AUTHOR'S NOTE: It's been a while, hasn't it guys? Sorry about the huge delay. Work got to me and Reasons to Live kind of slid down to the back of my mind. I've been trying to make room in my schedule to spend some more time writing fan fiction. I woke up really sick today, and it's not fun.

Reason 13: Search for a Purpose

Modeus tracked the scent all day. It felt strange to be doing this. To once again be on the hunt. He had not done this for nearly two thousand years. Once it had been him and Baul. In their demon forms as they traversed the hostile world of the demon realm. Going to take care of some adversary who had dared to cross their borders, or protecting those demons who were under their care. The demon lord let himself fall into his old ways. Keeping it check long enough to avoid people on the sidewalk. Keeping his head bowed the entire time as he made his way through the city.

Modeus came to the edge of the city, but the scent still continued on down the road. At one point Vergil had stopped for a bite to eat in a small café. He'd had coffee, a sandwich, and then had got into a car to continue driving. Modeus simply followed the scent out onto the open road. Disappearing into the tree line as he started to run. Another reason why he needed to be in his demon form. He could traverse long distances without ever getting winded. Even the weakest of demons could run a hundred miles at fifty miles an hour without breaking a sweat. For one as powerful as Modeus, it was a simple task.

When night fell he still didn't turn back towards the city. He knew if Dante returned to find him gone, the devil hunter may take it as a sign he had abandoned him. This Modeus could not concern himself with. He had lost Vergil once, and damn him if he was going to lose him again. He kept on going. The scent growing stronger as he ran. When the second day dawned on his journey Modeus was still going strong. He finally came upon a small town where Vergil's scent seemed to be the strongest.

Modeus circled the outskirts. Once he had a line on Vergil's scent again he took to the rooftops. Moving soundlessly over them. Overhead, no one would hear anything more than a creak at most. His cloak whispered around him as he finally found what he was looking for. A small, cheap motel set back from the main road. Modeus jumped down and approached it. Hiding in the shadows as the sun rose. As he walked up he caught sight of what he was looking for in the window.

It was Vergil. The young man was awake. There were a pile of old tomes on the desk beside him. As always, the half breed was immaculate. His blue coat hung on the back of his chair as Vergil relaxed. Modeus's eyes flickered as he noticed an empty pizza box on the table. He grinned at the sight, and saw Vergil was slowly eating the last slice of pizza. His eyes were riveted on the book in front of him. After a few minutes he set the book down and took some notes. And then reached over to take a drink of a black, fizzy liquid in a wine glass. It took Modeus a few seconds to realize it was soda. He nearly died laughing at the sight.

Modeus stood up so he was framed in the window. He watched Vergil for a few more minutes. The half breed finished his slice of pizza, but not once did he look up from the book he was reading. When he raised his wine glass again Modeus rapped his knuckles on the glass loudly. Vergil jerked his head around, spilling half the contents of his glass on the front of his shirt. When the young man saw who it was Modeus heard the man cursing. He only smirked at the half breed as Vergil carefully set the glass aside. Careful not to get his book wet as he placed it back on the table. No doubt memorizing the page number as he stood up and came to the window. A second later the window was open, and Modeus stepped in.

"I thought you didn't eat that crap." Modeus said pointing at the damning evidence. Vergil just glared at him, to pissed Modeus had made him spill soda on himself. He went into the small bathroom and grabbed a towel. Patting his shirt dry in hopes of saving it from becoming stained.

"I don't eat it all the time. Dante is the one who lives and breathes it. He worships pizza."

"Does he now?"

"Yes, that's why he's so tired all the time. He doesn't eat right. In five years he's going to be fat, and the only way he'll be able to slay demons is if he rolls over them." Vergil hissed at the demon. He said another expletive as he threw the towel into the corner of the room.

"You ruined my shirt. That was the last one I had."

"Strange, for someone who always thinks ahead I assumed you would have extra shirts." Modeus stated. He sat down in the seat Vergil had exited. He waved his hand and the spilled soda vanished. Modeus reached over and plucked up the wine glass. His claws clinking on it as he took a drink.

"Dr. Pepper?"

"Coke."

"Ah, aren't you classy."

"Shut up."

Modeus smirked at him again as Vergil walked into the bathroom. He heard the faucet running and knew Vergil was still attempting to save his shirt. Modeus stayed in his seat. Rather comfortable with the situation as he finished off the soda. Next, he ate the remnants of the last slice of pizza. Tossing the plate expertly onto the empty pizza box. There had only really been a crust and a few bites left of it anyway. When Vergil came back he was shirtless. Carrying his now wet shirt in his hands as he retrieved a hangar from the closet. He put it on the hangar and hung his shirt over the radiator to dry. He then turned to glare at Modeus who was calmly studying the books Vergil had been reading.

"I never thought you would track me all the way out here."

"Call it intuition. After you appeared last night I got worried about you."

"What does Dante think about you coming after me? Did he send you?"

