Darkness filled V's mind as he woke up, looking around he saw nothing but endless space. A chill filled his form until he realised that he wore nothing leaving him startled and uneasy.

Where was he? Surely this should be the end right?

He should have merged with Urizen and yet, he felt empty.

Why did he feel empty? Incomplete? Unsettled?

So many things ran through his head as he looked around the vast space. Was there no one beside him in the area?

"Is this… where I am meant to be because of my sins?" V wanted to smile bitterly but his eyes grew heavy from tears. All he wanted was to fix his wrongs- Vergil's wrongs and yet he failed somehow hadn't he?

So why was he here? To be punished?

Was this purgatory?

Chills filled his spine from the thought.

If that was the case where were his familiars? Were they dead too? Or were they free before someone or something killed them? Were they happy that he had merged? Or were they happy that he was finally gone. Out of their lives.

Holding himself with his arms tightly V hunched forward as sadness filled his eyes. His mind wondering to how he had gotten to this situation. How he had allowed more regrets to fill his mind. It wasn't fair!

Why did she have to die? Why did she have to leave him?

Did she hate him that much like everyone else?

Why was she so desperate to leave him when he needed her the most? Now when he was finally starting to slowly understand his emotions. She had to be taken away from him. Just like his mother…

Pain filled his eyes as he shivered once more, sniffles filled his ears which would have left him disgusted at how low he had now sunk and yet. He could not find it in him to care.

He was alone again.

How long has it been since the merge? Minutes? Hours? Days?

His job had been completed and yet, it felt more of a hollow victory.

V's mind continued to drift as he gazed emptily into the void, not that he could move or do anything in the vast space. In the end this is what it amounted to.

Regrets.

Some that weren't even his own and yet, it was.

Urizen had been apart of him just as he was apart of the demon. In the end, he had killed his own friend. He had snuffed her out just because she was a threat just like Urizen had claimed.

A threat to what? Him feeling anything?

Was having feelings really that wrong? Was caring for someone truly a crime in Urizen's eyes?

If that was the case, V would have been more than happy to send Urizen away. A blight like that had no place hurting anyone.

…

/

…

"Who are you?" a voice alerted V to something. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw Urizen before he was covered in vines, only he was facing what looked like a white haired red eyed girl. Blinking at the demon with curious eyes she stood facing him. Unafraid of who he was surprising V.

Get away! V wanted to yell at the girl, wanting nothing more than to stop her from getting hurt. Why was she even approaching him? Surely she should know how dangerous he was so why? Why? Why?!

"Are you okay?" the girl asked as she placed her hand on the demon's arm, feeling him flinch from the feeling.

"You're not well are you?" the girl said wearily as sadness formed on her face. V now startled watched her as she continued to speak to Urizen who remained silent. Unable to understand what was going on. All he knew was pain and waking up to a strange place before she had appeared.

"Don't worry, I'll help you. I may not be able to do much but I can try to help you regain what you lost" she added kindly, this caused V to feel Urizen's heart to skip in surprise.

"How… can you help if you do… not know?" Urizen's voice sounded tired to their ears. Hearing this the girl's lips pursed in sadness.

"I came from a time period that knows what happened. I want to help you get better Urizen. But only if you'll let me" she said with a determined look. Stunned V could only watch as she led Urizen away from what appeared to be the house. Which had been the place they had been born.

As he watched in silence and disbelief, V observed the girl as she taught Urizen things that Vergil had stripped from him. The ability to feel, to understand about why he wanted power. It scared V at how there were times Urizen would want to attack and yet, he didn't. Only vocally lashed out from time to time, however instead of retaliating she remained patient towards the demon.

"He is merely frustrated, that is all" V's eyes widened as he heard her words despite the fact she had not moved her mouth at all. Who was this girl?!

And how could she be so patient with such an incomplete demon who was very temperamental?

What felt like weeks flew through V as he watched Urizen and the girl's bond deepen to the point that Urizen's form slowly started to change. Appearing less deformed and more draconic.

"Your form is a representation of yourself. Because you thought yourself to be a monster- an ugly unworthy of being cared for. You had become the very thing you hated" the girl explained as she placed a hand on Urizen's arm as he looked troubled by her words one day.

"I don't think you're a monster, I'm sure deep down you know you are anything but that. But you choose to hide yourself because according to you, it's better to be loathed than loved or happy" the girl had said after seeing Urizen's face twist in thought. Seeing this she smiled and patted his head softly in an affectionate manner that caused V's chest to clench painfully.

His mind went to Hara who always tried to comfort and care for the man who had become a shadow of who he was. Who had cared for him regardless of the bad things that he had done. She had seen him in pain and wanted nothing more than to help him. Just like this girl is doing… with Urizen?!

"See? I know it's very hard to listen to a human since we're apparently weak in a demon's eyes but you can always feel empathy. It's not just a human thing it's a thing everyone has. You have but to choose to see that" she winked leaving V and Urizen in awe at how she could see past the deformed form.

