Chapter 12

The first thing Nero thought while staring at Kyrie's lifeless body was how utterly stupid and idiotic she was. She left. She was going to miss watching him rebuild Fortuna. She wasn't going to be around to hear Nero complain when someone bothered him. Meaningless, trivial things like how much his quadriceps hurt or how humid the day was. Nero clutched her tighter and fell to his knees. He howled, long and agonizing. Kyrie's passing was real, not some nightmare his subconscious conjured up. He remained here while she was... where?

"Kyrie?" Nero's shaky voice sounded lost and bereft, even to his own ears. Tears were washing out her image and Nero forced them away with a swipe of his hand. He couldn't bear not to see her. He tentatively shook her shoulders, as if she'd break if he pushed further like in his nightmare in the cave.

She remained unmoving. Nero stilled like a granite statue, glaring at Kyrie. With mechanical precision, he carefully lay her on the ground. He hollowly backed up in his crouching form, unable to draw his gaze away. The dagger still in his hand, he felt its heaviness.

His eyes did close when his fury unshackled. He struck the ground with the blade, sparks flying as metal scraped stone. Excruciating screams ripped from his throat. Nero struck again and again, willing the damn thing to shatter, to rid of it from his sight. It didn't, though, and Nero threw it to the side, his chest heaving. He resorted to his Devil Bringer and smashed it down. Sharp pain radiated up his arm with each pummel. The stone splintered under the force of his blows. Kyrie's admonishment yesterday about bringing down the walls waved through his memory and he screamed again. She couldn't joke with him anymore.

"Nero."

It wasn't the voice Nero wanted to hear, especially coming from behind him. "What do you want?" He clenched his jaw tightly.

Dante's query was soft. "What happened?"

"Nothing! Absolutely fucking nothing!" Nero shouted and leapt to his feet. He spun around to glare at Dante. Sympathy streaked Dante's face which infuriated Nero. Who was he to feel pity for him? Nero's anger propelled him to swing a fist at Dante's serious face, the expression Nero rarely saw from him. Shock coursed through Nero when his balled fist connected painfully with Dante's cheek.

The loud crack unbalanced him, but he didn't retaliate. Dante guided his gloved hand to nurse the blow but he remained silent. He could have easily dodged it, Nero understood. The fact upped Nero's hostility.

When Dante spoke, he still wasn't grinning like a fool, like he always did. His eyes were just so grave. "Feel better?"

Nero hung his head. He knew knocking Dante out wouldn't. He knew causing pain to himself wouldn't.

A light vibrating noise lifted it. The discarded dagger was shifting and rattling slightly, like a tremulous silver spoon on a teacup saucer carried by a waiter. A familiar melody danced in the air. Nero recognized the notes as the ones the weapon crooned when Kyrie had taken it in her possession. The song stopped, then after a lengthy silence, it began again, the notes higher. Maybe it was Nero's grief driving him mad, but the speed and frequency sounded insistent.

Kyrie uttered a murmur, short, but unmistakably it was sound coming from her. Nero scrambled over before he knew it, hope widening his bleary eyes. Impulsively, Nero rocked her shoulders roughly. A tiny grunt escaped Kyrie's lips as she struggled to open her eyes. She seemed to lack the ability. Her body thrashed as if she were suffocating underwater. Her hoarse voice echoed the first few notes of the melody and stopped when she couldn't find the strength to continue.

"Sing for me," Nero found himself whispering. At the notion he might be being played with by some cruel supernatural entity, he burst angrily, "Finish it!"

Wobbly notes emerged from Kyrie's throat as she struggled again. She faltered and strained for air to complete the entire song. She began again.

When she reached the last note, the dagger ceased movement. Black smoke plumed from it, dissolving it. The inky cloud blew away. The dagger was gone.

Nero stared wide-eyed at the movement in front of him. Shock. He was in it. Or in a dream. He was asleep, that must be it. This is a nightmare of a beautiful illusion. She wasn't real.

Kyrie's eyes fluttered, then slid open. She sat up with renewed energy. She looked around as if seeing everything for the first time.

Nero jerked back, cautious. The mirage of Kyrie turned her face towards him. She watched him blankly. Nero's stomach dipped.

Kyrie smiled in relief and gratitude. Her real arms clamped around his neck. She wasn't turning to stone. She was flesh, warmth and breath. Her heartbeat was not a lie.

Then she spoke and Nero knew she was here.

"I always knew you were the impatient one. All you had to do was wait." Kyrie laughed once again.

Nero held on tightly.

-- THE END --

Author's note: That's it folks! It's over! I had quite a ride writing this story. Do drop a review and let me know what you think of the story if you're reading this far down in the chapter. ^_^