. Modeus watched amazed as Eva began to pick at Sparda's hair. Messing up his slicked back silver locks without any hesitation or fear. Sparda's frown deepened, but he didn't react as Eva began to push it up into spikes.

"Modeus is a highly trusted student of mine. He trained underneath me for quite a while, and fits all the criteria you have set for a personal bodyguard." Sparda explained. Modeus was trying not to laugh as Eva only hummed to show she was listening. Pushing Sparda's hair up now with obvious delight so now it looked as if the demon king had just woken up from bed. He didn't know whether he should look at her or his mentor.

"He fits all of them?" Eva asked. She started taking Sparda's bangs and pushing them off to the side. She acted as if she were a sculptor working on a masterpiece. She could see the corner of her husband's eye twitching, but she persisted.

"Yes. I made quite sure of that. Modeus is polite, intelligent, and he also has a love of literature. He's studied human history extensively and also many of the cultures."

"Does he like men? I can't imagine any queer demons actually exist."

"I used to court Sparda all the time, Lady Eva." Modeus stated smoothly. Sparda had requested him to admit this fact to his wife the first thing they met. At his words Eva stopped in spiking up her husband's hair. A wrinkle appearing in her brow as she took a new interest in the strange demon her husband had invited to his office.

"You're serious?" She asked him. Sparda adopted a smug look at the fact. Modeus felt a bit on edge, but he was more than comfortable to admit it to this woman. He actually liked Lady Eva already.

"Quite serious, my lady. I would hound Sparda to no end until he became my mentor. Even then I did not stop. I have a preference for men, and I imagine that's why he would trust me to be your shadow." Modeus said to her. Sparda was nodding now. His shoulders losing their tension as he reached up to smooth his hair back into place. Not commenting on how his wife had messed it up.

"I also had another idea, Eva. Modeus's expansive knowledge could be quite useful for the child later. I was thinking…" Sparda said and this time he hesitated. Eva sat on the edge of his chair and gazed down at him.

"Yes?"

"Modeus agreed to educate our child. I felt it best for the future they have a private tutor."

"You're serious?"

"Eva, we have to be realistic. I love you. And I want you to be happy. I want our child to be happy. I also want them to live to see adulthood." Sparda said as he turned to face her now. Modeus felt as if he were invisible. They seemed to have completely forgotten he was there.

"So you come up with this?! I mean…no offense, Modeus, but Sparda, this is drastic!"

"I know it is! But…Eva, you know the risks. We both do. Our child would be in constant danger. Modeus is strong. He's a demon lord such like myself, which is why I agreed to train him in the first place." Sparda explained. His tone had softened now, but it had an urgent ring to it. He was now the concerned father and not the strong ruler Modeus knew him to be.

"I know but…is this really the answer? Do you really want to isolate our baby?" Eva asked him quietly. She put a hand to her stomach where the small life grew. Modeus felt truly sorry for her. To be the mother of a half breed as seen as curse. Blasphemy, even, among his people. Sparda stood up then and with kind tenderness took her into his arms. Hugging her tightly as he rested his chin on top of her head. Modeus looked off the side wanting to give them at least a little bit of privacy.

"I'm not going to isolate the child, Eva. You know that. He can play with other children. Live a normal life, but this way he can at least survive. When he can defend himself properly when he gets older he can live whatever life he wishes. You said it yourself you wanted him to have a good education from the demon and human side of things. Well…" Sparda said and waved at Modeus again.

"This is the first step! Modeus looks kindly upon humans. He is strong enough to protect you. He is loyal to me, kind, and above all I believe someone you can get along with long term. One day he may even be seen as a mentor and teacher to our child." Sparda explained. Eva sighed, pushing a lock of golden hair out of her face. She glanced at Modeus again who just bowed his head kindly to her.

"Fine. But why now? Aren't you going to be with me to see the baby grow?" Eva asked him. She teased him by plucking at his monocle. This time, Sparda's expression did not change. If anything it became grave. It wiped the smile off Eva's face slowly, as she realized what was about to be said.

"Sparda? You're going to be here for me and the baby, right?"

"I'm going to do my best, love. But…"

"But what? What's wrong?"

"I'm going to war."