Hey you guys. Nice to see you all again. Sorry this chapter lacks in the action department but I want to focus on the exposition of the story. I've pretty much mapped out how I want the story from here to go as oppose to before. Now I have some things all set up with some surprises here and there ;)

So there's still small news with Devil May Cry and I'm getting edgy on waiting for more. Hopefully we get to see something big for it if it's a DMC5. Of course I don't expect another DmC since...well obviously why. I just don't want the series to end too soon.

So for DOA, I was thinking of adding the guest Virtual fighter characters into this series like DOA5U and DOA5 Last Round did, but that's still up in the air at the moment. Who knows, I might even add some small chameos from other series related to DOA or DMC as well. No one huge like Bayonetta or anything, but just small things.

Anywho that's enough talk. Let's get right into it then.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter 28:
Let it Out


MIST OFFICE
UNKNOWN LOCATION
10:32 pm

Donovan couldn't believe what he had seen. He only leaves for a few minutes, no, not even a few minutes, he leaves for a good MINUTE and A HALF, and what does he return to? Oh nothing much, just his entire office reduced to a war zone. The windows that over-looked the city were shattered; letting in a slight breeze from the outside night sky. His desk and chairs were turned over or cut in half by a sharp object. But none was more noticeable then the pungent aroma of blood that had created a toxic aura within the office.

"W-What the hell happened in here?-!" Donovan shrieked. "M-My office! What have you done to my beautiful office?-!"

"Hold your tongue, Donovan."

The thunderous, deep voice had quickly silenced the blond man, and put him in his proper, sniveling place. He turned towards the origin of that voice, and once again had to look the Demon King Mundus in the eyes to speak with him as his massive body was leaning on what was left of Donovan's office. Those damned eyes of his. He swore they could practically rip into a person's own soul and take it from them without a hassle.

"M-My apologies, M-Master...but what is the meaning of all this...destruction in my office?" Donovan said with the best held back tone of calmness to hide his inner turmoil.

"I'm glad you asked." Mundus said as he got off the remnants of a desk. "Perhaps if you'd only look towards the wall, you'd have your answer."

Donovan did as he was told to do. His stomach had almost regurgitated into his throat when he saw them; four human like beings who all seemed to have been there the entire time without the scientist even noticing their presence. Was he far too distracted by the collateral damage to sense them standing by the walls on the other side of his desk?

Each one had a unique appearance to the other, but all shared the common similarity that they were definitely not of this world.

Mundus slowly strolled across the blood-stained carpet towards the only downed individual who had taken a knee before him. He was breathing harshly with his own blood dripping from his body. And what a body it was; he was practically a giant compared to Mundus's husky frame.

This downed man had skin as grey as asphalt, wearing a black martial arts gi with the sleeves ripped off. The most striking part of this man was the glowing black armor of red veins that had fused into his grey body like a cyborg. Even so, it appeared that there was a black ooze that was leaking from those robotic parts mixed the the natural crimson blood of any other living organism.

Mundus stopped once he stood over the giant of a man. "Now why would you do something so stupid as to try and attack me?"

The grey man only breathed harshly towards the Demon King; hacking up blood all while trying to regain what little strength he could muster.

"Aw, what's the matter? Tired?" Mundus reached out to the grey-skinned man's chin and tilted it up to get a look at his pathetic face, doused in blood and bruises. "If it only took me a minute to reduce you to this, then just imagine how easy it will be for the Nephilim. And you call yourself a Knight of Hell. You disappoint me, Raidou."

Donovan's mouth immediately fell open at just how much damage had been inflicted on Raidou's armored body.

"M-Master!" Donovan blurted out. "I must ask you to please not damage my specimen anymore then you need to! It took me and my science team ages to reconstruct his physical body, so I would implore you to be...a...little..."

Donovan's words were slowly chocked out at the vicious glare that Mundus was sending his way. There it was again—that horrid glare that could kill if he wanted it to. Donovan now knew why he was called the Demon King.

"O-Or you can...j-just keep...doing..." Donovan quickly shut himself up and backed away a bit more out of the room. He hoped to just blend into the background and stay silent.

Mundus turned his attention back to Raidou. He looked into the revived warriors eyes. They were like that of a mindless zombie whose only function was to follow his first instinct.

