I know the last chapter was rather dark compared to the rest of the story and might have been…annoying? But well that's the way I kinda planned it. I felt something bad had to happen in this story. ^_^*
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Epilogue
It was a week later. In that week Brenz felt like he had aged 10 years, and he knew he probably looked just as bad. As he sat in his office and stared into space with unseeing, tired eyes, he tried to recall if he was forgetting anything important he should be doing. On his head had fallen the responsibility of tying up all the loose ends created. Taking care of Kuri for one. Poor girl. Brenz, in hopes that a different environment would be more soothing to her, had transferred her back to her old orphanage where she could be among her old friends. As he had steadied her shoulders and given her a goodbye hug, he had tried to send her a silent message that she should try to forget all she had seen. She had asked no questions, but her pain filled eyes burning with confusion were enough to make him turn away. She knew she had seen something strange in the woods. Unworldly. Dark. Terrifying. Brenz sighed and rubbed a kink out of his neck. Kuri was a strong young woman and would recover in time, even if she never got her questions answered.
Other, even less pleasant matters he had to attend to were things like Rob's funeral. He had managed to chalk up the death to an animal attack. The funeral had been held in a local cemetery. Brenz, thinking about how the funeral had gone, felt his thoughts turn to Dante. The boy had been very quite all week, except for the occasional painfully forced smile and laugh he would give people. Brenz ran his fingers through his hair. First the boy's dad, then his mom and brother, and now his closest friend…for a 15 year old he had had a rough life. And for all these tragedies to be cause by the same evil forces…it made Brenz wonder what Dante must be thinking. "I should go talk to him," he said aloud softly to himself. He knew where he was. Dante and the dog had gone there just about everyday for the last week now.
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Dante sat in the little grove of trees that he and Rob had spent so much time in as boys. He hadn't been there in years really and had been surprised at how much smaller it seemed now. He brushed the floor of dead pine needles absently with his hand, lost in old memories of childhood. Blade, lying next to him, licked his hand and whined softly. Dante looked down at him and smiled. "You miss him too, don't you boy?" Dante scratched the devil dog's head. Dante had always almost taken Rob for granted. He had really almost been a brother more than a friend, yet I their own childish way neither of them had ever considered that one of them might be killed. They had been young and arrogant…and Rob had paid the price. Dante felt a tear fall. He put his hand to his face, took a deep, and pushed the hand up through his hair letting out the breath. "You can come in if you want. I know you're there," he said to the air.
Grass crunched softly as Brenz ducked into the grove. Blade's tail thumped twice and Brenz patted him with a wry grin. "He's really gotten big since you found him." The silent plural 'you' was not lost on Dante, who smiled back a bit.
"Yeah. I guess he has grown up a bit. Everyone did." Dante stretched to lie on his back, staring up into the twilight blue sky. Brenz was curious to see a strange gleam in his eyes. Dante turned his face to him and smiled. "But you know what? I don't really want to grow up. At least not to become some stuffy suited nobody. I want to be me, forever. I think Rob wanted the same thing for himself."
Brenz hesitated. "Dante…"
Dante shook his head. "No. I'm not giving up or anything. I'm still going to be the best damn devil hunter the world has seen. I'm going to do it my way though. And…alone. Rob…taught me that much. He once told me that he thought our experiences teach us better than anything else can. I agreed and still do. And it's in my experience that the Underworld must be stopped…and that those that try to help me seem to get hurt." He jumped to his feet and Blade got up as well with a bark. "So I will continue to fight. So that no one else has to die."
Brenz was rather taken aback. He had expected the same cocky Dante he had known for years, and in some ways he still was the same. The cockiness and attitude remained, but a little subdued by a new maturity. Yet…how could he let Dante continue down his path? One of the boys in his care had already died and Brenz did not want to see the same bloody fate for Dante. It was hard allow the boy to put himself in danger, yes….but even harder still to keep him from his obvious destiny. "Dante." The boy, no, man, looked at him. Brenz just looked back expressionless for a long second, then a smile crept across his face. "Good luck. I know you'll succeed."
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7 years later…..
Dante sat in a bar sipping a Jack and Coke. Business had been picking up lately. At first he had worried that Devil May Cry would either go unnoticed or that the people who called would just be psychos. Apparently he had earned some status and gotten mentioned in the right circles. He smiled behind his glass. Hot damn, that meant he could raise prices.
"Dante Sparda…" a man's voice said behind him. Dante did not respond but instead finished his drink with one gulp. It was highly unlikely that a devil would attack him in such a public place. This guy was probably some desperate, pesky, customer whose call he hadn't returned. He turned to tell the guy to beat it, and frowned slightly instead.
"You…?"
The slightly balding man smiled faintly. "Don't tell me you've forgotten me after only four years?"
