He crawled over to the window and forced himself up off the floor. His ribs were still sore and the blood stains still spattered the wall. The book was gone.

"Damnit... how could a human possibly..."

He leaned against his katana as a sharp pain shot up his spine. He growled and shook off the feeling. He slowly made his way to the door and peered out into the dimly lit hallway. Not a soul seemed to be present.

"Hm, that coward..."

He walked down the hall toward the entrance room. the light of candles flickered around him, but still no sign of anyone. Then he heard a bike pull into the drive.

"I wonder who this is..."

He unsheathed his sword and stood in front of the door. There was a knock on the large oak door. He didn't answer. Then another knock louder than the first.

"Vergil!" it was Nikkita

"Vergil i know you're there i can feel it.Open the door!"

He still didn't answer.

"Damnit Vergil!" she jumped and kicked the door. The sound of cracking wood was heard.

He grabbed the door handle and threw the door open.

"What do you want!" he hissed

"To make sure you weren't dead." she entered the mansion cooly.

"I'm fine."

"Yeah sure... then why has Temen-Ni-Gru come back into exsistance? Answer that one Vergil."

He paced slightly then looked at her with cold eyes.

"Let them ruin their own world. It's no matter of mine. I can stay alive. Thats all i care about."

"Vergil you bastard!"

She drew her own sword off her back and swung down toward him, but he had caught her sword with his own. They glared at each other.

"What! It doesn't matter to me if they turn this place into Hell!. They want the power of the demon world let them have it. I have my power and thats all i care about."

"I know you don't give a damn about anyone but yourself, but damnit Vergil you know if they unlock that damn tunnel again the power... Wait... who ARE they?"

Vergil stopped and leaned against the wall.

"I don't know... they came here and stole the book. I don't know who they are. But apparently they know me" his eyes stabbed into space

She stopped and looked at him. Not sure what she should do or say next.

"Everything happens for a reason Nikkita..."

He stood up straight again and faced her. His eyes burned with something she had never seen before. He stepped closer to her and she could feel his powerful aura. He looked her over once more, decided against whatever he was contemplating and walked past her.

"Vergil..."

"Yes?" he looked at her over his shoulder.

She thought for a moment. Then an idea came to her.

"What if they should gain more power than you?"

He stopped and his shoulders hunched a bit.

"You know its possible... And then what will you do." she was only erking him now. She knew he would fight if his power and dignity were threatened.

"Are you saying, you believe that they can open Temen-Ni-Gru" he turned on her, his eyes sharp again.

"I'm saying you gave them the directions. Now all they have to do is follow them. And you know Dante will be foolish enough to go back into that maze trying to stop it again... You're father wouldn't let it happen again." She leaned against the railing to the staircase that led upward.

"How dare you speak of my father!" He slid his katana up under her chin.

"What, you couldn't be like you're daddy so you resent him now!"

"Don't toy with me you foolish girl."

"Who ever said i was toying." she grabbed the blade of his sword and forced it away from her. Her hand bled for a few seconds then healed itself.

Vergil just looked at her for a minute. Unsure as to what he had just witnessed.

"Only demons can do that...How..." His thoughts were interupted by a pounding on the door.

"Who is it!" he said, his voice sharp and his body rigid.

"Who do you think!" came a voice almost taughting.

"...Dante... I should have known..."

He opened the door to his brother leaning against the stone arch of the veranda.

"Miss me...?" Dante said taughtingly

"You are unwelcome here Dante. I suggest you leave."

Dante then spotted Nikkita leaning against the railing.

"Oh... i see whats going on here... Sorry i interupted. I thought you were introuble babe... i guess not..." he turned and his coat unfurled behind him

"Dante!" she growled annoyed that he would assume she was voluntarily spending time at this cold unwelcoming mansion.

"Dante, you know thats know why I'M here."

"Then why are you here, huh... Spending time with my brother? Seems kinda shady to me.."

She had heard enough. Her hand tensed and she reached up and slapped him across the face. He just looked at her, as if it didn't affect him at all. He stepped closer to her and leaned in so only she could hear what he was going to say next.

"I told you, I like feisty women..."

"Enough!" Vergil snapped.

He had over-heard Dante and was now in a foul mood. Nikkita just glared at Dante, wanting to slice his head off and at the same time. There was just something about him... She pulled herself out of her thoughts and got between the two before they started battling again.

"All right, Dante do you know what has happened or do i have to fill you in?"

"I have no clue whats going on, I heard your voice in my head. You said something about him and..."

"Temen-Ni-Gru..." Vergil interupted.

"Yeah.." Dante tensed slightly

"Yes well, it seems that a group of people have gotten a hold of the book to unlock Temen-Ni-Gru... again.."

"Good going Verg. You sure know how to protect something." He sneered mockingly

"Certain circumstances rendered me unable to..." he glared at Dante. His hand on his katana.

"Well, whatever... You... i mean... WE! can't let them open that portal again."

"Yeah... Its gonna be fun going back into that place..." Dante paced

"Temen-Ni-Gru isn't a hard structure to understand..."

"The hell it isn't... i had a ' wonderful' time getting through that place so i could get to you."

"Oh Dante..."

"Vergil shut up!"

"Both of you shut it!... now... i don't know which one of you if either of you is going to help. But i'll be damned if i'm going to sit here and let them take over this earth! Now either you can help, or you can kill each other, I don't care anymore."

She turned and walked out the front door onto the veranda. Vergil watched her with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

"hmm... women..." Dante spat and turned heading down the hall

"Where are you going, brother?"

"To the kitchen, if you don't mind. I think its going to be a long night and i could use a cold drink." he stalked off into the darkness

Vergil didn't understand himself. Dante was in his home, in his kitchen. But he didn't have that urge to fight his brother anymore. He shook his head and walked outside to join Nikkita.

"What do you want?"she snapped sharply.

"Company..." He sat on the stone wall beside her.

"Well your brother's in there, aren't you going to fight each other like always."

"You know. i thought about. And then i realized how much of a waste of energy it was. I would rather waste my energy on something worthwhile."

"like?"

"...you..." he looked at her.

"...Vergil..."

His eyes held that same look from earlier. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. She shivered. It was a mere peck but something about him sent a chill down her spine. She turned away quickly and stared off into the night.

"Everything happens for a reason." and with that he jumped down off the wall and headed out into the darkness of the front lawn.

"damn them both.." she thought to herself