"Look at you; you are but a mindless puppet that somehow was rewarded a place in the ranks of the Four Knights of Hell while in Death. To be brought back by a lowly human and forced to due his bidding in a desperate desire for ultimate power." He squeezed Raidou's cheeks as the past warrior groaned loudly in pain. "And then you had the gal to attack me with the the belief that you might have actually had a chance."

Without a single shred of effort, Mundus pushed Raidou's head back, and sent him tumbling across the ground, and into the wall with a hard, and loud crash. The force behind Mundus's hand was enough to put a hole into the wall where Raidou's body sat; the last bit of consciousness was lost from him and the red glowing veins had slowly died out.

"Donovan!" Mundus called towards the startled blond man. "Have your scientist revive Raidou again. He's weak, but that's something beyond anything you or your team can improve. Still, I may have use for him later."

"Y-Yes, Lord Mundus..." Victor nodded. Though on the inside he was furious towards the tyrant of a demon lord who had destroyed one of the greatest achievements to human kind. Donovan had succeed where no other human has in actually reviving a corpse back to life. He had single-handedly become God...and then he shows up, and destroys it with one hand. millions of dollars down the drain.

"Now then..." Mundus proceeded. "Despite the incompetence of one part, that doesn't mean it will keep this finely-tuned engine from continuing its course."

He strolled up to one of the other three strange looking people in the room. Naturally he approached the only woman of the four Knights of Hell; a young human-looking woman in her mid twenties with pale, creamy skin, and a voluptuous figure for a demon. Those pure purple eyes of hers were definitely out of the ordinary for a human, and what was only the icing on this weird cake were the black bird-like wings on her back. She was also taller then most Japanese woman.

Her raven hair was done with perfect straight cut bangs and cut 'hime' style locks. The rest of her side-locks were uncut and long, while tied to the side with topknot bands on the tops. The rest of her hair was worn in straight cut pigtails, and she wore geisha and oiran style hair decorations.

She wore a geisha style kimono that was worn lose to expose more cleavage, with a flame-red and black design, with the skirt and wide sleeves having Asian patterns and designs on them. She wore tabi and geta sandals.

"Nyotengu." Mundus said smoothly with a flirtatious smile on his scared, pudgy face. "The harbinger of war. It's an honor to be in the presence of a legend." He reached for her hand, and held it to his lips to bestow a gentle kiss.

Nyotengu covered her soft smirking lips with her maple leaf-shaped fan and held bedroom eyes towards the bald ruler of Hell.

"Then allow me to say that you are fortunate to gaze upon my greatness in person." She replied in perfect English. Her voice as soothing as silk. "Though it is a shame. If not for your already betrothed queen, I would not find it difficult to sit in her place.~"

"Humph. If you're referring to that gold digging, concubine whose only purpose is to be the bearer of my heir, then you are horribly mistaken." Mundus spat. "Once her use is done, I'll toss her aside like so many other whores who have failed me."

"Those whose only wretched desire is to be seen with a man of great power." Nyoutengu giggled lightly, "A curse upon women, is it not?"

"I disagree. I benefit from this curse quite nicely." Mundus said coyly. "I am sure one day you'll see it my way if you survive to fulfill my goal."

"Fufufu~ there is no doubt in my mind that all shall fall in my sight." Nyotengu smirked devilishly.

"We'll see." Mundus finished.

He turned his attention from her and directed it towards the third Knight of Hell, who took a knee towards Mundus in absolute obedience. It was the knight of black armor, a cleaving sword on his back, a worn out cape, his doctor's mask, and an old fedora on his head.

"My Lord." He said respectfully.

"Ah, Agnolo. My most trusted Knight." Mundus greeted with small praise. "Seeing you here gives me a greater vision of my future being realized."

"You flatter me too much, my Lord." Agnolo said graciously, "I am only but a weapon for you to utilize in battle. All who come within your path will be cut down by my hands instantly."

A small giggle was heard with the intention of being noticed by all in the room. Agnolo eyed Nyotengu, who could only smile wickedly towards him.

"From where I stand, you also have a second duty to Lord Mundus." She mocked, "May you require a pillow for your knees as you fulfill your Lord's wishes?"

"Are you perhaps jealous that he finds more use out of me, then from a bitch whose only power is to blow things? And I do not just mean the wind."

A nerve was struck between the two as the sudden change in temperature mixed with the powerful aura had become suffocating to Donovan's lungs that he couldn't even stand in the room anymore, and was forced to watch the scene transpire from outside his office doors.

"That's enough you two." Mundus ordered. "Save it for the Nephilim."

