Brickwork and red marble stone stood surround by green grass. It was dressed with stain glass windows and it all seemed to exist in a realm all its own. Echinda's evil had not touched this part of town. The church was truly of old construction and was at the end of a fork. Its steeple nearly two stories high with a huge glinting cross on top. Two large wooden doors at the front as Vergil stood ten feet from it with a wide-legged stance as he stared down the building. His brown boots firm, his hands both in fists with his sword hand itching for action.

Hearing a familiar sound he swung his head in that direction and saw black strapped boots enter his field of vision. "Dante." Saying his brother's name like an angered demon.

Dante walked towards the church from the side being closer than Vergil. He saw his brother and strode over to him saying, "Did you see him?"

Cocking his head slightly, Vergil said, "He's in there."

Dante turned towards the church with his hand on Ivory. His eyes glared at the church not looking at his brother, "Demons can't enter churches."

Shrugging, Vergil ripped Yamato from its sheath and began heading for the church.

Stopping his brother, Dante spun out Ivory, "Vegdax is mine."

Both brothers eyes transfixed on the church. Vergil saying with sword in hand, "It's not Vegdax I'm talking about."

This got Dante's attention causing him to turn his head, "What? Then who…"

"The green haired boy."

"Joshua."

"Whatever."

"You're not planning on going in there with that thing, are you?"

Vergil looked at his sleek blade, "Yeah. I never leave home without it."

Dante huffed slightly, "You'll scare the boy. Let me go in. Talk to him. Kids just love me."

"About as much as a train to the face. We need this over now. He is probably some kind of demon. Why else would Balscoth want him?"

Dante sighed, "A vessel, brother. I don't know what makes him so special besides that green hair but I'll bet there's more to the story."

Slamming his blade back into the sheath making the steel hiss, Vergil said with determination and machine-like precision, "Ten minutes. I don't see you come out of that church after that, I'm going in there and turning some pews into firewood." He slung his blue coat walking away from his brother.

Smirking, Dante turned back towards the church and spun Ivory back under his coat. He walked towards the church in a slow stride wondering what he would find inside.

Stopping near the doors he looked them over kicking them in, tall and prideful he stood just outside as the two wooden doors blasted open. The doors slammed into the walls and did not come back being to old and heavy.

Dante recognized his mistake but it was pure instinct to him. His face was stone looking into the church as he slowly walked in. The pews lined on both sides of him with the floor echoing his footsteps as he proceeded. In front of him was a large pulpit with a golden goblet and the sun shinning through the giant stain glass window behind it.

He extended out his arms and said solemnly, "Sorry Joshua. Didn't mean to scare you. I'm not going to hurt you, you know?"

No answer.

"Bet its scary, huh? Some guy with a sword on his back comes kicking down the doors. I know I'd be scarred too." Hearing a slight noise behind the pulpit where the sunshine was beaming. Still no answer.

"That black coat guy was around here somewhere, you know where he might be?"

Slightly, a timid face came from out behind the pulpit. That green hair acting like a beacon contrast to all the wood and gold. The sunlight making it shine like rain-covered, summer grass. Joshua whispered out strongly but wearily, "That's what she said."

Lowering his arms, Dante asked, "What?"

"She said she wouldn't hurt me either. The lady with the chains."

Dante slightly smiled sitting down on the front pew. He crossed his leg atop the other and slid down looking the church over, "Yeah, I was never one for places like this."

Joshua shifted from out of hiding crouched behind the pulpit. He came into full view giving Dante a good look at him. He sat on the steps up to the alter and folded his hands in front of him. He was wearing blue jeans with a black t-shirt with a red symbol on it. His face was slightly stretched with sapphire blue eyes. They seemed to almost glow the color looking like jewels in his eye sockets. In those eyes was strength and cunning. He was frightened but also seemed to have his wits and was in a survival mode. Almost like he had been trained for this kind of thing. The pictures Dante had seen of him when he was younger didn't do the lad justice. His hair had a right-handed part. His skin was nearly a ghostly white much like the two brothers. His arms were slightly muscular. Tone and well built throughout.

