V stared at the sleeping fox with a pained look on his face, dread filled his already pale from the fact that despite trying to find the boy and his friend. They had been ambushed and forced to retreat to another location until it was safe to find a better route. Disbelief still filled the male's form at how quickly they were spotted and from the sheer amount of demons that ambushed them.

Almost everywhere they looked demons swarmed with disturbing looks that sent chills down their spines.

"Give us the girl" a few growled almost looking as if they were going to devour the group due to the hungry looks in their eyes.

Griffon who would usually mock the attacking demons was left perturbed from what they were talking about, especially since there was no human girl within their midst except the only females with them were Shadow and Hara. Very soon the avian snapped out of his musings knowing that there was no time to be talk to the attacking demons who appeared mindless and focused on one thing, not that could he understand why the demons were acting rabid towards their fallen companion. After all, she was just a fox in Griffon's eyes. Something small and right now helpless in his eyes.

Was there something she was not telling them?

Not that he could blame her for being quiet, especially since they all had their own secrets that they didn't want to share with each other.

On the other hand, a particular scent had continued to waft inside Griffon's nose ever since the fox had gotten injured. Only instead of focusing on where it was coming from and why it carried an addictive smell, he shook his head at times in order to concentrate as it continued to distract him, that was until V landed the final blow with one arm keeping the fox close to his chest.

Each and every member of the group eventually began to feel fatigue fill their bodies thanks to how relentless the demons were and towards their fallen companion. To their dismay they had to make a tactical retreat as the numbers never seemed to dwindle only increase with every minute passing by. Especially since V's strength began to wane fast to the point his skin was getting paler and his focus was not completely in the fight.

How had this amount of demons populating the area not alerted Nero was beyond V, as a result frustration continued to pile up until Griffon helped him into the air while Shadow created a distraction in order to let them escape. This in turn only resulted in various injuries leaving them more sore and more tired than ever.

"Do not take her from us!" some of the demons screamed angrily sending chills down their spines.

Nausea filled V, not knowing what to do as he was forced to watch Hara breathing heavily. Almost as if she was gasping for air despite being unconscious. Nothing they could do could wake her up as she almost remained still as a board, almost appearing lifeless in their eyes scaring them despite her chest rising up and down rapidly. Shadow released mournful noises as concern filled her lithe while she curled up around the fox in order to keep her warm. Meanwhile Griffon continued acted as if this wasn't bothering him, only the avian's façade was near the verge of shattering as he watched his companions looking torn and helpless. Not that he could blame them as his feathers were often being pulled from his constant preening.

To make it worse rain continued to pelt down on them making their journey much more harder than Griffon would have liked.

Yes they could defend themselves but then it would have meant leaving Hara in a more vulnerable position until the demons were taken care of. Something even Griffon was finding hard to allow as nagging feelings continued to surround his mind. Leaving him feeling strange considering he was just a nightmare- a fragment of someone's imagination forced into being just to push away their own pain.

How could something like this even happen still perplexed the bird as he watched with cautious eyes, just watching V gripping his book tightly as he sat down beside the fox and panther left Griffon wanting to ease the unsettled tension, to assure him that the fox would be fine. But, how could he even say something that even he was finding that hard to believe? Were nightmares capable of lying even to their contractors? Griffon did not want to find out as he ruffled his feathers, trying to push as much water away from his soaked form.

Looking at the rain outside his shoulders hunched in frustration, surely the kid had to be nearby so how is it that they couldn't find him? Had they travelled too far?

"You have that look on your face" V's words snapped Griffon out of his musing.

"Pretty sure it looks the same as it always has been, might want to look at the mirror yourself Shakespeare. You're not exactly looking so hot yourself" Griffon quipped earning a small wry smile from V who then frowned once more.

"I…"

"You're worried about her" V's eyes went vacant for a brief moment, meanwhile his grip on the brown book tightened without thinking, "no one's judging you" Griffon shrugged as he looked on from where they were hiding in- an abandoned apartment surrounded by ruined buildings.

"It's normal since you're human and all" Griffon commented, his irises glinted from the light. Watching as V placed a hand on the fox's pelt with worried eyes, despite trying to mask them.

"Have to admit, that was worrying what happened out there. All those demons appeared out of nowhere acting crazy and over the fox of all things" V's hand tensed on Hara's fur, his body went rigid as his mind went back to the demons. Just witnessing what looked like a plague of locusts in the form of demons going after one thing sent shivers down his spine as he remembered what happened during Vergil's youth. Just what had she done to provoke them?

Just then V's mind as he replayed what happened froze as words repeated in his mind.

"Give us the girl"

"So hungry… just one bite"

"Give us eternal life"

"Such sweet blood" blood ran from V's face as he shot a look at Hara who was coughing and spluttering blood in her sleep, shivering violently watched before picking her up from Shadow's hold and held her close to his chest. Slowly but carefully wiping blood from her maw V's chest clenched.