The two took a moment to consider their leader's words before obeying and stepping out of each other's business. Mundus could already feel the headaches setting in with these two. As he recalled Nyotengu and Agnolo had terrible history with one another many years ago. Now they shared nothing but disgust towards each other like an old divorced couple. It was best they not work together at all.

Mundus finally set his attention to the fourth Knight; this one was the most quiet of them all. The Knight only stood there quietly while wrapped in a tattered blanket that covered his entire body and his own face. To keep this blanket on him was tight ropes and chains that prevented the movement of the upper body. Though he was able to move his head considering he tilted his shrouded head up to see Mundus starring down at him.

"And you are...?" Mundus asked.

"Oh, my apologies, my Lord." Agnolo spoke as he stood up. "That is the newest Knight of Hell, Lignum. As his name implies, he is like that of a puppet but has only the muscle memory of movement and following orders."

"And what happened to the original fourth Knight of Hell?" Mundus questioned.

"Executed." The Knight reported, "He attempted to conduct a rebellion against your holy order along with a small band of demons. I disposed of each and every one of them in an instant, including the original fourth Knight."

"And why is this one to replace him?" Mundus kept his dual-colored eyes on the, otherwise, mindless bundle of blankets wrapped in human form. He truly did not react at all toward's Mundus's presence and only kept his head elevated towards the Demon King.

"He may not present a physical form of intimidation, but I assure you, he shows enough power to be an able replacement. I only ask that you allow him to be under my care. Through experience with me, he will not fail you."

Mundus stared menacingly towards the small man without releasing his gaze for a moment. He wanted to see if there was a single shred of doubt or a crack in this emotionless replacement of his original Knight of Hell. He didn't need another failure like Raidou to be a fallback. Considering Agnolo is the one vouching for this Lignum, there must have been a power held in him.

"Very well." Mundus agreed with an averted gaze towards Agnolo. "He is your responsibility. Should he fail to meet my expectations, he will be exiled from the rank of Knight, and suffer for all eternity, while you will receive the proper punishment of my choosing."

"Of course, my Lord." Agnolo bowed.

Mundus took one last look at the peculiar draped Lignum before turning around and walking towards the shattered windows. He took in the fresh air of the night sky.

The scent of the brainless humans who would not have come as far as a structured society if not for his guiding hand. They were like children that needed a father to watch over them. However Mundus did not want to be the observer over a bunch of frail, insignificant creatures who could be easily silenced with a single piece of lead from a gun. He was more then that. He was a god to them. They didn't need to know it; what did he care for a bunch of weak little ants knowing of his existence. All that mattered was having control over every single one of them, whether they realized it or not.

"Gentlemen, and lady..." Mundus proclaimed with hands behind his back, "...tonight will be the beginning of new age of world domination. I have great expectations for each and every one of you. The four of you will pave the way for a continual and structured rule over these weak humans. You will not kill any of them, unless I say so. The only target you will be instructed to capture is the Nephilim. For now, you will await my orders until I summon you. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Lord Mundus/Yes, Lord Mundus." Both Nyotengu and Agnolo said simultaneously with a respectable bow.

With that, all three had disappeared from the destroyed room, leaving only Mundus, Donovan, and one of the four Knights of Hell downed into decommission.

Donovan finally felt his lungs breath in the natural air again and entered into what remained of his illustrious office. He tip-toed over the bloody smudges of his carpet and appeared before Mundus.

"Donovan." Mundus called with a thunderous voice that startled the white-suited man.

"Y-Yes, Lord Mundus?"

"There's something that's peeked my curiosity." He wondered. "A few hours ago, you allowed the clone of the one named Kasumi into your office to speak with her."

"Yes, I did..."

"Why did you tell her of ALPHA's soon ascending towards the realm of the Astral Plane? She is but a clone, and yet you reveal such secrets to her, knowing full well of her approaching death."

Donovan may not have enjoyed serving a tyrannical bruit, but he had a peculiar pension for showing off his genius to those inferior to his scientific experiments. Mundus may have been a powerful demon lord, but he was still nothing short of a bumbling buffoon whose only real strength was to make others do his dirty work. A foolish god, if Donovan said so himself. But alas, he was still outmatched by his sheer strength and legion of demons at his beck n' call. If not for that, hell, he could be a more fitting King of Hell then this moron was...of course he'd never actually say that out loud.