Recognition dawned on Dante. "Brenz?!" The older Brenz chuckled at him. It was Brenz! He had gained a few pounds and lost a few hairs, but the familiar twinkle was still in his eyes. "Of course I haven't forgotten you! It's just a surprise to see you again. Faces from the past and shit." Dante tensed suddenly, then almost laughed. It was good to know he still tensed when he swore in front of his former headmaster.
Brenz took a seat next to him. "It has been awhile, more so for me than you I think. Once you start aging it really jumps up on you. You still look pretty much the same. Maybe a little more…intimidating."
Dante had left the orphanage at age eighteen, as was required, having missed out on adoptions for ten years. Brenz loaned him enough money to get an apartment and a job until he could support himself. Dante had left Blade at the orphanage in Brenz's care. The devil dog ran loose in the woods for the most part, driving away any demonic intruders that ventured too close to the orphanage. After awhile contact slowed and stopped. Dante hadn't heard from Brenz in about two or three years.
Dante grinned. "That's what I'm going for. I've got a business I've started up." Brenz quirked a curious eyebrow at him. "The same old deal as always. Except now I get paid with cash instead of pats on the back. Plus I get a little closer every day to punching out the bastard who took out my mother and brother."
"Actually I'd heard about your little business myself," Brenz said with a wink. "I'm not as involved with devil hunting as I used to be, but I still hear news. Your name popped up and I thought I'd come see how life was treating you."
Dante spread his arms to gesture the bar area. "Things are good. It's nice to know from someone that my hard work finally paid off too. I thought I was going to be some underpaid, nameless hunter for awhile. Now I'm in some higher circles and I've even set up a password system for myself. What about you? Still at the orphanage?"
Brenz nodded. "Same old place with different kids. Though much more quite since you've disappeared. You and your little posse certainly kept my day busy back when you were young." Suddenly a beeper went off on Brenz's belt. He checked it and sighed. Dante waited. "I've got to run. Apparently some of the kids decided to toilet paper the lawn in my absence."
Dante laughed. "And you say it's quieter there now?!" He let the chuckle die away and stuck out his hand. "It was good to see you again. Take care of yourself." Brenz shook his hand warmly and firmly. He had just about reached the bar's exit when Dante called to him.
"Hey pops……thanks…for all the years. I had a nutty childhood and I want you to know I hold you completely responsible!"
Brenz grinned and gave him a last wave before heading out. Dante ordered another drink as youthful memories gave way to present day thoughts and the scent of a demon somewhere in the area. Time to go to work.
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The End!
I hope you liked it. This was actually my first fic so I hope it was alright. Thanks to all who read and especially to those who reviewed! Now shoo and go play some DMC! You know you want to! ^__^
~~Zellychan
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Epilogue
It was a week later. In that week Brenz felt like he had aged 10 years, and he knew he probably looked just as bad. As he sat in his office and stared into space with unseeing, tired eyes, he tried to recall if he was forgetting anything important he should be doing. On his head had fallen the responsibility of tying up all the loose ends created. Taking care of Kuri for one. Poor girl. Brenz, in hopes that a different environment would be more soothing to her, had transferred her back to her old orphanage where she could be among her old friends. As he had steadied her shoulders and given her a goodbye hug, he had tried to send her a silent message that she should try to forget all she had seen. She had asked no questions, but her pain filled eyes burning with confusion were enough to make him turn away. She knew she had seen something strange in the woods. Unworldly. Dark. Terrifying. Brenz sighed and rubbed a kink out of his neck. Kuri was a strong young woman and would recover in time, even if she never got her questions answered.
Other, even less pleasant matters he had to attend to were things like Rob's funeral. He had managed to chalk up the death to an animal attack. The funeral had been held in a local cemetery. Brenz, thinking about how the funeral had gone, felt his thoughts turn to Dante. The boy had been very quite all week, except for the occasional painfully forced smile and laugh he would give people. Brenz ran his fingers through his hair. First the boy's dad, then his mom and brother, and now his closest friend…for a 15 year old he had had a rough life. And for all these tragedies to be cause by the same evil forces…it made Brenz wonder what Dante must be thinking. "I should go talk to him," he said aloud softly to himself. He knew where he was. Dante and the dog had gone there just about everyday for the last week now.
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Dante sat in the little grove of trees that he and Rob had spent so much time in as boys. He hadn't been there in years really and had been surprised at how much smaller it seemed now. He brushed the floor of dead pine needles absently with his hand, lost in old memories of childhood. Blade, lying next to him, licked his hand and whined softly. Dante looked down at him and smiled. "You miss him too, don't you boy?" Dante scratched the devil dog's head. Dante had always almost taken Rob for granted. He had really almost been a brother more than a friend, yet I their own childish way neither of them had ever considered that one of them might be killed. They had been young and arrogant…and Rob had paid the price. Dante felt a tear fall. He put his hand to his face, took a deep, and pushed the hand up through his hair letting out the breath. "You can come in if you want. I know you're there," he said to the air.