"Ha…ra…?" V's eyes widened as he watched Urizen's form slowly transform into a large blue and black dragon with four wings.

The girl smiled widely as the dragon demon looked at his form in surprise. V's heart thudded in his chest from seeing this new form, disbelief filled him at how this girl could just change the heart of a demon of all things. A stubborn one that made sure never to feel again, who craved power above all else to satisfy his desire to never be hurt or taken advantage of ever again.

His mind also went to the voice who had at times spoke to him, to the fox who remained at his side. Now thinking about it, bitter chuckles left his lips at how easily he paid little to no heed with their voices. In the end it was the same voice as the girl who was with Urizen. She had been there for him, seeing their worst and still showing support when they truly needed it. But why?

In the end, she was going to leave so why bother?

"See? I knew you were hiding your true self!" the girl beamed at the demon before patting his hand lightly, alerting the demon she was still in front of him. His eyes glowed and dimmed a few times before a sharp wind surrounded them, opening her eyes the girl was shocked to see a mini version of the dragon now almost hovering in her hands. Releasing a mini giggle she hugged the demon against her chest.

"Oh Uri, what I am I going to do with you Mr?" she said softly as she nuzzled the draconic demon in a loving gesture that made V envious. A silly notion as he and Urizen were one in the same.

"Won't be long before I have to send you back to V, you both need to go home soon I'm afraid" the girl said mentally so Urizen who was purring in her arms did not hear her. Sadness gripped her heart as she hugged him tighter. Feeling her sadness Urizen looked up and nudged her with his head causing her to look down.

"I'm just glad you are yourself" she said in a sincere tone, releasing a few garbled noises Urizen's tail wagged in happiness at how he found peace with himself. Unaware of what she was planning.

A bitter feeling that filled V and the girl as time continued to form.

Hara… it's you isn't it? Is this what you look like as a human? V wanted to ask but could not find it in himself to speak. In the end it had made sense, the contract. The cracks on the fox's skin which should have formed on V. It was a consequence he should have taken only it passed itself on to her.

"What exactly have you done to help? Nothing! If there was a contract between us, I would have known!" At that moment V felt the urge to slap himself in the face for being harsh, for being blind towards her words. How had he not noticed how exhausted the fox's body had become as opposed to his increased healthy state. There had been times she was silent, in pain only he had been blind to those moments. Desperate to right the wrong Vergil had made. To restore himself so he would not die. He was scared of death, he did not want to fail and wanted nothing more than to finish what he started. Not fully realising his actions had consequences.

"I tied my lifeforce to yours, if you drain yours, I'll be forced to offer mine in exchange to balance things out. However if we are both depleted- we both die" Tears of frustration filled V's face once more, mentally berating himself for being blind and foolish. He as Vergil had been proud, too proud that he didn't notice the suffering of others. Not realising he was trampling over others to achieve his own goals, this time he had done it again with someone who had silently took the brunt of his actions.

Some friend he had been.

Hara… I'm so sorry V gripped his hair tightly as his body shook violently as tears ran down his face. His voice became a dull echo in his ears as he apologised for his pride and folly.

"You have eyes and yet you don't see, you don't use them properly" sobs left his throat as they became louder. Maybe it was better that He- Vergil didn't exist. If it stopped people from being hurt by his ignorance. Then who was he to complain

That it? You just want to give up and bury your head in the sand?

V looked up to see the vast space once more, Urizen and the girl no longer appeared in his line of sight but he cared not. Especially with what was going on through his mind.

A blue light caught his line of vision causing him to turn to the right. There fluttering in the distance was a translucent blue butterfly.

You mustn't give up, everyone deserves a second chance do they not?

But not me V wanted to say grudgingly as he looked at his hands until the butterfly flew towards him.

Then are you saying? Meeting with her was a mistake?

V's face turned cold from the comment, how could it ask such a thing? Of course it was not! But how could he fix things when she's dead because of him? He was now merged with Urizen while Vergil did who knows what now that he was free to move once more. For all he knew Vergil had left the corpse of the fox to be fed by crows and maggots.

The thought sent disgust down V's spine.

So are you saying? That if you had the chance- you would want to fix things? To end things without regrets?

"How could you say that? It's too late to fix what I had damaged!" V yelled wanting to send the butterfly away but found himself unable to do so.

Is it truly?

V pursed his lips before his shoulders drooped in despair.

"She would never forgive me"

It is not up to you to decide what she is thinking. She- like you is her own person. She came here to help you, not just because she was told to come here. She helped you of her own volition. Not wanting anything in return

V bit the inside of his lower lip as thoughts filled his mind.

What is your wish?

V closed his eyes as his body slowly became heavy as fatigue filled him.

I… I want more time with her

Then make a new contract with her