There we are. Another chapter and think I've finally worked out a plot for this thing (not that writing battle after battle sequence is all that bad). Whatever

Here it is.

Enjoy

One Will Fall


Chap 3: Shattered Reserve

Despite the warning, Vergil didn't even have enough time to blink before Dante attacked. The devil hunter moved with such remarkable speed that Vergil barely saw him approach and only knew that he'd struck when his head snapped back and he felt the cold steal of Dante's sword slash across his abdomen and up towards his face, gashing his neck.

Blood spurted between his fingers as he clamped is hand to his throat, trying to stop the fountain. His mouth made sucking noises while he struggled to breathe. And he coughed, sputtering out more crimson liquid into the rushing puddles at his feet.

Dante stood back and watched the blood slide off his sword, letting the rain wash it clean. He heard the painful suck and desperate gasps for air coming from his brother's hunched form. He wondered for an instant how much pain he had actually caused him and then realized with surprising certainty that he really didn't care.

He was done with his brother. He was finished trying to find good in him that wasn't there-or if it was, it was buried too deep for it to be worth taking the time to find.

Vergil was just Nelo Angelo; another opponent; another minion to the darkness that Dante had to do away with.

"So did it hurt Bro?" Dante asked mildly, referring to his brother informally out of habit. "It looked like it hurt. Did it hurt? I could do it again if you're not sure."

Vergil growled but it sounded more like gurgling water. He coughed again to clear his throat of the obstructing blood and dragged his shoulders up so that he stood as tall as he could with a throbbing body and freely flowing wounds. Already he could feel a heat beneath his hand that was not the warmth of his blood and he knew that his injuries were healing. Though it did not change his awe at how much damage his little brother had caused by one simple blow to the face and a slice across the chest.

For a second he even believed that this battle would indeed be a repeat of Mallet Island…But only for a second.

The taller twin stared at the glint of his brother's sword and watched the last of his blood drip off the pointed tip. He glowered and heaved is own weapon back to his side, feeling a short stab of pain with the movement, but he ignored it. His wounds were almost healed.

"Yes. Brother," Vergil said slowly, "It did cause me pain. I will not lie to you about that. And I think it is only fitting that I return the favour. No?"

Dante frowned. "I thought I was the one returning the favour here."

His brother smiled. "You thought wrong."

Throwing his sword ahead of him like a spear, Vergil ran forward and ducked below Alastor as Dante knocked his weapon away. He struck out twice with his fists, hitting Dante square in the gut and placed a high kick to the devil hunter's face. Dante's head jerked back again but he was dazed only for a moment and he swung his own fist at his brother, missing, but whipping around with his sword for a second attempt. His blade ripped through Vergil's side and the taller twin roared in anger and pain.

While his wound healed itself, Vergil started swiping his sword furiously at any unprotected part of his brother's body. Dante bent his sword across his chest to protect his front, gritting his teeth as he strained to defend himself from the attacks.

Vergil hissed in frustration as Dante held him back and his eyes flashed dangerously. He changed course suddenly and began driving his sword down stronger and closer to Dante's hurt shoulder. The devil hunter felt a wicked vibration move up his arm from Alastor. His narrowed his eyes in pain, but continued to hold his ground, even though Vergil's assault was getting more frenzied.

A deep chuckle escaped his brother's lips and before Dante realized he couldn't take any more, his arm gave out and he dropped his sword. Alastor crashed to the ground and Vergil set his foot on it, kicking it aside. He grabbed Dante sharply by the throat and squeezed his thumb against his air pipe.

Dante reached up to dig his fingers around Vergil's hand and pry him off, but his brother raised his other arm and crashed the hilt of his sword into Dante's shoulder. Dante dropped his arms and cried out, the sound getting muffled before it left his mouth as he continued to choke. He twisted around in Vergil's grip but couldn't shake loose.

"Stop fighting," Vergil snapped, watching his brother resist him tiredly. "There's no fun in choking you to death. I just wanted to see if it was possible for you to be silent for a time." He loosened his grip slightly but did not let Dante go.

The devil hunter relaxed somewhat and brought his angry eyes to his brother's, seeing as he lifted them that Vergil was now completely healed. He opened his mouth to breath and immediately tasted the blood in his mouth and realized finally that he himself wasn't healed. In fact, none of the damage Vergil had inflicted upon him had healed. His arm and shoulder still throbbed and the ache was worse than it had ever been because of the exertion of the fight and the damp, cold weather. His body didn't seem to be healing itself at all. Even his nose was still fractured and still bleeding.

"I know what you're thinking," Vergil said listlessly, watching the rain drip blood of Dante's face. "You're wondering how is it you will win against me while my body heals itself and yours does not."

Dante frowned, choking out a response. "It'll heal…it's just…taking a lot longer than usual."

Vergil smirked. "You think so?"

The devil hunter hesitated in his reply and Vergil snorted.

"Yes," he said listlessly. "I like you much better this way…Silent."

Dante glared at him. "What did you do?" he asked heatedly, starting to struggle in his brother's grip again.

