Warning, blood part 2

V stood dizzy whole he held his head with one hand. Pain filled his line of sigh causing him to stagger as he walked in an unfamiliar place.

"Not now…" a faint voice sounding strained caught his attention causing him to look round for the voice, not knowing where he was or why he was standing in what looked like an office kitchen area. His mouth soon felt as if he had swallowed copper, a metallic taste filled his mouth almost causing him to gag and vomit as he placed another hand to his mouth, to his shock, blood could be seen in his now trembling hand. Watching the sticky substance slowly run down his fingers V felt sick, his breathing shook violently enough to cause a shudder down his spine. Staring at the substance without knowing why he was seeing it.

Was he sick? That could not be right since he was showing signs of improving somehow and yet-

Was he…? His body grew cold from the thought- was he dying?

'No no no! Not like this!' sweat formed on V's brow as fear filled his mind, dreading the thought of his body deteriorating rapidly without warning. He had to live, he had to stop his demon half. He could not die with these regrets holding over his shoulder. Not when-

V's body trembled in fear as he gripped the side of a sink which now appeared in front of him, his eyes widened in horror from what was located in the sink. Mouth parted in disbelief V's breathing shook heavily as he gripped the sink tightly causing his knuckles to become more paler due to the strain.

'Why is this happening? What's happening to me?' V wanted answers but could find no clues as to why he was in the room, nor why he was growing weaker with each second passing by. Almost as if he could hear the echoes of a clock in the distance leaving him with a sense of dread.

"Not yet please…" a voice alerted V that he was not alone, looking round quickly his breathing hitched as he saw no one in the room.

'I'm hearing things… this can't be real' V wanted to shake the uncomfortable feelings away but could not move his body leaving him surprised. His mind paid no heed to the voice or who they were. Except part of him gained a sinking suspicion that there was a reason why he was hearing the voice. But was unable to understand why.

V now releasing a shuddered breath tried to regain control over his body, looking at his hands he went cold.

His hands were now different.

V's eyes snapped open while a heavy gasp left his lips, sitting up straight V gritted his teeth as he felt sore all over causing him to wince the moment he moved. V's right eye immediately squinted from the strong sun light which now took him by surprise. Memories of what happened before he passed out filled his mind causing his face to darken, anger filled him for being blind to the unexpected attack.

"But… how did I-?" looking round V slowly took in his new surroundings to see that he was in an abandoned bed store, placing a hand to his head V examined carefully for any injuries only to feel smooth skin much to his surprise. Confusion filled his mind until he remembered the injured fox and how his familiars were sent back into his marks.

Looking around V shot to his feet and began to search for the missing companion, his heart leaping rapidly in his chest as worry filled his chest before he recognised the emotion.

V's breathing hitched as he saw that there was no sign of the fox, causing his heart beat rapidly V continued to look around the area. His voice much to his frustration refused to co-operate and call out for Hara as he began looking under some beds and tables.

It was then the image of the sink quickly went to his mind. As if time had slowed to a stop, V turned his head to see an open door to his right. Only what he spotted as he squinted a bit to look at the door made his heart leap in horror- blood had stained part of the door and floor below it. Not feeling his legs move V's body rushed towards the door without a second thought, not caring that his body was staggering from the sudden weight he was putting on it or the cane. His fingers twitched as he touched the door containing blood and peered into the office like kitchen area, feeling a sense of foreboding fill his mind he pushed the open door wider.

V's throat became tight to the point that he had trouble swallowing, a painful feeling akin to acidic bile filled V with the urge to throw up but forced his composure to remain calm. Anything could happen, she could be okay and he was worrying for nothing. Yet, dread filled him and wanted nothing more than to know where she was. She couldn't have abandoned him, she was out cold before he passed out. Too injured to have walked away so where was she?

As V continued moved on shaky legs he used his cane to help him move further, meanwhile he used the other hand to grip the sides of the wall only to notice marks on the wallpaper that reminded him of finger nails. Feeling his ears become hot from the anxiety that was starting to bubble from within as his mind went to the hands he saw in his nightmare. This had to be a coincidence right? He was just conjuring up images based on nothing. However his body now moving without his consent once again approached the sink, sweat filled his forehead while his heart throbbed painfully against his ribcage.

"It was only a dream, it's not-" his stomach plummeted from what he saw.

"!" V without hesitation looked around the room to see if anyone was inside, there had to be considering how fresh the blood looked. His cane clinked heavily as he looked around the chairs only to freeze in horror.

V's grip on his cane slackened to the point that it landed on the floor with a heavy thump, disbelief filled V's face as his knees suddenly dropped to the floor.