When he finally decided to say another sentence, Dante heard the boy's real voice. It was young sounding but calm and full of strength. Like he had experienced more in his short life span than most men experienced in a lifetime. He was still just a lost boy but sounded like he was making due with what he had. Commenting on the church he said in contrast to Dante's statement, "I was. Use to go to the one my parents did."

"Where are your parents Joshua?"

He wiggled on the step uncomfortably and looked at Dante with sad eyes, "Dead. My dad worked in a steel mill and my mother stayed home."

Thinking back, Dante thought of the steel mill he had been called to. He figured Joshua's dad was one of the ones killed by the murdering equipment. Dante knew he wasn't lying.

Joshua continued on, "I had run away from home way before that psycho started chasing me down. I ran back and he found me and my parents."

Dante didn't want to ask, "Were they your real parents Joshua?"

Looking at Dante with a solemn look shaking his head, "No. They were my adoptive. I had lived with them for about 3 years or so. They cared for me I guess and attended church. I went with them and liked to read the Bible."

Confused, Dante asked, "Why?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I liked all the demon/angel stuff in it. I mostly read about that. I like some of the heroes in it too. I think some of them are misunderstood nowadays. I wouldn't do what they did to save people but they were still trying." Joshua looked at Dante with slight tears. "I like to think that's me. A little misunderstood but always willing to help."

Leaning forward with a solemn look, Dante thought about himself. He was trying not to scare the boy but he said darkly, "Which did you like? The angels or demons? Personally, I don't like either one but demons especially."

He thought for a second. A little surprised by the question but still answering it, "I do. I like both. The angels and demons. I just think what the demons could do now if they were put to helping people. How many evil people could be stopped if those monsters were put to a good use?"

Staring ahead with piercing, ice-cold blue eyes, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Joshua stood up gaining some of his old confidence back, "But if you know the line you never have to cross it."

Dante smirked, "Easier said than done kid. Believe me, I've been at this job a long time and I still don't know where the line is. Killing people is wrong no matter who or what they are."

"Some evil demons aren't nearly as bad as some evil humans. Evil people need to be destroyed. They hurt others or they hurt the wrongfully accused. Bullies."

Breathing a long sigh, Dante said shadily, "What about demons? You seem to have a kinship with them."

Joshua walked up to the pulpit and laid both hands on it looking down at the big Bible on it under the goblet. "Yes I do. I just think they could be put to a better use than murder and chaos. Doing good and punishing the wicked."

Dante stood from the pew and grabbed the hilt of his sword, "Do you think demons could help mankind?"

Looking at Dante with an inner pride and confidence standing at the pulpit like a young preacher, "I do. If they are given the right direction."

Letting go of Rebellion, Dante just smiled and shook his head, "Kid, I think you're a little confused. Demons don't listen to reason. That lady that hauled you here…"

"A demon. Yes I know. I know the guy in the black coat is too." Joshua cocked his head, "You are too but there's something different about you. Something more - noble."

"Yeah." Dante said roughly. "Come on, we've got to find a good hiding spot for you so Balscoth doesn't find you."

"Okay." He said confidently.

In surprise, Dante backed away a step. "What? No line of questioning, no whining about wanting your old life back?"

Joshua sighed with regret. "Oh how I wish I could. I was a star in school. But I didn't like it all that much. I always wanted to do something worth value. Worth - me. Something more than sports and school work. One of the reasons I ran away was to greater things. I was glad I could help them."

"Them who?"

"Those kids at this camp I stopped at. I knew that black coat guy was on me but there was a lot of children getting sick from some of the plants around there. At first, I didn't know what to make of it but I remembered a few thing from my bio-science class and chemistry." He smiled proudly. "Within two days those kids felt better. You know they would have died if I hadn't stopped to help."

Dante didn't feel there was any reason to hide it, "So, that's why you made a pit stop at Gallery Lake."

"Yes. I knew I shouldn't have stopped but those kids needed help. I wasn't just going to let them die!"

"Joshua?" Dante asked curiously.

"Yeah?"

"Where did you learn all this? Not every kid knows how to make some weird cure-all potion and even less know how to outrun a demon on their trail."