Grass crunched softly as Brenz ducked into the grove. Blade's tail thumped twice and Brenz patted him with a wry grin. "He's really gotten big since you found him." The silent plural 'you' was not lost on Dante, who smiled back a bit.
"Yeah. I guess he has grown up a bit. Everyone did." Dante stretched to lie on his back, staring up into the twilight blue sky. Brenz was curious to see a strange gleam in his eyes. Dante turned his face to him and smiled. "But you know what? I don't really want to grow up. At least not to become some stuffy suited nobody. I want to be me, forever. I think Rob wanted the same thing for himself."
Brenz hesitated. "Dante…"
Dante shook his head. "No. I'm not giving up or anything. I'm still going to be the best damn devil hunter the world has seen. I'm going to do it my way though. And…alone. Rob…taught me that much. He once told me that he thought our experiences teach us better than anything else can. I agreed and still do. And it's in my experience that the Underworld must be stopped…and that those that try to help me seem to get hurt." He jumped to his feet and Blade got up as well with a bark. "So I will continue to fight. So that no one else has to die."
Brenz was rather taken aback. He had expected the same cocky Dante he had known for years, and in some ways he still was the same. The cockiness and attitude remained, but a little subdued by a new maturity. Yet…how could he let Dante continue down his path? One of the boys in his care had already died and Brenz did not want to see the same bloody fate for Dante. It was hard allow the boy to put himself in danger, yes….but even harder still to keep him from his obvious destiny. "Dante." The boy, no, man, looked at him. Brenz just looked back expressionless for a long second, then a smile crept across his face. "Good luck. I know you'll succeed."
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7 years later…..
Dante sat in a bar sipping a Jack and Coke. Business had been picking up lately. At first he had worried that Devil May Cry would either go unnoticed or that the people who called would just be psychos. Apparently he had earned some status and gotten mentioned in the right circles. He smiled behind his glass. Hot damn, that meant he could raise prices.
"Dante Sparda…" a man's voice said behind him. Dante did not respond but instead finished his drink with one gulp. It was highly unlikely that a devil would attack him in such a public place. This guy was probably some desperate, pesky, customer whose call he hadn't returned. He turned to tell the guy to beat it, and frowned slightly instead.
"You…?"
The slightly balding man smiled faintly. "Don't tell me you've forgotten me after only four years?"
Recognition dawned on Dante. "Brenz?!" The older Brenz chuckled at him. It was Brenz! He had gained a few pounds and lost a few hairs, but the familiar twinkle was still in his eyes. "Of course I haven't forgotten you! It's just a surprise to see you again. Faces from the past and shit." Dante tensed suddenly, then almost laughed. It was good to know he still tensed when he swore in front of his former headmaster.
Brenz took a seat next to him. "It has been awhile, more so for me than you I think. Once you start aging it really jumps up on you. You still look pretty much the same. Maybe a little more…intimidating."
Dante had left the orphanage at age eighteen, as was required, having missed out on adoptions for ten years. Brenz loaned him enough money to get an apartment and a job until he could support himself. Dante had left Blade at the orphanage in Brenz's care. The devil dog ran loose in the woods for the most part, driving away any demonic intruders that ventured too close to the orphanage. After awhile contact slowed and stopped. Dante hadn't heard from Brenz in about two or three years.
Dante grinned. "That's what I'm going for. I've got a business I've started up." Brenz quirked a curious eyebrow at him. "The same old deal as always. Except now I get paid with cash instead of pats on the back. Plus I get a little closer every day to punching out the bastard who took out my mother and brother."
"Actually I'd heard about your little business myself," Brenz said with a wink. "I'm not as involved with devil hunting as I used to be, but I still hear news. Your name popped up and I thought I'd come see how life was treating you."
Dante spread his arms to gesture the bar area. "Things are good. It's nice to know from someone that my hard work finally paid off too. I thought I was going to be some underpaid, nameless hunter for awhile. Now I'm in some higher circles and I've even set up a password system for myself. What about you? Still at the orphanage?"
Brenz nodded. "Same old place with different kids. Though much more quite since you've disappeared. You and your little posse certainly kept my day busy back when you were young." Suddenly a beeper went off on Brenz's belt. He checked it and sighed. Dante waited. "I've got to run. Apparently some of the kids decided to toilet paper the lawn in my absence."
Dante laughed. "And you say it's quieter there now?!" He let the chuckle die away and stuck out his hand. "It was good to see you again. Take care of yourself." Brenz shook his hand warmly and firmly. He had just about reached the bar's exit when Dante called to him.
"Hey pops……thanks…for all the years. I had a nutty childhood and I want you to know I hold you completely responsible!"
Brenz grinned and gave him a last wave before heading out. Dante ordered another drink as youthful memories gave way to present day thoughts and the scent of a demon somewhere in the area. Time to go to work.
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The End!
I hope you liked it. This was actually my first fic so I hope it was alright. Thanks to all who read and especially to those who reviewed! Now shoo and go play some DMC! You know you want to! ^__^
~~Zellychan