"This… this can't be happening" V's hands trembled violently as they reached for the blood coated fox. Gingerly picking up the unconscious fox, V slowly cradled her to his chest silently despite his heavy breathing echoing dully in his ears. His heart thundered heavily painfully, but he paid no heed.

"You need to wake up Vergil. I can't cheat you out of this mess" the voice's words echoed in his ears once more, shivering V pulled Hara's form closer to his chest in order to examine her. To his dismay her form remained limp as he moved her head so he could see the side of her face.

"Hey V-WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!" Griffon yelled in shock after appearing from within the marks. His wings flapped violently before landing, scrambling to his feet, Griffon moved closer to the pair before noticing V's form trembling slightly.

"V? Are You okay? Speak to me" Griffon nudged the stunned male with his beak, turning to look at the avian slightly, V stared at him wordlessly. However Griffon's response did little to snap V out of what he was feeling.

"V! You're-?!" Griffon watched in shock as he saw tears run down the male's pale cheeks to the point they landed on the unconscious fox.

"What have I done…?" V wanted to ask Griffon, instead he turned to look back at Hara's form.

"You have eyes, but you do not use them. You have a brain, but you shut it off when you need it the most. You have emotions but you lock them away because you fear it will control you" V's grip tightened on Hara's form as the voice's words entered his mind once more. That voice, it had done something hadn't it? To the fox? It had to be a the reason why she was in this manner. Why had he even gotten close to this small animal knowing that it was going to die eventually? Why had he chose to care at all when everything he would think of caring about would either leave or die eventually?

"Sadly Vergil powers are often tied to emotions, the more you feel the more energy you can release but it depends on how you use that power is important" V gritted his teeth in anger as his body shook, frustration and rage filled his mind at how he had allowed himself to fall in such a disgraceful manner and all because he wanted to live. To defeat his brother, only look where that had gotten him? Weakened and stripping himself from things that he deemed weak.

"However, I can provide you a means of surviving but only if you try to not push yourself. Do the right thing, go see your brother for help and I'll provide you with a means of living a bit longer"

"Ha…" V released a bitter laugh as he looked up at the ceiling, tears ran down his face burning his skin as he closed his eyes. How low had he sunk?

He had done what the voice had asked, however look where that had gotten him?
In the end, Dante had lost. His only hope had failed him when he needed it.

"But… is it truly fair to blame him when you were not being honest with him to begin with?" a voice entered V's mind causing him to stiffen.

"What do you…?"

"V! snap out of it you can't help anyone if you don't move" Griffon said as he grew worried about the situation, what exactly happened when he had been out cold? All he knew was that he had been sent against the wall by a cheap shot and being sent back into the marks.

"I did this… somehow" V mused as he gritted his teeth. "I caused this, I hurt another one…"

"Am I really cursed to lose those I care about over and over?" V felt bitterness fill his heart.

"Is it not better to avoid attachments altogether?" V looked at Hara's form once more feeling more sick and worried about how low her breathing was.

"V snap out of it! We should find some first aid box or something these humans have. Surely there should be something to help-"

"I don't even know how damaged she is, what makes you think it would help?" V asked softly, unable to respond loudly nor voice out his frustrations.

"It doesn't hurt to try. Why not find the kid? See if he can help" Griffon suggested causing V to laugh bitterly.

"He doesn't know how to treat animals, what makes you think I can either?" V looked up at the ceiling weakly once more.

"You're not helping anyone by feeling sorry for yourself Shakespeare!" Griffon snapped before flapping his wings. "Get up, what would Hara say if she saw you like this?"

"And yet… I was foolish enough to include her in this mess, I should have sent her away sooner. Should have left her with that boy and his friend. At least she would have been safer-"

"And yet she chose to be with you, isn't that something? Look I know I don't say this out aloud much but don't you think it's worth it, having her around?" Griffon asked surprising V. Feeling bashful the avian looked away.

"You know… actually being there to support you when you need it and all- look I ain't into sappy, emotional stuff and neither are you! You can say she's grown on me!" Griffon huffed. "Now can we get a move on? The longer we take, the more danger we're putting ourselves in" the avian muttered leaving V smiling wryly. Looking at the unconscious fox, V stroked her fur lightly. Mindful of any injuries she had sustained.

Truly she did bring out the strangest feelings from within them, to think Griffon would admit such a thing considering how proud he is. Sighing V stood up while accepting the fallen cane Griffon handed to him, he looked at the sink once more before making his way out the room.

Griffon who was eyeing the sink cringed as a shiver went down his spine.

"For an addictive smell, it leaves me feeling sick to my stomach… wonder who's blood that is" he mused before flying after V.