"Sparda's blood" a familiar voice echoed in V's mind leaving him with a sickening feeling the more he processed what took place.

"She's just like me" V murmured in disbelief as his mind wondered to how she was still alive. How she had lasted this long despite being hunted down?

What had she gone through before meeting him?
Was this why she wanted to help him? Because she knew somehow?

Clutching her closer to his chest, V shivered from various emotions not noticing his familiars staring at him. Instead his mind went back to when Vergil had fought to survive and what he went through over the years. Had she gone through something similar?

"What am I thinking?" V mused as he looked at her body as blood left her maw once more "She's just a fox right?" he pondered before fear settled into his bones once more.

"Not like this… I… can't keep-" a faint voice groaned in his mind stunning him, blinking he felt a draft caused by Griffon's wings.

"You alright Shakespeare?" Griffon asked as V turned to look around startling the avian enough to move backwards from the sudden movement.

"Did you hear that?" V asked earning him a confused look from Griffon and Shadow.

"Hear what? Oh great he's hearing things! Hear that kitty? He's going nuts finally!" Griffon cried in dismay earning him a groan from Shadow.

"I'm not… hearing things" V looked at Hara who was still shaking in his arms. Placing his book inside his jacket he used his free hand to wipe some of the blood from her maw. Mindful of her teeth as he continued to clean the blood away.

"That's what they all say before they lose it" Griffon muttered before being pushed away thanks to V's cane.

"I heard a voice" V said firmly as he looked at Griffon from the corner of his eye. "It was a girl's" Griffon went silent before bursting out laughing.

"Great! Should have known you'd lose it! What's next? You have a mental relationship with one?" Griffon teased earning him an exasperated look from V.

"I'm not going crazy" V shook his head sombrely "it's not the first time I heard her either" he admitted earning him silence from the avian, sensing that Griffon didn't believe him V flashed him a cold look.

"I'm not making this up!" V said firmly as Griffon moved backwards with his wings.

"Okay, okay sheesh! Wind him up and he goes angry" Griffon shook his head "So when did the voice speak to you?"

"When I first fought Nightmare" V said earning him a silent but horrified expression.

"You're telling us this now?!" Griffon yelled now flapping his wings angrily. V hearing this frowned while stroking Hara's head lightly, mindful of disturbing her. "Well? What did she want?" Griffon asked sounding impatient while Shadow paddled towards V and sat by his knees.

"She… wanted to help increase my time" Griffon flashed him a look.

"And you believe her?" Griffon asked sounding sceptical the more he listened, a wry smile formed on V's face.

"I dreamt a dream! What can it mean?
And that I was a maiden Queen
Guarded by an Angel mild" V said while thinking back to the conversation, Griffon hearing this groaned.

"So? Did she do anything to help?" Griffon asked as he observed V, blinking V looked at the fox with guarded eyes.

"I feel less weak, so she must have done something" V replied startling Griffon. "But that doesn't mean I'll risk it by summoning Nightmare every so often. For all I know it's only a temporary solution until I re-join with Urizen" grumbling Griffon shook his head.

"Should have told us Shakespeare, at least we could be aware for anything suspicious. Although… when you were out cold, there didn't seem to be any demons invading your body so this voice might not be a devil or demon" a cold chuckle left V's lips.

"Did the voice tell you who they were though?" Griffon asked.

"I did not ask, I was already suspicious of the fact she was offering her help to begin with" V replied simply before standing up. "We can't stay here for long, we need to get something to help her" V added as his body groaned in protest from standing.

"But the kid's nowhere to be seen, how are we going to get medicine for an animal?" Griffon asked as he watched V grab his cane.

"Which is why you're going to scout ahead and find the boy, tell him to find us" V said, ignoring Griffon's reaction.

"You want me to leave you and kitty here alone?! Have you gone mad? Did you not see how dangerous these demons were towards us? Look, I can't believe I'm saying this but we should ditch whitey. All they want is her-" V's cane slammed into Griffon before they could process what was happening, disbelief filled V's face as he stared at the cane and then the injured avian who landed on the floor with a thump.

"For real? Bloody heck V that hurts!" Griffon mutters darkly as he got up. Shivering in pain the avian flashed him a cold look only to freeze as V's glare silenced him.

"We are not leaving her behind! Do I make myself clear?" V said sternly, Shadow growled lowly as she prowled beside V while her eyes narrowed angrily startling Griffon.

"Okay okay! Don't go crazy over a fox. I'm going, I'm going" Griffon muttered as he left the building via the window, swallowing thickly Griffon pushed away the uncomfortable feeling that was swarming in his gut. She was a stubborn fox, surely she'd get better soon right?

Shaking his head mentally Griffon flapped faster in order to try and find Nero, ignoring the rain as it pelted harder on his body.

"Never seek to tell thy love,
Love that never told can be;
For the gentle wind does move
Silently, invisibly.
I told my love, I told my love,
I told her all my heart;
Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears,
Ah! she did depart!

