A/N: Hey guys! Two weeks in a row! Woot! Alright so this fiction is probably on its last legs, I'm trying to finish this one up as I've been working on this and its precursor for a very, very long time and I'm just… ready to be done with them, not that I haven't loved them but it's been what… three years? Four? Something like that and I just need to finish them up. Maybe then I'll go back and start spiffing up some of my old fics, or maybe I'll put out some more of my really long thing for my take on the entire timeline… *shrugs*

Disclaimer: I still don't own this after four years, not that I've been trying very hard but… meh

I'm Sorry

Nero looked between his partner and the monstrosity that sat before him. His hunting companion seemed pretty lost in thought, probably considering the fact that his family was causing problems for everyone again. Dante had a tendency to get wrapped up in the whole self pity thing from time to time. Usually all it took to snap him out though was sorting through the mess that his father had made for them this time. Often easier said than done… the partial devil sighed and turned back to what had become of Agnus. He'd never like the man, him turning into a demon wasn't helping any of that opinion.

"Think he's got any other useful info?" he said, lifting a single claw. Enjoying how the scientist gave a semblance of a squeak and probably just pissed himself. The half devil looked over to his partner and then to the demon before them.

"Probably not reliably. When it comes to my father, I'm probably one of the best sources still alive." Nero was sure that no one else would've caught the snag in Dante's voice as he said this. He was thinking of his brother again, poor bastard.

"Well then." Nero shifted his weight and Agnus shrieked, attempting to roll over and flee but couldn't seem to manage the task. At least, not before Nero's devil bringer snapped forward, the searing hot encasing of Ifrit still active as it snapped clean through the demon's carapace and into its chest cavity. Nero huffed afterward, his demonic blood was singing, both from the fight with Dante and the act of taking down another lower demon, but his more human half felt fairly disgusted, shaking off the filth from his claws. Dante shook his head, seeming a little more lost now, whether to his instincts or to his thoughts the partial devil couldn't tell but he stepped forward, sliding a hand through his lover's stained hair, his own devil trigger melting away as his heart settled slightly.

"It's going to be okay. I don't blame you." he said softly. The other man heaved a breath and looked into eyes that were a stormy reflection of his own.

"I know. It's just… if it wasn't for…"

"You aren't to blame for the sins of your father." Nero reminded him gently, pressing their foreheads together, completely ignoring the gore that coated the both of them. "Now are you going to help me clean up his mess." Dante laughed lightly and kissed the other hunter's nose.

"I suppose, we should really track him down in the afterlife and charge him for the cleaning service though."

"Yeah no kidding, the man doesn't even have the decency to be able to come back to life to clean up his own mess." Nero rolled his eyes "The gall." Dante sighed again and twitched his fingers, Rebellion flying into his hand. He leaned his head back.

"I need a couple minutes of a breather though. You only punched me through the chest more than once you know." Nero chuckled and turned around so his own back was facing the wall as well

"Alright, hey, I am sorry about that."

"Don't sweat it. I'm just getting too old to be stabbed through the chest every chance I get." Nero rolled his eyes again.

"Right, cause you're sooo much older than I am."

"Hey three months is a long time you know!"

"Shut up and close your eyes, I'll keep watch for twenty."

-Time Slip-

Dante opened his eyes, feeling much better than he had before and found Nero sitting next to him, a book opened in his lap.

"What'cha reading?" he asked, and then cleared his throat as the words came out funny. Nero started slightly and looked over at him and smiled.

"Just some of Agnus' old notes, guy was definitely a mad scientist. They were sure that if they built the proper body that they'd be able to resurrect your father into it."

"Is that what they're attempting?" the half devil snorted. "Cause that's gonna work out real well for them. People have been after the old man's power for years, never have I heard of someone trying to resurrect him into a new body."

"Still. They have some powerful devil arms on their side, they may not resurrect your father, or even his power but they may get something nasty going." Dante nodded.

"Yeah, whelp, what are we waiting for, let's get going." he rolled onto his feet and gave Nero a lift, who greatly appreciated it.

"Speaking of devil arms." the partial devil said "I thought we agreed that I could have the next one." Dante pulled Yamato to his hand, looking at the ancient katana.

"This was my brother's." he said and Nero blinked at the blade

"That's the one?" he asked and Dante nodded

"I'm sorry."

A/N: Okay so this is kinda a short chapter and a bunch of filler but I just need to keep moving on what I'm typing tonight so… yeah this is what you get?

Till next time,

-Winged Element