They were evenly matched, despite everything Vergil threw into the fight.

He had shifted into his demonic form after a while, and the demon had sent a particularly devastating dragon-shaped flame attack at him in retaliation. But that was only after the demon exhausted an almost endless supply of normal fire-based attacks, turning the forest around them into a charred mess. And that was after Vergil had cut down half the clearing trying to get the demon with his summoned swords, only to barely succeed.

Vergil had persisted, even if his demonic form had been fairly heavily burnt from the demonic flames of the demon's attack.

After a long and arduous fight, he noticed that both he and the demon were almost close to collapse. So he reverted back to his human form, panting from exhaustion and healing from a multitude of stinging burns.

The demon stood across from him, just as spent from their fighting as he was. He wasn't too badly wounded, but he had suffered a stab wound and a multitude of scrapes from Vergil over the course of their fight. Vergil had noted that he was especially hard to wound however, although he could be tired out eventually.

"Well," the demon ended up saying, hand pressed to the gushing wound Vergil had managed to score in his side, "It seems as if those fools underestimated you just because of your blood status. What utter idiots."

Vergil scoffed.

"And you didn't?"

"Humans are weak, true. But I've learned the hard way not to underestimate the power of human tenacity."

"I am no human, demon," Vergil snarled back. "I have no need for human drive."

"Then you're a fool. Underestimating humans in a one-way ticket to the spirit world. I've seen better demons than you turned into ash by humans with less power. I'm sure you don't care to join them…or do you?"

Vergil clenched his fists. The demon was right. Sensui had beaten him despite being human and stolen the Yamato from beneath his nose. Despite Sensui's human strength, Vergil highly doubted any being without demonic power could come close to killing him.

Which meant he had to get stronger if he even wanted the chance. Stronger than even this demon.

"You've been killing all the demons living on this mountain, half-breed," the demon said, interrupting his train of thought. "Which means I haven't been able to relieve my copious frustrations by killing them myself. I should kill you for this, but I sense that for now, it would be more useful to keep you alive."

"For you, it would be," Vergil taunted, "It would suit my needs better to eradicate you where you stand."

The demon barked out a laugh.

"And lose the opportunity to make a powerful ally? Or, as the humans call it, 'making friends.'"

"I have no need for pathetic human connections such as friendship."

"Neither do I," the demon said. "But I'm no fool. You're clearly on some sort of mission, if you're trying to get stronger by clearing out the entire forest."

"And why would you care?"

"Because I think we could be of use to each other. Unlike the other humans I've met, you don't seem like the type who'd object to the barrier between worlds being open."

"Only a human would object to such a notion, and I am not one," Vergil sneered. "I wish to see the barrier destroyed myself."

"Oh, do you?"

The demon smiled.

"Then we should be able to help each other," he continued. "Although, there is another group that seems to be doing quite well for themselves."

"Tch," Vergil scoffed. "They're fools if they think they can open the barrier with their level of power."

"Really? You seem to be rather sure of that."

"I am. Our goals aligned, for a time, and I got to know the group's skill sets rather intimately. But their leader thought he could steal my blade and use it to open the barrier, without its master. A moron if I've ever met one, even if he was strong enough to best me."

"You have a weapon that could slice the barrier?"

Vergil nodded.

"Indeed. But, it's a rather… picky blade. No one else alive can hope to use its full power except for the one it chooses."

"And that's you."

"Yes."

"Then I'd have more hope asking you for help than waiting for a miracle to give them the ability to open the barrier," the demon said.

"They're more powerful than you think," Vergil replied. "But even then, their power means nothing compared to the might of my blade."

"Hn. You seemed to have plenty of trouble hitting me even without it."

Vergil snarled.

"I don't need my weapon to best you, demon."

The demon just chuckled weakly.

"Whatever. I doubt either of us would be able to beat the other any time soon in this state, and I'd much rather best you when we're at our full potential then when we can barely stand."

Vergil smiled thinly. It was strange to think that any true demon had a sense of honor, especially one of this demon's caliber, but this demon seemed to come close enough to understanding the concept.

"That we can agree on, demon. It would be dishonorable to do any less."

The demon smirked.

"Then it seems as if we have a mutual goal. I'll help you get your weapon back, and you'll help me return to the demon world. Does that appease you?"

Vergil considered it. He hated asking for help, but even he could admire this demon's strength. Very few demons could even hope to match Vergil in combat, and this one had with almost no effort. And Vergil appreciated his sense of honor, even if it wasn't up to par with a human's.

And the last thing he wanted was for this demon to team up with Sensui, even if it was a last resort. If he did, between his potential and Sensui's power, he would as well as spell Vergil's doom. But if he could use this demon's power to aid him in his quest to recover the Yamato.

He was loath to admit it, but without this demon's help, he would have almost no chance of reclaiming the Yamato on his own before the deadline Arkham had set. Therefore, if he wanted any chance of raising the Temen-Ni-Gru any time soon, he would have to help this demon.

Would he give this demon his full trust? Of course not. But if his power served Vergil's ends as much as his own, Vergil wouldn't complain about his aid.

"It seems as if we have a deal, demon."

"Good," the demon said, sticking his hand out for a strangely human handshake.

"Call me Hiei," he said, "Master of the Jagan Eye,"

"Vergil, son of Sparda," Vergil replied, shaking Hiei's hand. "A pleasure."

"Sparda? How ironic."

"That irony happens to be none of your business, demon."

The demon merely yawned in response.

"Whatever. I at least trust you to have enough honor not to kill me while I recuperate," he said.

"Why would I?" Vergil scoffed. "It would serve me no purpose."

The demon just smirked tiredly at him, and then proceeded to collapse onto the charred grass underneath him.

Vergil just stared at him, before plopping down onto the ground himself to recuperate.

What had he gotten himself into this time?

When Hiei is the character giving Vergil the "power of friendship" lecture, you know Vergil's head is up his butt. Here's to hoping I can get it out by the end of this story! (I should be able to. Hopefully.)

Also, if you like other Devil May Cry crossovers, I just started one with Batman/DC Comics! Check it out on my Archive of Our Own profile, since idk if I'm going to put it up on here.