By Blood Connected
A Fan-Fiction by Vir M.
Chapter 35:
"Dive"
Vergil's eyes were intense. His open expression of mixed longing and desire for recognition and acceptance made me want to do nothing more than pull him into an embrace. I felt my heart rate quiet slightly as the moment stretched long, and then I averted my eyes.
I picked another grape up off of my plate but did not put it in my mouth. Instead, I rolled it back and forth between the thumb and forefinger of my right hand, watching the way the light green peel flexed beneath the pads of my fingers.
Vergil's words had brought my mind a semblance of peace, no matter how small. I had not wanted to admit it before, but the things he had told me… mattered somehow, in a way I was at a perfect loss to explain, both to him and to myself. I felt myself relax slightly as I mulled over his revelation, strangely complacent with all I had learned.
I sat still for a minute more, fixated on the fruit rotating beneath my hand, and then began to concentrate on getting a little bit of food in me, namely more grapes and several pastries.
I stole a glance up at Vergil from time to time as I ate, and each time was rewarded by a returning stare. After awhile I felt Vergil's eyes leave me, and heard the clink of glasses and silverware as he himself settled down to a meal. I sipped my champagne over the course of the meal, and once Vergil wordlessly rose and refilled it for me. Eventually, after we both had quietly eaten our fill, we simply sat together in silence.
The moments of stillness stretched into minutes, and I noticed that the candles had begun to burn low. The lack of conversation was not awkward; rather, it was companionable and warm. The occasional stolen glance fortified the point.
I gazed down at my hands as they lay motionless in my lap, thinking. After a while my eyes wandered to the pounding surf outside the gazebo.
"Hey Vergil?" I asked absently, still staring. I heard him shift in his seat.
"Yes, Jira?" His words came out in a whispering caress, carrying over the murmur of the ocean. I tore my gaze away from the sea to look at him.
His eyes were solemn, face unreadable.
"Would you mind if I went and walked along the beach for a little while?" I asked.
"Do you want company, or…?" He trailed off. I smiled apologetically.
"I'd like to be alone—for a little while, anyway," I added hastily as I saw his face fall.
"Do you plan on going in the water?" Vergil's lips pursed. "I don't want you to catch cold."
I rolled my eyes and stood, pushing myself away from the table. I rolled my eyes and stood, pushing myself away from the table. "I won't be long." I thought on that a moment, and then said: "Gimme… oh, I dunno, twenty minutes?" I offered Vergil another smile, which he returned. I then proceeded to make my way down to the waterfront.
Small grains of sand blew into my open-toed shoes, grinding grittily beneath my heel. About ten feet from the water's edge, I kicked off the shoes entirely, pleased at the feel of the coarse beads. It was strangely pleasant despite its rough texture.
I stopped just short of the fringe of the waves, sand damp beneath my toes, and looked out to the sea.
The water was black beneath the starlight, broken up occasionally by a fleck of white foam cresting a wave. The sky it was juxtaposed against was similarly blackened. I was only able to tell where sea ended and sky began by the appearance of stars on the horizon.
It's massive, I thought as I stared out at the waves. Wind toyed with my hair, causing the end of my ponytail to brush sinuously against the back of my neck. It must go on forever…
I took a deep breath of salty air, feeling slightly cleansed, and then looked back out at the dark water.
Forever… I thought, feeling something in my chest constrict. I placed a hand over the left side of my chest; thumb idly stroking the dragon's head I could just barely glimpse out of the corner of my eye. I'm going to live forever…
--with Vergil.
My eyes opened wide as the thought surfaced out of nowhere, and the implications that came with it finally came into full view.
It was in that moment that it hit me: I was going to live forever. The sheer vastness of the sea had finally put the full scope of eternity into perspective; with the thought of that beautiful man's name it had all come crashing down.
I took a deep breath again, tasting salt.
"Eternity… and the sea are a lot alike." I laughed softly to myself, and then sobered. "You never really realize just how big—how all-encompassing it is until it's shoved right under your nose."
I looked up at the sky, locating the crescent moon hiding behind a wreath of cloud. "Am I sure… that I really want to commit to this? And for so long?"
I dropped my hand to my side again and slowly entwined my fingers into the folds on my skirt. Looking up at the moon, I began to think:
I've tasted so little of life, and here I am about to tie myself down to a man I barely know.