Donovan cleared his throat before explaining. "Well, it's quite simple really. You see, ALPHA 152 is a modified clone from the original Kasumi right down to her genetic code. However, she is still brainless and has no conceptual understanding of just what she will become. As such, the "False" Kasumi that's traveled with Dante must have this knowledge so that she may come to terms with her destiny without the annoyance of constantly questioning what it all means." Donovan stood a few steps beside Mundus as he too looked down at the people below his shattered windows. "Now that she knows about ALPHA's true goal, along with information about Dante, once she fuses back with Phase 4, which I assume she already has thanks to Mr. Rodriguez and his foolish vendetta, she'll have the understandings of her true destiny at hand when they fuse back with ALPHA."

"Quite the convoluted plan." Mundus said.

"All for the sake of power." Donovan grinned corruptly. "Once ALPHA-152 has reached her final stage in evolution, she will finally be a living-breathing goddess rather then a mindless one."

"And of course the Nephilim will be the icing on the cake to your own ascension to power of your own?" Mundus finished.

"You know me far too well, sir." Donovan chuckled. "But enough about me, I must say, you seem to have doubts in your own success to have summoned your four Knights from Hell."

"Quite the contrary, you foolish little man." Mundus confessed, "Their arrival onto Earth came as a bit of a surprise even to me."

"W-Wait, you mean to say that you didn't summon them here?" Donovan asked with great surprise in his tone.

"No, I did not." Mundus said as he turned himself towards Donovan. He also took notice of the mad scientist's female clone assistants attempting to lug Raidou's massive body over their shoulders and take him away. "If it were my intention to do so, I would have already prepared for what to do with them. However, they arrived just recently without a word of doing so. For them to be free would require a specific item designed to open and close the seals to each of their gates."

"Gates, you say?" Donovan inquired.

"The Knights have gates. They were sealed in them while watching over the planes of Hell." Mundus explained, "Somehow they were each broken; allowing them to escape out of Hell, and into the human world. I would be questioning what that reason was, but frankly, it's not my concern. In fact, this is actually a convenience."

"Convenience, how?"

"In due time, my little ant." Mundus smirked, "In due time."

MUGEN TENSHIN VILLAGE

OUTSIDE TOKYO

10:37 pm

The night sky held the wonderful stars above that shined so brightly against the darkness of space. To think that beyond the meager blue rock called Earth, millions of possibilities exist out there, just waiting for humanity to discover it. How the mysterious of humanity, and the discovery of new things were just a travel away. Easier said then done however. With any luck, there could be a chance to even see some of those wonders above. There's enough wonders happening on Earth as is.

These were just a few of the thoughts the black-haired Nephilim would have on cool, and quiet nights such as this, where he could be alone with his thoughts for once. And what better place to be alone then on the roof of the shrine that belongs to one of the most powerful ninjitsu clans in history.

After the fierce battle and damage done to the Mugen Tenshin Village, the village itself was reduced to a wasteland from a post apocalyptic scene: samurai style. Some had lost hope in ever being able to return to the life they had once knew. Such haunting memories had corrupted their minds so harshly, that some couldn't even return to what was left of their homes to gather what survived of their belongings. For some, one of their most precious belongings were either engulfed in the burning inferno or shredded with bullets...and that precious belonging was only a few months old and just learning how to crawl.

It was devastating; traumatizing to be precise. Not even words of healing and rekindling confidence from Shiden could make a dent in them. They had lost their will to move forward, and that is something that will take a good long time to get back. Hell, for some, things will never go back to the way it was ever again.

Hayate had decided to offer the towering shrine of the Mugen Tenshin village to the people who had lost their homes as refuge. The doctors of the village tended to the injured, and sick from the fire's smoke. Most of the women and children slept inside the shrine, while the men and women who could ride out the outside environment slept in tents placed within the boundaries of the shrine. Others who had a small glimmer of fire within them formed a group to go into the destroyed village and try to salvage what they could, and begin rebuilding.

Most of the village was asleep, with some out trying to restore the village to its original luster. Dante, on the other hand, laid back to see the stars. It was all he could do at the moment to clear his head after what he was told a few hours ago.

HOURS AGO

Dante reacted as expected by grabbing Ryu's scarf and bringing him threateningly close. In those moments, Ryu could see the sheer betrayal and absolute anger held in those narrow blue eyes of his. Against the shadows of the night, Ryu could swear his eyes were burning with a furious blue hue.

"You gotta be fuckin' kidding me!" Dante exclaimed, "The hell do you mean 'she wasn't the real one?-!'"

