Well, it's been a while since I updated.

Virgil: It's been a month

Well, fanfic was having problems

Virgil: so why didn't you write a few chapters while it was down, so then u could come back with a bang?

Uhhh, because I like to see what people think of each chapter before writing another one? That, and I had to do a 48 hour long dance to celebrate completing FFX

Virgil: wow. that actually made sense.

*Phew* well, anyway, I hope we can all get back to our story writing/reviewing.

Virgil: just write the chapter already!

I'm GETTING TO THAT!

Virgil: no need to shout.

Here's chapter *looks at last chapter he wrote* seven

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Virgil ran over to Nicole. He pulled her to the curb and made sure she was all right. She seemed fine, just unconscious.

"Nicole! Hey Nicole!" He shouted, but she didn't respond.

She seemed very cold, and her face had been drained of colour. She had a death grip on the staff, and Virgil had to be careful not to touch it as he was dragging her. He had managed to contact his father, so hopefully he would arrive soon.

Virgil's thoughts were interrupted by a hissing sound behind him. Virgil turned around to see another shadow circling them. He looked around for his sword, but had dropped it after going for Nicole. He then heard another hissing sound, and saw 2 more shadows come out into the light.

This was not going to be pretty.

The first beast lunged forward towards Virgil. He dodged the attack, and sent a punch for the shadow, knocking it a few metres back. Then the other two shadows decided to join in, both coming at Virgil from 2 directions. He tried desperately to dodge the attacks, but after dodging one, he was hit head on by the other. He went flying back and landed on the road with a sickening crunch Virgil, slowly got up, just in time to see a shadow heading in for the kill.

The shadow jumped up high in the air, span around, and shot down at Virgil. It was over.

In the blink of an eye, the shadow was hurtling down towards Virgil, then was struck in the side by an unknown force. The shadow fell to the ground, obviously wounded. Virgil quickly got up and saw someone with white hair on a motorcycle holding two very familiar guns.

"DAD!" Virgil shouted as one of the shadows ran towards him. Dante raised Ebony and Ivory, and fired. Dante fired relentlessly, and Virgil (who had now found Alistor) was attacking the dark spheres as they changed form. The battle was over within minutes.

Dante got off the motorcycle and ran over to Virgil.

"Hey, you alright?"

"I'm fine, but Nicole needs help."

They both walked over to the young girl, who was still unconscious. Dante looked over her.

"What happened?"

Virgil started to explain, but was interrupted by more hissing in the background. There were now five shadows appearing out of the darkness.

"Grab her and come with me."

Virgil carefully picked Nicole up in his arms, making sure not to touch the staff. It seemed frozen to her right hand. He got on the motorcycle. They both sped away, before any of the shadows had time to react.

Dante rode carefully back, so as not to unbalance the bike, which was supporting more that its fair share of weight. The sight of his house started to come into view. He pulled up outside the front door, and they all got off. Virgil went inside and laid Nicole down on the couch.

"Ok." Dante started. "Who did you ROYALLY piss off?"

"Haven't got a clue."

"Ok, start from the beginning."

Virgil told his father about all the things that had happened. About his visions, what happened to Nicole, the staff, everything up to where Dante saved him.

"I was hoping." Virgil started. "That you might have some book that would help me find out what all this means, or at least something about the staff she has.

"Yeah, what is this thing anyway?" Dante knelt down and reached to touch the staff.

"WHOA! DON'T TOUCH IT!" Dante calmly moved back, holding up his hands in a 'I surrender' position. "Don't you remember what I said about it? It's REALLY cold, and it'll turn you into an ice-cube!"

Dante got up headed off to the basement.

"I'll have a look for any information on the staff, you stay with her, she will come around soon. It's best that she isn't alone when she does." He disappeared into the basement

Virgil nodded, and sat in a chair by her, and held her left hand, waiting for her to regain consciousness. He saw her eyes flicker and knew she was dreaming. She also murmured out a few incomprehensible words, Virgil knew that she would soon wake up.

"Virgil. Don't go, I need you."

Virgil jolted at this last remark, and felt her hand grip tighter on his. Then she stopped murmuring and slowly opened her eyes.