Soon as she was gone from me,
A traveller came by,
Silently, invisibly
He took her with a sigh" V spoke softly as he read Hara one of the poems, worry formed on his face from seeing her remain unresponsive to his voice. Keeping her within the warmth of his jacket V kept his eyes on her and the book.

"You know… I don't know what that means but, if that's what I think you're talking about then it's kind of offensive to me" V remembered her words as they fought the parasite that had latched itself on to the tree.

"Why would it be? He's only directing it at the parasite? Are you saying that your mind is made up of bricks?" Griffon had asked while she frowned at them.

"I maybe slow but that doesn't mean I like being lazy, it's just that I get put off when it gets too much for my mind to take" she had replied while leaping over a vine.

"What do you mean slow? You saying you have a problem or something?" Griffon asked ignoring V's look.

"I'm dyslexic so there are things I can process, sadly poems are a bit too much for my mind to take" Hara explained bluntly. "Just translate them for me when you read them out, please" she muttered weakly.

V as he remembered their talk bit the inside of his cheek. Stroking Hara's fur lightly his eyes remained on the page before reading what the poem meant, something that would seem strange for him to do considering how he enjoyed just leaving people confused with what sounded like random poems and yet. Just hearing that someone was actually interested in what he loved reading gave him a warm feeling. Did Hara enjoy literature as well?

The very thought someone cared to listen made V continue to read more of his poems until he felt her shivering slowly ebb away, startled he quickly checked her breathing only to slump in relief when he felt her breathing become stable. Looking up at them, Shadow's eyes contained worry before V placed his hand on her head softly earning him a brief purr from the feline.

"I'm… worried to" V said surprised by his very words, considering how he tried to remain as detached as possible with everyone around him. Closing his eyes V tried to feel if the voice was nearby, hoping to at least gain some idea of what was going on. What was her connection to the fox that was accompanying them.

On the other hand, did he truly want to know?

Why was he hesitating now of all times? Surely he hated being in the dark and yet, just watching Hara he felt as if he could fully trust her. Did he feel a sense of kinship considering what took place outside? He was unsure and yet he did not hesitate to keep her safe and away from the demons, even when she was unable to fight back. Although, considering she was holding one of his nightmares surely Phantom should have appeared to help so why hadn't he? What had caused the spider demon to remain dormant?

Did she also require energy and an active mind to unlock the spider?

Musing he continued to lean back against a wall, unable to go near any open areas in case they were ambushed. What was the reason?

Without a doubt he was going to ask Hara once she was awake and fully recovered. He had to know why she was found in the state that she was in. He had to know why he was moved and who moved him after they had been knocked out. V was sure that Hara had been out cold as well so what was he missing?

His mind pounded heavily leaving him groaning from an upcoming headache.

"Whatever it is, I need to know" V said while his brows furrowed.

"Do you though?" A strange voice entered his mind stunning him.

"And then when you know? Would it all be worth it?" Swallowing thickly he ignored Shadow's concerned look and closed his eyes briefly, mindful of Hara's sleeping form.

"I'd be careful of what I'd wish for, you may never end up liking the results" V's face turned grave, for sure this was not the female voice but instead sounded like his own voice. Something that troubled him as of late.

Slowly V's eyes closed feeling Shadow remain close, knowing that she was watching and would alert him of any intruders. Something that should leave him unsettled as he refused to remain out and vulnerable, yet he was willing to take the risk as his body remained exhausted.

"Shakespeare! Oi! Wake up already!" Griffon's yelling startled V out of his slumber while clenching the fox close to his chest, panic briefly filled him before looking at where the avian's voice was located. Without warning the doors nearby broke apart before heavy footsteps entered his hearing, startled V stood up and took a defensive pose before seeing Nero appear from the door to his relief.

"Sorry I'm late, there was an insane amount of demons in the area. Wouldn't have been able to find you if chickee hadn't told us you were in trouble" Nero said before examining the trio. "What happened? Is she alright?" Nero said now approaching the pair after stowing his gun away. V's heart continued to thunder against his chest despite the relief semi forming on his face.

"She… she needs help" V said before looking down at the sleeping fox. Nero's form grew worried as he offered to take the fox only to put his hands into the air the moment V grew defensive.

"Easy V, I'm just going to take her to be examined. Besides you look like you need a rest, no offense but you look like hell" Nero said earning him a wry smirk from the tired male.

"He who desires but acts not breeds pestilence" V muttered as he walked past the male. Hearing Nero grumble to himself V felt some of his body relax knowing that they were now for safe.

"So what had the demons upset? I've never seen a swarm that big before" Nero asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine kid" Griffon replied as he followed the group down the stairs. V on the other hand felt his arms and hands tense up as he held Hara to his chest, hoping to mask the worry that was fighting to form on his face.

"You cannot hide her forever, we will claim her blood for our own"