Blinking with contemplation, Joshua answered, "I don't know. I just knew it. The chemistry stuff was easy because I learned it in school but how to go on the run from something like that, I'd just think about what needed to be done and did it. It's hard to explain. I just knew how to out maneuver him. How to run away."

"There is something special about you kid." Dante said walking up to him patting him on the back. "No wonder Balscoth wants you."

"Who?"

"I'll tell you all about it."

Or he would have had it not been for the large chain that came crashing through the roof. It wrapped around Joshua and nearly dragged him out of the church. Dante was quick and shot the chain three times making it retract back up the hole with Zarra coming down herself grabbing the boy. She furiously whipped out against Dante sending a wave of mental into a pew destroying the wooden bench. Dante had dodged out of the way rolling and shooting at her. She swung her whip around and spun it like a shield in front of her ricocheting the bullets off. Some nearly hit Dante as they sped back to their point of origin. Again Dante was quick with a roll unsheathing Rebellion.

Zarra put the boy down in a pew with a bark and a finger point, "Stay!" Joshua looked around. Their was nowhere for him to go.

Striding around Dante arrogantly, Zarra swirled both whips casually saying to the red-coated demon hunter, "Son of Sparda. You remind me a bit of your father. A little more outspoken than he was but you have that same stupid feeling for humans." She sighed regretfully. "Shame really. Dante - I wish it didn't have to be this way, I really do. Your father was a great killer back when he was with us. You should have seen the angels and humans he could put down with just the swing of his sword. Then -" She looked at him sorrowfully, "He actually started to feel for these humans. I had felt the same thing before but I pushed it down. I fought against it. My home is in Hell. I suppose at the end of his mortal life, he learned that as well."

Dante smirked, "Knew the old man, did you? Well, you got most of it right except for one thing." Telling her, putting up his index finger cockily, "I know what he did learn at the end of his life."

"And that is?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

Zarra growled at Dante and went at him full force. Dante noticed quickly she didn't approach him like Vegdax. His charges were hard and furious but slightly sloppy. Not hers. Hers were precision personified. It slightly surprised Dante but he fought her off quickly and was knocked back a bit. He looked at his wrist sarcastically. "Eh, I got a couple of minutes."

She grabbed Joshua quickly. "I don't!" She nearly got him locked in her grip but Dante sent two shots her way and nailed her chains and her forehead. It knocked her back but didn't keep her away from him for long. He stood in front of Joshua and said, "Your not getting this kid."

Joshua just said weakly, "Don't I get a say in this?!"

Both Dante and Zarra shouted out, "No!"

Again, the two went at each other fighting like skilled warriors. Josh didn't know it but he was watching a duel that any demon, angel, or combat hardened human would have died to see. The fluidity of both seamless, the expertise shown flawless, and the precision echoing back throughout the ages.

Launching a chain through the floor, Zarra missed Dante as he bounded out of the way slashing at her with Rebellion. The sword's tip glancing by her, missing her flesh by millimeters. With her other chain she threw it at him slicing the air with the metal but Dante reflected the chain back with his sword and bounded like a cat behind the pulpit. Zarra had both of her whips ready for another attack as Dante glimmered a faint smile at her. She was unfazed by his attitude. She had put down whole rebellions before.

Lashing out with both whips she sent them into one another Dante ducking the wild metal lashes. Rolling out from the pulpit he went at her with his sword drawn back but she dragged one of her whips at him wrapping it around his neck. Having a tight grip she flung him into a side wall nearly sending him through it. A large plum of debris was left in his wake but when it cleared he was standing strong. As if a light breeze had struck him.

Charging at her again he had Ebony unleashed but not for long as the one whip grabbed his gun while the other whipped away his sword. He was set on course nearly being kicked in the jaw, Zarra showing CQC skills. Smiling fiendishly, Dante slid on his knees turning with Ivory well-aimed.