Ryu removed Dante's hand from him and eyed Tina and Kat. They cast their eyes away from the scene with shame that they had to see Dante get so riled up about such a revelation.

"No, no don't look at them! I'm right here!" Dante brought attention to himself. "Now talk!"

Ryu did as he was so eloquently asked. "Listen, it's exactly as I said it to be; The Kasumi you've come to know up until now is not the real one. She was a clone created by Donovan to possibly gain information on you."

"And you knew this from the beginning, and didn't think this was some important stuff for me to know?" Dante outraged.

"I had no choice." Ryu explained, "I had to figure out what it was she wanted to accomplish with you. If I had told you then when you first met her back in New York, you would have looked at her far too differently then you did, and she would have suspected you knew something."

"Funny considerin' I was the one suspectin' her..." Dante commented.

"Well luckily she didn't seem to even realize she was a clone herself." Ryu continued, "Because of this, I found it better to just let the motions carry out on their rightful place, and let you go along with her. I figured now was the best time to at least let you know."

Dante took in what Ryu was saying, but still felt raw about it. He felt an unusual sensation overwhelm him to the point of disassociation with the mourning villagers up ahead. All this time he had wasted with a clone of a girl. He remembered he shared his personal issues with that clone, and now it knows everything about him and then some.

"Alright...so where is she now?" Dante asked calmly.

"Gone. I arrived in time to watch her be killed in the village." This was a lie in Ryu's case. He had actually seen the entire battle between the real Kasumi and the false one, along with the sudden appearance of the hooded woman. And now that the two have fused into one, all that was left was the original Kasumi. "Apparently the soldiers took her body with them...I'm sorry."

Dante took a deep sigh before saying "don't worry about it...I just...I just need a bit of time to think...alone."

"I understand." Ryu nodded, "However I must ask you, if you do happen to meet with the real Kasumi at some point, please give her a chance to speak with you. She's had too much of a dark turn in her life that I feel she needs someone like you to have by her side."

"What kind of Dark turn would push her to a demon bullseye like me?" Dante questioned.

"Trust me, she's...got some demons of her own."

PRESENT TIME

Dante could barely swallow the truth that the Kasumi he was traveling with, was none other then a clone; manufactured by Donovan to gather info about him. And the worst part was that he couldn't even get mad at the clone, because it didn't even know about being a clone, or its mission. It was just following the orders of acting like the real Kasumi and having her same memories. That still didn't settle Dante's disappointment however. He was iffy about the clone's motives with all her shady secrets from the beginning, and being told this shocking revelation confirmed her on the iffiness.

But now Dante was a little paranoid. If she was a clone, then who knows who else could be. What if Ryu was a clone? or anyone else he's working with? What if all of this was just a set up to try and kill Dante, and everyone is in on it? Everyone? Kokoro too? And even...Vergil?

Dante rubbed his head in aggravation. He was only giving himself a terrible headache with all these questions. For once, he just wanted to clear himself of all these distractions. Just something to take the edge off of him for a moment.

One thing came to mind.

Dante reached into his pocket, and flicked open the pack. He reached into it with his teeth, and pulled out one of the sticks to hold between his lip. He then reached for a lighter, and burnt the cigarette end. Already he began to feel the effects beginning to kick in. The bitter soothing of a well-needed cigarette was just the medicine he needed. He immediately felt himself cool down from the stress from earlier. Not enough to forget all his worries, but just a bit to throw off his woes.

"I fuckin' hate these..." Dante muttered. "But dammit if I don't need one..."

In truth, Dante hated smoking. He use to do it way too much in the past. He did it frequently back in the day for two reasons; to feel the buzz numb away at his horrible life of limbo and demons. The second was to slowly kill himself. Those were dark times in the Nephilims life, where he truly felt alone, and ready to die and get it over with. Though he was an sort of atheist and didn't believe in a heaven or a God, he figured that whatever was waiting for him on the other side had to be better then the living hell he faced every waking moment of his life. Of course this was before he realized he was a half-breed and probably couldn't be killed by them.

There was one good thing to come out of this rekindling addiction to cigarettes; his awareness.

"How long you gonna stay hidin' from me?" Dante called. "I'm not gonna hurt you...unless you give me a reason to."

A small bit of silence had erupted for a moment, before Dante heard the sounds of feet slowly creeping onto the tiles of the Mugen Tenshin shrine's roof.