"Dante has no idea I'm here. He and I got into an argument a few hours after you left. He went out on a drive to calm his nerves, and I decided to come after you to calm mine." Modeus answered.

Modeus knew how Vergil was. The boy wanted power, and unlike Dante welcomed his demon side. Another reason Modeus had chosen to come to Vergil in his demon form. The boy would respond better to him if he did. Vergil, the demon knew, could perhaps be reasoned with more than Dante could. Vergil was at least willing to hear someone out before he made a call. At least, that was what the demon was banking on for the time being.

Vergil frowned, but he was regaining his composure now. He went over and took the glass from the desk. He walked over to a small fridge and opened it. Taking out a can of soda and refilling his drink. He then poured another one for Modeus and handed him his glass. Smiling, the demon took it.

"I still can't get over the fact this is how you drink soda. Of all the things I expected to know about you, this is the last one."

"Dante used to do the same thing. I don't know why he stopped, but then again he never liked soda to begin with. He complained it tasted weird." Vergil responded. It was such a normal thing to say Modeus was tempted to laugh. Instead, he settled for taking a sip of the soda again. Watching the young man who leaned against the table. Drinking his own soda as if it was the finest wine to be found in existence.

"I came to ask you what you meant about someone wanting me killed. And to offer my help, since you did come all that way to ask for it." Modeus stated bluntly. He saw the flicker in Vergil's eyes, but his expression darkened.

"You have no idea, do you? Someone as old as you and you don't even know about the ritual."

"What ritual?"

"Here, let me show you. I found it a while ago. Another demon, Sid I think his name was, found it before I did. He was in the process gathering the ingredients until you decided you weren't going to kill for Baul. I don't think Sid was counting on that." Vergil explained.

When Modeus continued to gaze at him confused the half breed moved forward. He picked up the book he had been reading and flipped it to a page. He then set it down and pointed at the ancient script. Letting Modeus read it for himself.

"See, right here. I did a bit of an investigation and it seemed Baul wanting to challenge Dante wasn't completely out of the blue. Sid started whispering into his ear to put the idea into his head. He knew Dante would kill Baul without a backwards glance."

"Wait, so Baul didn't do that on his own?"

"No. He was tricked into doing it."

"I don't understand. Why would Sid need Baul dead? I never…" Modeus looked to where Vergil's finger was pointing. He frowned, and read the ritual. When his eyes reached the ingredients he froze. Mouthing the words quietly as it began to sink in. His hands began to shake. Modeus dropped the book on the desk as if it had burnt him. Taking a deep, shaky breath as the implication of what had truly transpired took over him.

"No. NO! He can't have died for something so stupid! This could have never happened!"

"It's true, Modeus. He wanted-"

"NO!"

"HEY! Look, what you're reading is true. Your skull, and Baul's skull are required to summon the demon Abigail. Sid was going to do the ritual and absorb Abigail's power for his own. But you broke his plans. You chose not to avenge Baul's death. Instead, he went to my brother's agency and, for whatever reason in hell, decided to live with him." Vergil stated in a scornful tone.

Modeus felt as if he were falling. For a moment, all he could see was Baul again. He had pursued his brother to the park. The splash of the water beneath his feet as he chased after his brother. He had lost sight of Baul for only a few minutes. Five at most.

Baul isn't stupid. He knows better than this! He always has, he'll wait for me. He always waits for me. We do everything together. Baul is my brother. We're twins. One can't live without the other. He'll wait for me. He won't…Modeus had continued to say this to himself in his head. His breathing coming ragged gasps as he ran into the park.

He caught sight of Baul for an instant. For a split second Modeus felt a surge of joy. He imagined Baul turning to him. Cursing him out for following him so far out here. Telling him they would go back home. Back to their own place to drink, talk, argue, and generally just be brothers again. Only, Baul didn't turn around. Dante raising his sword. Bringing it down in one fell swoop to kill the demon. Stepping back with a look of grim triumph in his face. Modeus crashing forward. A scream in his throat as he fell to his knees beside his brother's body. Reaching out to shake him. Begging Baul to come back.

Come back, come back! Please, brother, don't leave me alone like this! We're twins, we've been through everything together! You would never leave me! You promised me you wouldn't. Didn't you once say I was your only reason for living? Baul, please, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'M SORRY!

Modeus hated the tears he shed now. His vision became blurred as he murmured something. Vergil didn't seem to notice. He drew his sword, Yamato, and held it to the demon's throat. Modeus turned to look at him. Astonished he was doing such a thing. He felt the cold blade against his pulse. Vergil was skilled with the sword. He knew exactly where to cut so there would be no pain.

Modeus closed his eyes. He barely moved, but he felt Yamato's razor edge against his throat. It bit into the skin easily drawing up a well of hot red blood. He could hear the whisper of the blade against his hair, like the embrace of a lover. The drip of his blood as it ran down the edge of the blade, hit the hilt, and then dripped onto the floor.

"I'm sorry."