I think I'm getting a lot more confident about writing without Arson in the fic. I really have to thank all of you guys out there though for giving me the confidence I needed to write a new fic, in the beginning of a new series. Also, I have a lot to owe to you guys for telling me how I could possibly improve my style and technique and the best way of going about it. Thanks a bundle guys. I finally have two OCs in here that have now been named. They both belong to me…otherwise I wouldn't call them my OCs. You know me, I can't NOT have any OCs! Hope it won't hurt the fic any.
Chapter 3
An annoyed and dispirited Dante slowly opened the door but then quickly and loudly slammed it, a smirk on his face as he forgot his previous anger. Trish screamed as she shot off the couch like some kind of rocket, quickly snatching up Sparda and pointing it at Dante.
'Dante! You meathead! What the hell did you do that for?' Dante grinned and shrugged, causing Trish to growl.
'If you keep that up I'm going to take you to the vets for your yearly shots.' Trish pouted but grew silent. Dante smirked and sat down, only to flinch slightly as Trish bounced up and onto his lap.
'So…how much money did we rake in?' she purred. Dante averted his head and switched on the TV wordlessly. Trish grinned and snuggled into his body, waiting for an answer as Dante got settled. She frowned when Dante didn't answer. 'Hey? Did you hear what I said? How much money have we got now?' Dante's face was impassive as he looked at her.
A furious scream rang through the air.
Dante stood there sheepishly, the couch upturned as Trish vented out her anger. Material flew everywhere as she continued to beat up the offending piece of furniture.
'Trish…' he said somewhat wearily.
'I. DON'T. BELIEVE. IT! WE. WERE. HAD!' Dante rolled his eyes. This was nothing new. Trish always took bad news in the worst way imaginable.
'You know, we're only going to lose money if you insist on destroying every couch we ever owned. This is the eighth time you've done this in the past six months!' Trish stopped, breathing heavily, her eyes blazing with anger.
'I'm going to kill that sonuvabitch!' Dante smirked again and put his arms around her from behind. This earned him a judo throw onto the old oak table. Dante lay there, more surprised than anything else as Trish stormed upstairs.
'Just once I hoped we wouldn't eat pizza again!' Dante winced visibly as the door to her bedroom slammed shut.
'Jeezus…' he whispered. He slowly and quietly got off the table and then walked up the stairs, towards his own bedroom, thinking it wisest to leave Trish alone for the remainder of the night. He couldn't help but be disappointed as well. The anger returned to him again, his pride getting the better of him.
Dante Sparda accepted help from no one! He would have been able to take them all out. Just as soon as he had got back to his feet and had regained possession of his guns and swords. Hell, he might not have even needed his weapons. He hadn't learnt hand to hand combat for nothing, you know! He wondered who the hell that person had been, and how on earth he had had enough audacity to give help where it was not needed. He would have been fine. A little beat up, but he would've won by himself.
He growled low in his throat as he paced. That man had been strong. It had been a blessing that he had been on his side, he didn't know if he would have been able to fight him had he been an enemy. He hated to admit it, but he knew that you could never be the best; there would always be someone much stronger.
Dante Sparda was a strong man, respected and admired by many. But despite this, Dante was no fool. He moodily sat down on his bed, not even bothering to change his clothes and flopped backwards before going to sleep immediately.
The next morning he was rudely awoken by light shining painfully over his face, blinding him through his closed eyes. He snarled and turned over onto his stomach, shielding his face with his arms.
'Rise and shine, Meathead!'
'Go 'way…' groaned Dante, his voice muffled because of the mattress.
'Would if I had a choice. You might be handsome but in the morning you're a mess.' Dante scowled at this comment. 'Your hair looks fluffy.' Trish plopped down beside him on the bed and started messing up his hair even more by running her fingers through it. 'Awww, Dante…you're so…' Dare she say it? Yes, she did. '…cute!' Dante sat up quickly and glared daggers at her.
'Shut up!' Trish leered at him.
'Aww is little Dantekins upset? Well the customer downstairs will surely be amused.' Dante blinked and stared at her.
'Customer?'
'Yep.'
'At this time?'
