"I lost myself, I'm falling fast and I can't find me anymore. No matter how hard I try I just can't seem to make it by, oh no. I can't seem to make it by, oh no. I listen to myself think but can't hear myself breathe--ing. All this hope has drained from me, oh no, I just can't make it by, make it by, make it by--- anymore --oh no, not anymore."

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

..But A Dream Within A Dream

"Who are you?"

The ivory gun was cocked once, bullet sliding into a chamber and ready for firing. The ebony gun was cocked as well, but held downward and not pointed like the other one. The barrel of Ivory was pointed toward a man, or maybe it was a boy. He seemed young, around nineteen or so years old. A soft cut of blond hair fell around his face, framing his blue eyes. The corner of his lips twitched in a half-smirk. "Don't you know me?" he asks.

Dante jerked Ivory toward the wall, not amused. "Get the fuck over there. And no, I don't know who you are, that's why I asked."

The blond boy's lips stretched into a smile. "It's a shame you don't know one of your kin," he says, moving to the wall, facing it. His hands raise slightly, as if he had been caught by the police.

"Kin? I'd hardly think so," retorts Dante while eyeing the boy. "What are you doing here, anyway? Up to no good, kid?"

Even though the boy was turned in the other direction, Dante could just picture the smile on his face. The humor showed in his voice. "I'm here to see my father."

Dante grunted. "And I'm guessing you're just going to out of the blue say that I'm your father?"

"Why, no," the boy replies, not moving, "my father's name is Virgil."

"..The fuck.." Dante grips the gun's handle tightly, anger creasing his face. "Don't give me that smack you son-of-a-bitch." Flames burst from Ivory's barrel, a bullet almost grazing the boy's face, but seemingly lands into wall in front of him.

The boy doesn't even flinch once. "But I am telling you the truth." His voice is quite melancholy, almost ghostly. "My father's name is Virgil. I understand why you'd get offended and wouldn't believe me.. so, why don't you just come and see for yourself? I'm sure my father will be happy to see your beautiful face"

Dante frowns, loosening then tightening the grip on his gun. "I don't fall for flattery, kid. Actually, I don't believe a damn word you've said."

A brisk wind whips the boys hair. He tilts his head to the side, ice blue eye peering from the corner over at Dante. "I only speak the truth. Why do you not believe me? Is there some tension in this matter?"

Dante sighs softly, gritting his teeth. "Damn you. Stop tempting me. My brother's name was Virgil--"

"Was?"

"--but he died.. A long time ago."

"But did he?" The corner of the boy's lip turns into a smile.

"Shut the fuck up!" Dante fires another round into the wall beside the boy.

"Stop this immediately! I swear to God, if you touch my son.." a sudden-appearing voice was left trailing off.

Dante's head jerked upward to the left. Both of his hands, baring the guns Ivory and Ebony, shot upward to aim at the figure steadily. He spotted, atop the wall that the young boy faced, a man. He was tall, average, really. The light glinted off of his blonde, almost silvery-looking hair. Complete animosity filled the man's light, light blue eyes. He glared down at Dante.

"Great. You must be this fuck's dad." Dante indicates the boy with a slight jerk of Ebony. "Don't get any bright ideas, I'm faster than I look."

The man makes no move, only glances at his son. The son returns the look. "Do you know who this is, father?" asks the son, still looking at his dad.

The man takes a good look at Dante, eyes narrowing in concentration. After a few minutes of silence and of being animatedly paused the man's eyes widen slightly as if in surprise. "What?.. Is it really?.."

"It is." The boy turns his head slightly, catching a glimpse of the confused Dante.

Dante's grip tightens on both of his guns. Confusion is written all over his face. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"..Dante?" questions the man.

"How the fu-- Who are you, really?! How do you people know who I am. Damnit, someone better do some talking right fucking now."

"But, Dante," murmurs the man, "they.. This cannot be possible.. Everyone.. Everyone said that you had died-- you're dead, Dante.. Don't you under-- Come on, Travis, we must be going." The man turned and the boy-- amazingly --leaped straight up onto the wall beside him.

"Oh, hell no!" yelled Dante, aiming both of his guns, leaping into the air and firing rapidly. The two guys scatter with super-speed. They almost seem to mist and vanish then reappear some feet away.

"No.." Dante fires off again, racing after them. They were fast, but Dante was right on their heels. He whipped out his blade, Alastor, keeping Ebony in one hand. "The faster you run," he calls to them ahead, "the more tired you'll die."

"I think not, Dante, I think not," calls the man, grabbing a hold of his son. "Travis, make the call."

"Right." The boy glances back at Dante as he makes shots at them. "By.. uncle."

"Now, Travis!"

"All right, father." The boy looks back ahead and speaks with a new, exaggerated accent, "Direjecto Solarece!"

A loud light flashes, brightness flood's Dante's senses. He's blind for what seems like hours. "Damnit, God… fuck!" he curses, clutching his eyes and falling to his knees in one spot. "Little fucker blinded me… Why didn't I see that coming?"

"Dad?"

"What the.."

"Dad?! Dad, are you there?"

"..Jennifer? I'm here! I'm just.. blinded. Hang on Jen!"

"Dad?! God, dad?!"

"Jen, I'm here! Right.. here. Jen.. Jennifer. I'm here…"