Dante sat up and looked over towards where those footsteps were coming from. He was caught off guard at who he had the pleasure of meeting so soon.

"U-Um...I'm sorry if this is sudden..." Kasumi said timidly, "But...I guess it's for the best after all that we meet...really meet."

Dante said nothing. He simply stared at her. To think; this was the real Kasumi. This was the Kasumi that's been hiding away from all the action, while Dante had to rough it with an artificial clone who was unknowingly using him. Now he got to see the real one for the first time. They were practically twins right down to the eyes. The only differences with this Kasumi was that her ribbon used to tie her hair up was a blue one. Plus she was wearing a more sleeker konoichi body suit as well.

Kasumi felt a bit uncomfortable being in his presence. She only heard a few things about Dante from Ryu's rare letters he would send via crow. From what she was told, he was a bit brash, crude, and dangerously strong. At least she didn't have to worry about him being a damsel in distress so that was lucky for her. Still, she felt an overwhelming aura of power radiating off of him.

"Um...how long are you going to keep staring? It's a little uncomfortable..." Kasumi said timidly.

At least this Kasumi spoke better English. Dante could barely detect her accent at all in her tone. For some reason, this Kasumi seemed more...meek—like a petite young woman who seemed too shy to even think of appearing in public dressed in such a sleek, black ninja uniform. But her body, those curves, and those breast packed tightly into that corset-like armor was a sin that Dante couldn't resist.

Dante stood up and faced Kasumi. He eyed her with a cold stare to find any break in her possible act with intimidation. "So you're the real Kasumi? The original one?"

"Y-Yes." Kasumi nodded. "Ryu-sama informed me that you had been traveling with one of the clones of me." She tried to be gentle enough to not trigger any anger out of him. She assumed that meeting the real her was probably a lot to take in compared to the clone he's known for some time. "I know this must feel very surreal to you..."

"Oh, no, it's been great havin' my ass pulled by strings like a damn puppet, and bein' lied to every way I turn just to get somethin' out of all this bullshit." Dante said sarcastically, "My life's just peachy."

"R-Right, I can see why you're upset, but please hear me out for a moment." Kasumi reasoned.

"And why should I?" Dante questioned, "How do I know you're not another number just picked out by Donovan to be on my side, then order 66 me when my back is turned?"

"Order 66? The Star Wars thing?" The confused konoichi asked. "If that's what you're referring to, I assure you that I have no reason to betray you."

"You have no reason to betray me? Is that really the best excuse you could come up with?" Dante sassed. "I suppose next you'll be tryin' to convince me that Santa and his bad kid-eating demon is real, or Unicorns that eat rainbows and shit gold exist."

"W-Wait, there's no such thing as unicorns?" She said with devastated sadness. "B-But father use to tell me back when I was young that they hide from those who don't believe in them hard enough...!"

"Are you serious?"

"B-But..." She did her best to try to keep even the smallest glimmer of hope alive, but the way Dante eyed her with such pitiable eyes extinguished that small light instantly. Now that she thought about it, it did seem ludicrous that such a strange creature would exist with an even stranger premise. Kasumi was overcome with unbridled sorrow to have believed she would one day discover the majestic unicorn and claim as her own to take care of. Such cruel fate to have her dream shattered within an instant.

"S-So-na..." She uttered in Japanese, but the disappointment was all too audible.

"Shit..." Dante hissed while scratching the back of his head. "Look, uh...I mean, I'm just sayin', like, I just believe what I see, and I haven't seen any unicorns yet, so..."

Kasumi, though saddened by that revelation, put her feelings aside, and returned to the topic at hand. "A-Anyway, back to the subject at hand for now."

"Right, right, the one where you try to hoodwink me into trusting you?" Dante reminded, "Yeah, still not buyin' it. Again, how do I know you're not another clone, huh? Ryu told me about the real Kasumi, but whose to say you're her? Maybe you're another clone come just in time to replace the other one."

Kasumi groaned. "Look, You just have to trust me on this; I am the real Kasumi. The original Kasumi."

"Yeah? Prove it." Dante demanded with arms crossed.

Kasumi sighed. He was a stubborn one—something Ryu forget to mention in his letters it seemed. Kasumi didn't have time to play this game of 20 questions, and only knew one way to prove herself to be real. As much as it made her face go burning red with embarrassment at the thought of it, She just wanted to get this over with.

"O-Okay..." Kasumi said. She shyly averted her eyes from Dante's with rosy cheeks, and opened her hand to him. "Give me your hand..."