'Uh huh.' Trish grinned. Dante moved to look out of the window and blinked. It was only four o' clock in the morning. So where the hell had the sun come from? He peered out of the window to see that the moon was still up. Then he saw the flashlight in Trish's hand.
'You're such a bitch, sometimes.' Trish grinned.
'You better go downstairs.'
'But…my hair!' Trish shrugged and tried to push him out of the door. Dante dug in his heels. 'This will destroy my image!' Trish looked at him and snickered.
'You've already destroyed it just now.' Dante growled low in his throat. Trish wagged her finger at him.
'Time for your shots I think.'
'Trish?'
'Ye-es?'
'Shut up!'
'Charming,' came the sarcastic reply. Dante scowled and then stopped struggling, marching down the stairs as he sensed something. He stopped short as he saw the figure that stood in front of him. Thunder crashed outside. The hazel eyes stared at Dante steadily, never blinking. Jet-black hair fell into his eyes. Trish looked confused at the look of hostility that had pasted itself on Dante's face.
'Dante?'
'What do you want?' growled Dante. The man smiled mildly.
'I came to offer you a job,' he said. Dante felt his anger rising as he heard the familiar voice. He took in the black clothes, the look of independence on the man's face; he looked as though he knew how to take care of himself. Dante sat down in his leather chair behind the desk. Trish stood about uncertainly, feeling the tension in the air. For a few moments, all was quiet. The customer stood up straight and proud, completely unafraid.
'Why is a vampire like you coming to me for help?' Trish looked at Dante quickly and then at the man. The vampire smiled thinly, revealing two small fangs.
'You're the best in the trade. If I knew of anyone better I'd go to them for help instead.'
'I don't take just any job.'
'Then you would be turning away the one who saved your life yesterday.' Trish looked towards Dante, one eyebrow raised. Dante ignored her completely, his aquamarine eyes fixed on the vampire that stood before him. Trish took in the vampire's build. A trim middle showed that he trained and was very active. He wasn't particularly broad shouldered but just looking into his face showed that he would be able to fight back if he was threatened. Just how well he'd be able to fight back was still to be seen, but if what he had said had been true, then he'd be able to give Dante a run for his money.
'I didn't ask for your help,' snarled Dante.
'Maybe not. But you looked as though you could do with it. I know what's caused the marionettes to become stronger, Dante. They could pose a real problem. Just imagine if you went up against a shadow while they had this new energy increase? Or even a Fetish? It'd be suicide.' Trish stepped forward and looked at the vampire cautiously.
'What's your name?'
'My name is Reiko.' A thin smile, again showing his fangs. The hazel eyes watched her attentively, causing her to slowly look away. Reiko turned his eyes back onto the devil hunter. 'The new threat is called Mostro.' Dante's eyebrows raised, an amused grin on his face.
'What's he going to do? Kill me with laughter at his stupid name?'
'Despite the hilarities his name holds Mostro is a huge threat. He possesses a crystal that has the power to give and take power as he sees fit. He's bestowed all the smaller demons with energy that makes them about ten times stronger than they originally were. And even worse, he's managed to bring back your brother.'
'What?'
'Nelo Angelo has risen again.' Dante had stood up, glaring at Reiko. Reiko quickly looked at Trish again, sensing that if he was to appeal to anyone, it would be her. 'We have to stop Mostro from finding out how to give himself the power he wants to take over and conquer the human race before it's too late.' Trish's eyes had widened as she realised the full threat that was coming.
'Dante?'
'I don't believe you.'
'Did I mention the sum of money involved?' Trish's eyes lit up as she looked at Dante and then back at Reiko.
'How much are you offering?'
'Well…you're putting your lives on the line here. I'll give you as much as you want. No limits.' Trish grinned, the job had just gotten even more interesting. Dante still looked undecided.
'How do I know I can trust you?'
'How do you know you can't?' came the reply. Reiko's hazel eyes were still mild and calm, his face relaxed. He smiled somewhat knowingly at Dante. 'You know…if it turns out that I was telling the truth and the whole world was destroyed, you'd never be able to forgive yourself.' Dante bowed his head. He knew what he had to do.
'Trish. Pack your bags. We leave tomorrow night.'