Hearing the gun, Zarra jump-twisted in the air lashing out with both whips making Dante roll under a few pews shooting at her as he did. She landed with grace and slung one of chains across several pews destroying them sequentially as Dante shot and rolled under them. Whipping back her chain like the professional she was she watched him roll back through the wooden rubble flipping through the air back onto his feet. Running at her he shot away both her chains as she went for a last resort spinning kick on the floor, trying to trip up the skilled demon hunter. Dante twisted over her and grabbed Ebony back coming to a stop on a bent knee, firing at Zarra, sending a barrage of bullets her way.

Instinctively she spun her one whip in a circle reflecting back the bullets while lashing out with her other. Dante shot the free one away and went running up the side of the church with Zarra bashing out several stain glass windows after him all the while he reached above his head shooting down at her. She made him flip-jump back down landing with both guns pointed at her with Zarra sending a ripple through her chains in a bit of showy fashion.

Looking at Rebellion she looked back at Dante, "You could have grabbed your sword."

Smiling, Dante said, "Knew I forgot something."

"Why didn't you?"

Shrugging he said, "I guess you're that good."

Zarra showed her fangs in distrust, "You lie!"

Dante sill with that trademark, half-cocked smile of his, "Do I? Babe, when someone is as skilled as you, I give them credit." He then winked at her.

Huffing out at his cockiness but not being affected by it, "So, you going to come at me?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing."

Zarra took a step towards Dante's sword and stood over it. "Good thing I know where you're going."

"Do you now?"

"All roads lead to here." Zarra's green eyes not once lowering from Dante's steel blue's. The two seemingly locked.

Dante had to admit he had not faced an opponent of this caliber in a long time. He glanced over at the boy and asked, "hey Joshua?"

Josh got up from the pew asking, "Uh yeah?"

"Would you mind getting my sword for me, please?"

Zarra looked at Joshua with those green, slit eyes furiously. They thinned and stared at the child menacingly. Afraid of the demon woman he said, "I don't think she wants me to."

Dante's smile increased, "It's okay Joshua, she won't do anything to you. She's a good little demon to her master. She wouldn't dare touch a grassy hair on your head."

"He's lying!" Zarra roared out against the boy. "Leave it where it lies!"

Dante again said, "Go on Joshua. Trust me. I wouldn't put you in harms away and neither will she."

A little weary, Joshua got up from the pew and headed towards Zarra.

She protested loudly with a demonic hiss. "Joshua! You leave it there! Don't you dare touch it!"

"You see how she hasn't threatened you with a punishment?" Dante asked arrogantly, "Because she won't hurt you."

Zarra again hissed with a hellish bellow, "I will if you don't leave it there. Do you know the things I have done to mortal men child?!"

"Done. She won't do a thing."

Looking at both cautiously, Joshua bent down and touched the hilt of Rebellion with nerves shaking him to his core. He got a firm grip on the sword and lifted it up. All the while Zarra protested. "Stop! Right now! Damn you I said stop! Don't pick it up! I am warning you!"

He looked at her with sorrowful eyes as he flung Rebellion onto his shoulder, one-handed. Both Dante and Zarra were surprised at how he managed the sword. Both knew the sword was a bit heavy for normal humans but Joshua was anything but normal. He handed it back to Dante and the demon slayer took it carefully from Joshua's grip. He patted him on the head and told him to go sit back down. He did with Dante saying back to Zarra, "I believe it was my lead." The two charging at each other again, faster and more violent than the last.

It all came to a grinding halt when Vergil kicked in the doors with Yamato in front and a piercing stair that would have given the devil himself pause. He lowered his sword a bit and said coldly, "I'm early."

Slightly smirking, Dante brushed a bit of his hair, "That's okay. I was wondering if you would be?"

Walking into the church, Dante's brother seemed to glide past the rows of pews towards Joshua. Not like he was hard to miss with that green hair poking out above the wooden seat.

Zarra was fast at a reaction. She hopped onto the pew, grabbed Joshua by the arm, and slung herself through the hole she had made in the ceiling earlier. Dante yelled out with an abominable roar, "Joshua!" He bounded out the front doors and looked around spying Nero and the two women making their way towards the church. He spun his sword and pointed in Zarra's direction. The three turned and followed the roof hopping woman. Dante followed with Vergil close behind. The five demon hunters doing what they did best chasing the demon woman down.