Dante raised a brow at this very suspicious gesture.

"Just do it...!" Kasumi insisted.

Rather then have to deal with her anger, he obliged to her request and offered his hand to her. The moment it touched her palm, she jumped a little to his touch. This only confused him even more. But she did next caught him way off guard.

She slowly reached for the zipper of her body suit and took a deep breath before slowly pulling it down. Dante's suspicions flew right out the window the lower the zipper got. Now his brow was raised for a completely different reason.

Once the zipper reached her navel, Dante dropped the cigarette from his lips as his mouth was held agape. He marveled at the sight of her large breast release from their constraint and relax onto her chest. Her skin was absolutely flawless from her chest to her flat stomach. The guys she must've had to beat off with a stick to even get a peak at her bare skin must have been in the 100's in Dante's mind.

"O-Okay..." She mumbled to herself. Her breathing became harder as her breast bounced with every breath.

Dante could barely keep his eyes off of them. He was caught in their bouncing trance even with the slightest of movement from her. There were certainly no complaints or even a peep from Dante if what he assumed was going to happen was on the table. And it appeared that it was exactly what he was hoping for.

She pulled her left breast plate back to reveal one of her breast to the Nephlim. At least she was wearing cloth around her chest, otherwise this would have looked even weirder then it already was. She slowly brought his hand to her heaving chest.

Dante slowly felt his hand grip her soft bosom under the warm cloth. His eyes went wide at how big and delicate they felt to the touch. It was what he assumed holding a cloud was like, because he was a bit afraid that he might end up grabbing too hard.

"W-Well..." Kasumi mumbled bashfully, "D-Do you feel it...?"

"I feel somethin' alright..." Dante said without thinking.

Kasumi didn't get the answer she was expecting, and quickly looked back at the black haired Nephilim, who had a small grin on his face.

"No, not that!" Kasumi shouted in embarrassment. "I mean my heart! Can you feel my heart!"

"Oh. Yeah, that's exactly what I assumed you meant..." Dante said mockingly.

He took a moment of silence and closed his eyes to get a better feeling of her chest. Sure enough, he could feel the rapid beating from her bosom; most likely from the current circumstances she had to put herself through to prove she was human.

"Okay, you're really her."Dante accepted, "The clone wouldn't even come close to doin' somethin' like this." A slick grin appeared on Dante's lips. "Guess nothin' beats the classics after all."

Kasumi was visibly mortified at how crass, and just all around tasteless this man was towards the inexcusably shameful act she had just put herself through. She could crawl up into a ball and die she was so embarrassed. Her entire body tensed up, and her fist were clutched; not from becoming flustered, but from a slow billowing passion of unbridled rage accumulating inside of her.

"You...! You really are the worst...!" Kasumi said bitterly.

"You say that, yet you're the one who pulled down the zipper, and said 'hey sexy, gimme that hand so we can play doctor~.'" Dante reminded with a teasing smirk.

"I did not call you 'sexy', you pretentious jackass!" Kasumi argued, "And I only did this to prove I was real! Don't you dare lump me with you, pervert!"

"Mm-Hmm, Sure. Oh, and uh, can I get my hand back?" Dante said, now getting a bit annoyed of being called a pervert since he's not the one keeping his hand on her breast. "Seriously, you've had a grab on it for a while now."

Her face grew even redder. She averted her eyes once more with furrowed brows as she let go of Dante's hand, and fixed herself properly. It was the first time in quite a while that she literally didn't mind dropping dead just to escape the embarrassment.

"S-So...you finally see me as the real Kasumi?" Kasumi said, while zipping herself back up. "Then you must know why I'm here, correct?"

"Why wouldn't you be here?" Dante said, getting another cigarette into his mouth. "This was your home. Ryu told me about your struggles."

"He did?"

"Well not really, but he told enough to get the picture." Dante lite his cigarette and took a puff before billowing out the smoke to speak once more. "By the way...I'm sorry about what happened to your village."

"I am too..." Kasumi said dismally. "I wish I could do something to help them all, but...I'm just a traitor to them. Even if I show my face to them now, most will probably rebuke me. They'd probably consider it a great dishonor for a traitor to help them."

"You don't know that." Dante countered. "When people get desperate, that so-called 'unwavering pride' is the first thing to go, trust me."

"You have a point..." Kasumi said weakly.