I slowly lowered my gaze from the sky and looked back at the sea. The dull roar of the waves pounding against the sand was soothing.
Am I really willing to trade myself away like this? I thought. As I stood there, wind lightly playing with my dress and hair, I finally asked myself the question that had been nagging at the back of my mind since the first moment I had come to believe in the blood tie:
Is Vergil the man I want to spend forever with?
The question pealed through my heart like a bell, and with it came the answer; loud, clear and instantaneous:
What I know about Vergil pales in comparison to what I DON'T know...
With that thought I took a step forward; then another, and then another.
And yet…
and yet…
I feel like I know him.
I feel like I'm home.
I took another step, hesitated, and then plunged ahead.
And if eternity can be figuratively likened to the sea…
Waves washed over the tops of my naked feet and ankles as I took my first step into the ocean; I felt all at once invigorated and electrified.
"—then I want to dive right in."
AUTHOR TIME:
So ANYWAY… Yeah. Wow. It's been a while since I've updated. The story got booted off of the first page for once! Crazy…
Anyway, for those of you who don't look at my Xanga (which serves as my fan fiction announcement board) I'd just like to inform the lot of you that I have been sick.
Very sick.
I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say that I am in a lot of pain right now. Please be patient, as updates are very difficult to work at present. I'm trying though, so please bear with me! (Plus, spring break is drawing nigh so I'll have a lot of spare time on my hands, which is good new for all of you…)
About this chapter… I realize that it wasn't exactly the most eventful in the world, nor was it the longest. It's another one of those scene-setting chapters we all 'love' (sarcasm) so much. Do not be discouraged though! I plan on posting the next chapter very, very shortly after this one.
Oh! I would also like to thank the "People Who Love Jira," A.K.A. the people who have either added this story to either their favourites and/or alert lists. (The list is combined without repeats, so the actual list is substantially larger…) This is in alphabetical order.
Aimee Bert
Aino Utena
Angelus-2040
Aurora-Yoru
Black Eye Candy11412
Black Lady Charon
BlueSun91
Cancer Stick
Chrome
Cordia
Dantes Dark Queen
Destructo888
Devil May Cry Haruka
Emey
Ethrall
Evil Kuro Neko
Isis976
Lady Crystine Rayne
Lady Urashima
Laochra
Lunar Flower Kunoichi
Metal Muffin
Naeryx Genesis
Norientra
Nowshin
Oh-Insanidad
Oh Desolation
Punkrocker505
Sugar Crazed Angel
Sushy22
Swift hunter
Sword Of Light Blade Of Darkness
Tariell
Tbtaichou
WildgirlXYZ3
X Crazy Corduroy X
I'd ALSO like to thank the "People Who Love ME," or the people who have added me to their author watch or favourite author lists (also in ABC order, and also in a combined and non-repeat list):
Aloysius 316
Black Eye Candy11412
Blue Sun 91
Cancer Stick
Christa-Jean-Chan
Devil May Cry Haruka
Emey
Kisara Crystal
Lady Crystine Rayne
Lady Urashima
Metal Muffin
Norientra
Nowshin
Oh Desolation
Oh Holy Otaku 9
Oh-Insanidad
Punkrocker505
Sage-505
Scrunchy
Shroud Of Shadows
Tariell
Vyne Night
X Crazy Corduroy X
zHellas
I think I'm going to forego the review replies for the moment, so here's a collective shout out: WOOT!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND REVIEWS—I AM NOT WORTHY!!!!!
Another matter of business: I STILL NEED BETA TESTERS FOR MY "DMC MARY SUE LITMUS TEST!" Please, please, PLEASE contact me via email for more information! It's "virmver" (at) gmail (dot) com, okay? PLEASE PARTICIPATE!!!
Also, I am going to start a "By Blood Connected" FAQ ("frequently asked questions") forum. I know it seems really conceited to start a forum for yourself and all, but SERIOUSLY guys, I get asked the same questions over and over again! I think that it's about time I clear up some of the confusion. The forum will be hosted here on this site, and once I make it I will post a link to it in my profile. Keep an eye out!
DEVIL MAY CRY (C CAPCOM
BY BLOOD CONNECTED (C VIR M.