a/n: Firstly, I do really apologise with the delay. My mental health has been struggling to due the pandemic, I have also recently lost a family member and not only that been in and out of hospital myself this year. If it wasn't for DMC5 S/E I wouldn't continue this right now. With that, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays and wish you all a safe 2021. Apologises if there is any errors in this, none of it was beta-ed, but was proof read.

Chapter Four:

Going through a portal – created by his own hand or not, the experience was indescribable. With Yamato, the power was immense, however this time, it was even stronger. Feeling the power surge through him made Vergil feel unstoppable, even with his devil half. Stepping out of the portal, it took him a few moments to realise that Sera was not with him. His hand felt somewhat cold, from her hot touch. Surveying his surroundings, his breath caught in his throat.

There, Sera laid unmoving beside her what had happened during the portal? Had the power been too much? Was their connection to much for her body to cope? A hiss escaped his lips as he blinked towards her body, brushing her brunette hair from her face only to notice her shallow breathing. A frown creased between his eyebrows as he placed Yamato beside her body, it was only as he briefly leaned forward that he realised she had said something to him breathlessly.

"The stone in your hand.."

Now that Sera had said it, the elder Sparda twin could feel the low vibration in his left hand from the so called soul stone. Uncurling his fist, the smooth and clear stone pulsed with a faint light from the inside. "Break it." She had murmured, her voice strained as if speaking alone was causing her pain. Though Virgil was confused by her words, why would he need to break the stone? The one thing that allowed their escape from the Underworld and now she wanted to shatter that existence, it didn't make any sense. "Please..." Glancing over his shoulder, Vergil noticed that Dante was making his way out of the clearing. It was only then that he felt it too, a demon presence coming closer. Whoever this demon presence was, it was powerful – approaching rapidly towards their location. The brother's eyes met for all but a second, a firm nod from Dante as Vergil forced pressure upon the stone, feeling it shatter into dust in the palm of his pale hand. Blue eyes met Sera's, noting that colour was now returning to her face as she gasped out. A brief ache pulsed through his body as he collected Yamato from the rubble beside her body.

"We need to make haste, Sera."

Not that Vergil was superstitious in any way but it felt like he had been chancing it since his rebirth. Perhaps it was the overwhelming emotions coursing through his body and now, the sudden concern he felt for the Angel. It was only as he faced Dante that he realised their time was up. Whether they liked it or not, they had to face whatever was approaching. Sera had stepped in front of him, when he noticed that she had produced a staff that represented familiarly to his Mirage Edge. Was this created from her own power? Curiosity spiked his interest. Where did she suddenly source this power from? Was it the orb he fractured or was it from somewhere else?

"I need you alive, Vergil. Try not to get yourself killed."

Sera's voice wavered, with what the elder twin couldn't state but there was something in her tone that made his chest tighten. What was this connection they had created between them, as permanent as she said it was – he had yet to feel any of the benefits nor ramifications of their joining. However, his stance changed as he pulled Yamato from it's scabbard, spinning it not once but twice before holding it down flush beside his thigh. As the presence approached, it took barely a moment for Vergil to recognise the demon and realising there was no threat here.

A van screeched around the corner, avoiding debris narrowly before slamming on the breaks and a white headed man leaped out.

"Nero!"

"Dante!"

His offspring approached them, no doubt confused but the sheer look on his face showed otherwise. Nero was an open book, unlike himself. It was only then, seeing his son that he recalled Dante's earlier mention of the boy. Did he want to catch up with him? The offspring of a night which he had all but forgotten? Left behind for his thirst for power? Vergil shook his head, it paid little to him what Nero thought of him - right now there were more pressing matters. It took bare minimum time for him to remove Yamato from action, re-sheathing it as quickly as he had unsheathed it.

"V... Vergil.."

He spoke loudly, the sound of anger rising in his voice. Vergil met his gaze with a harsh stare of his own, before turning to face Sera.

"You can disarm."

It took her a few moments, a frown creased between her eyebrows as she closely monitored the male that resembled closely to the Sparda twins. He raised an eyebrow to her as if questioning why she hadn't put her weapon down. She met his gaze with her own before her staff disappeared. Nero approached, revving Red Queen, anger evident in his facial expression.

"How dare you? Just up and leave for months and you expect me just to what, wait?"

It wasn't until Dante came back, forcing himself between Vergil and Nero that Sera was noticed.

"And you happen to bring back her, who is she? Someone you care to introduce."

"Whoa, whoa! Calm down Kid, we'll explain everything soon. Right now, I think it's best we all leave this place."

Nero huffed at the same time that Vergil muttered, "foolish" underneath his breath, noting the shake of Dante's head who had heard it but clearly not his son. Even though he remained silence, just as Sera had, he felt an uncanny desire to protect her – shelter her from that knowledge that Nero was his son, a son he never realised he had until recently. A sudden halt in his step as they made their way to the van, what if she already knew of Nero. Is that how she knew of him, through Nero? No, he hadn't recognised her nor had she made a comment. The complexity of the situation was wearing him down causing his head to ache.

Sera was beside him, following a slightly slower pace of walking but he couldn't help but observe how she had protected him earlier with the possibility of an impending attack. Even slightly weak, she had even said to him, he couldn't die as she needed him, what was that all about? A sigh escaped his lips, he grasped the females forearm, the warmth of her skin seeped through his gloves, "We will talk about this when we're alone." In that split second, he noticed the colour drain from her face and he strengthened his grasp on her, catching her as she fell. What happened? Had she used all her strength when she summoned her staff? He reached around, placing one arm beneath her knees and one supporting her neck as he made his way to the van with her in his arms. Concern etched his features, she was considerably light and almost looked frail - is this what he looked like when he had severed his soul?

"You didn't kill her already did ya?"

Vergil glared at his younger brother, not happy with his taunting as he took her inside the van, lying her down on the bench chair within the van. He sat beside her, focusing on her breathing tempo, concern rising in chest as he watched her rest. Hopefully she'd wake soon enough to explain what happened and the reason behind her collapse.

"We'll take her to Devil May Cry, maybe Trish will know somethin'."

The blue brother nodded, remaining silent as they weaved their way through traffic and making their way to the city, it wasn't until they stopped - or rather Nico skidded across the road that he realised they had stopped outside Devil May Cry. Picking her up in the same fashion, Vergil took her inside the building, kicking the door open with the boot of his foot, before setting her down on the somewhat dusty sofa. He span on his heel, glancing between his son and brother, noting that the woman who appeared behind was the woman who resembled their mother, Trish.

"Care to tell me how you both came back and who is she?"