Her fist clenched tight against her chest as she looked over the horizon; all that could be seen was the destroyed homes, and small huts that once made her heart flutter with glee when she was younger. The memories of running down the stone path towards Mizu-san's bakery after training, was now the horrid reality of that stone path being paved with blood that lead to a burnt down remnant of what once was. The open space where she use to play as a child with Ayane and Hayate, was now filled with black rubble that would be too dangerous for children to play in.

All these memories of peace she once knew from The Mugen Tenshin Village was decimated in the inferno with nothing left to hold sacred.

"Still...I blame myself."

Dante said nothing.

"I could have done something to prevent this all from happening...Maybe if I'd just arrived a little bit faster, I could have stopped this fight from escalating to the level that it did..."

Dante stood silently and turned towards the horizon of the burnt down village; still smoking his cigarette.

"But I can't let that stop me. I can't falter here. I still have a mission to uphold. Out there, a greater force is growing to unimaginable heights. Dealing with that is important now. I can't sit a mourn the losses forever. As such, I owe it to the deceased to—"

"Y'know it's ironic." Dante interrupted.

"Eh?"

Dante took a drag of his cigarette before taking it from his lips. "That sounds like somethin' the clone Kasumi would've said...only she would've meant it."

"I'm serious. No matter what help I give them here...it won't do a thing...I'm a konoichi...I'm taught to not let emotions cloud my mind..."

"Really...then what're those tears for?"

She almost couldn't even detect the single drop of liquid that had fallen down her cheek. She caught its stream with her finger and was actually surprised to find it there. The moment she realized it, she tried to dry her eyes the best she could, but the tears wouldn't stop. "W-Wha..." Her voice became shaky. She didn't know what to say, or even how to say it. Where was this coming from? She was so calm and able to speak a minute ago, so why were these deeper emotions beginning to pour to the surface. "I-I don't...I..." She began to feel her words choke up into her throat. She trembled violently. She gritted her teeth to hold it all in, but it all desperately wanted to be released.

But suddenly, she felt something hit her; a warm embrace had enveloped her in tight arms wrapping around her back, while another hand was gently placed onto the back of her head. Her face was buried into something hard that had the scent of cigarettes...but she could hear his heart beat like a drum to her ears.

"Let it out..." Dante whispered, "Don't you fucking hold it in. Let. It. Out."

Kasumi could no longer hold anything in anymore. She felt as though her tough wall of stone had finally decomposed in Dante's warm embrace without having a fighting chance. She immediately buried her face into Dante's chest and let it all out. She wailed into his chest and drowned her eyes with tears that fell down her cheeks. Her body trembled in Dante's arms as she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face further to truly let all this emotion out once and for all.

For the first time, in a long time, Kasumi finally let it all out.

UNKNOWN LOCATION
UNKNOWN PLACE
UNKNOWN TIME

Mila's eyes quickly fluttered open to the strange scene of darkness. She could feel the sensation of a bright light beaming down on her that was too bright to even open her eyes. However, the scent of a familiar fragrance filled her nostrils to put her in a trance-like state to peak her interest. Sure enough Mila opened her eyes wide once her state of mind had finally caught up with her. She was now aware of her surroundings to realize that she was not in a place she could recognize.

Mila quickly sat up with a loud gasp at the sharp pain that hit her side. She checked to find a bullet hole had been made in her shirt, but under it was her waist wrapped in bandages with dried blood on where the pain came from. She tried to get up from the bed she laid on, but found herself being yanked by the wrist from moving—a pair of handcuffs attached to the bed's beams was also locked around her own wrist. She tried her hardest to yank herself free from the handcuffs, but was unsuccessful.

She gasped hard as she looked around at where she was first and foremost. It revealed to be a dungeon-like room with a small sink and toilet to use, and the outside hallways being separated from her by black iron bars too close to sneak in between.

"Damnit...!" The red headed UFC fighter hissed. "Where the hell am I?"

"Safe. Out of danger..."

Mila had heard a familiar voice from outside the jail-like room. It was a calming, yet authoritative voice that Mila had come to know.

"D...Daddy...?" Mila uttered. "I-Is...is that you...?"

From the dark shrouds of the shadows outside the jail cell, An older gentleman with similar color hair as Mila in military gear had walked up to the bars. He had no smile to offer her nor a single sign of remorse for keeping his own daughter locked up in such horrible conditions. In fact, he looked at her like a criminal rather then a daughter.

"Hello, Mila." He greeted her, "It's been a while."