Vergil scowled and thumped him in the stomach to quiet his wriggling. Dante's knees bent and he coughed violently, feeling nauseous. Vergil raised him to his feet again, only to throw him forcefully away. Dante skidded across the ground and came to rest with his face in a puddle. He groaned loudly.

"Painful. Isn't it?" Vergil walked up beside him. "Afraid it's only going to get worse for you."

"…what did you do?" Dante asked again, quietly, his face half emerged in water.

"Doesn't matter really." Vergil shrugged. "Suffice it to say that you won't be healing any time soon. Or at all for that matter, considering you will be dead soon enough. You're just as weak and worthless as any mortal now."

"We'll see about that," Dante half moaned, raising himself up shakily with one arm.

Vergil snorted and pushed him back down with his foot. "Now how did I know you were going to say that?" He smiled, but there was not amusement in his tone. "You so-called heroes give yourselves way too much credit. You don't honestly believe that you will recover from this do you? You can't beat me. But you're welcome to try and prolong your death if you feel you must do SOMETHING."

He took his foot of Dante's back and stepped away. Folding his arms, he watched his little brother lie still for a few minutes and then struggle to his feet, swaying in the pelting rain. Dante looked around dreamily for his sword, groaning again and cupping a hand to his stomach. He noticed Alastor gleaming in the rain behind Vergil but did not move to get it.

"You'll need your sword if this fight is to remain fair," said Vergil unthreateningly. "You'd best come and get it."

"Fair?" Dante gawked in disbelief. "You think this fight is fair? Where the hell have you been all this time? It seems pretty fuckin uneven to me."

Vergil exhaled loudly. "Perhaps it is. But would you rather continue fighting as we were, or would you like to fend off my sword with your bare hands?"

The devil hunter scowled and dropped his eyes to the ground where Alastor rested. "I'll take the sword," he muttered.

"I thought so," said Vergil, boldly turning his back on his brother as he reached for Alastor.

Dante kept his gaze solidly on him and was prepared to step out of the way when Vergil flung him his sword. The blade sang as it twirled through the rain towards him and he bent backwards, grabbing the hilt. He then straightened himself into a fighting stance.

Vergil nodded his head. "Good catch."

"Thanks," Dante replied coldly, "If I didn't know any better I would've thought you wanted be to miss."

Vergil laughed. "I would not have been heartbroken if you had."

"No," Dante muttered. "I wouldn't think so. But let's cut the chitchat now, Sweetheart, and get this shit over with."

The taller twin lifted his sword, pointing the tip at Dante. "After you, Darling."

For the next few minutes, the sons of Sparda were almost complete blurs. Both men's swords flashed ceaselessly through the air, making short and sharp clangs as they collided with each other. They leapt high and sank low, trying to gain some ground on one another but the fury of their attacks were pretty evenly matched. After some time they broke apart and leapt back to opposite sides of the building. Both men's chests heaved with their panting and they both held their weapons loosely in hand.

Dante's legs burned and he'd had to transfer Alastor to his other hand because his shoulder was almost paralyzed with pain. It simply hung limp at his side, throbbing just to remind him that it was still there. He'd also suffered a few more cuts to various parts of his body. They were all minor, but their pain combined made it very uncomfortable to move.

He glared across the rooftop at his brother who was standing still, almost like a statue. Through the rain he couldn't see much detail but he knew his brother's eyes were trained on him.

"You had enough there Bro?" Dante called over the pounding rain.

Vergil shook his head and suddenly lightning crashed beside the devil hunter on the ledge, inches from where he stood. He jumped to the side in shock, losing his balance and teetering on the edge before he regained his footing. Unfortunately, his unsteadiness and the weight of his sword caused Alastor to slip out of his hand and it drop like a lead weight to the street, landing straight in the river of water below and was lost.

"SHIT!" Dante exclaimed and bent over the edge, searching fruitlessly with his eyes for the sword.

Vergil grunted and slung his sword over his shoulder as he splashed through the puddles towards his distracted brother. Nearing the center of rooftop, he suddenly went completely quiet, narrowing his eyes as he listened to the storm.

"Damn! GODDAMN FUCKING HELL," Dante yelled furiously, kicking the concrete rail of the building as looked up from the street.

"Ssh," Vergil hissed, now scanning the rooftop slowly. "Just shut up."

"Fuck you. I'm not going to shut up," Dante turned to stare lethally at him. "You made me drop my sword you dumb fuck!"

Vergil's eyes widened. "Be quiet! I'm trying to-"

He gasped, two curved blades having flown through the air and embedded themselves in his back. He fell forward onto his knees, grimacing and dropping his sword as he reached behind him to remove the weapons. While busied with that, three more similar blades shot out of nowhere and stuck into his chest and leg. He bellowed and bent over again, ripping out the blade in his leg. Feebly rising to his feet, he scooped his sword off the ground just as the whole rooftop shone red; a demon popping out of every glowing red circle like wildfire.

Now if there were any mistakes. Oh well. I didn't feel like proof reading. Just let me know what you think and THANKS for all the reviews thus far.

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