Vergil wasn't sure how many hours had passed when Dante walked into his room later that day. Within seconds, the blade which Vergil had been meticulously cleaning was pointed at his brother's forehead, who quickly froze in place and raised his hands in defence.

"What have I told you about entering my room without permission?" Vergil growled, getting to his feet and sending various rags and cleaning materials clattering to the floor.

"I tried knocking!" Dante protested. He stared down the length of the freshly polished blade being aimed at him."You been cleaning this thing the whole time?"

"This thing is lucky to be intact after spending a year with you," Vergil said coldly. He quickly withdrew the sword and sheathed it in its equally polished looking scabbard, before Dante could even register its movements. "What do you want?" Vergil asked, starting to pick things up.

"I just wanted to come by and see how you were doing…" Dante replied, glancing around the room.

"I thought you were sleeping?"

"Couldn't," Dante said, sitting down on the edge of Vergil's bed, much to the latter's irritation. "Can't remember the last time I got more than a couple of hours' sleep."

"I fail to see why that should be my problem," Vergil stated. He opened a bedside drawer to put the cleaning materials away, but hastily slammed it shut again when he spotted one of Lady's nightshirts inside. He hesitated for a moment then opted to put the small box of items on top of one of the bookshelves. He could always tidy later.

"Harsh," Dante said, eyeing him with suspicion. "And here I just wanted to catch up with my beloved big brother…"

"I'm fine," Vergil said quickly.

"How have things been since I left?" Dante asked, making no efforts to stand up despite Vergil holding the bedroom door open for him. After realising that Dante had no intention of leaving, Vergil closed the door and sighed.

"Same as always," Vergil replied, crossing his arms and tapping his foot impatiently.

"I like what you did with the place," Dante said. "I was a bit surprised at first, but I think it's growing on me."

"I'm glad," Vergil said, smiling stiffly. "Because the costs will be coming out of your pay."

"Hey, that's not fair!" Dante protested. "I wasn't even here!"

"Mary's decision, not mine," Vergil said, chuckling.

"Mary, huh?" Dante asked, narrowing his eyes.

"You must have misheard me," Vergil said, walking over and dragging Dante to his feet. "Now for God's sake have a damn shower before the paint starts peeling."

"How is Mary?" Dante asked, pushing Vergil's hand away. "She seemed a bit nervous earlier."

"Lady is fine," Vergil said, forcing himself to use her other name. It was never easy for him to do so, especially since she'd expressed a preference for Vergil (and only Vergil) to call her by her birth name. That had certainly been an interesting conversation. "I'm sure she will be more than happy to catch up with you once you've sorted yourself out."

"Vergil-"

"Perhaps you and I can do the same once you are in a more acceptable state," Vergil said, pushing Dante towards the door.

"Vergil, is that a gun under your bed?"

Vergil froze in place, then quickly crouched down to check. He felt his cheeks flush as he discovered that there was, indeed, a small handgun hidden in the shadows. "...Of course," he said, thinking quickly. "I had to protect myself without the Yamato somehow ."

"I didn't think you were the gun type," Dante said smugly. Vergil picked up the weapon and fumbled with it for a moment before shoving it into a pocket.

"I had to adapt."

"What kind of gun is it?" Dante asked, feigning interest. "Did Nico make it for you?"

"It's a... handgun," Vergil said awkwardly.

"What kind of bullets does it use?"

"The kind that will be embedded in your skull if you don't leave my room immediately," Vergil grumbled.

"Is there something you need to tell me?" Dante asked, placing his hands on his hips. "I promise I won't be mad."

"Get out of my room, Dante."

"Maybe I should just call Lady- sorry, Mary directly?" Dante said teasingly. "I'm sure she has some fun stories to tell-"

There was a quiet click as Vergil quickly withdrew the gun from his pocket and fired it in Dante's direction. Vergil grunted in irritation and pulled the trigger a few more times before tossing the gun aside. " Useless!"

"Whoa," Dante said quietly, letting out a deep breath. "Please tell me you weren't just about to shoot me."

" Get out!" Vergil yelled, marching towards his brother. He yanked the door open and shoved Dante outside, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Just for future reference, it helps if you turn the safety off first," Dante called out. There was a brief pause and then a glowing blue sword shot through the door, causing no damage to the wood, but sending a sharp sting along Dante's rib cage. "You're welcome," he groaned before heading back downstairs.

"He knows," Vergil hissed quietly down the phone as soon as Lady answered.

"What are you talking about?" Lady asked tiredly. She yawned. "Sorry, I was having a nap."

"This is important," Vergil said, slightly louder. "You can't tell him anything. Not one word."

"I wasn't planning to," Lady said, groaning slightly as she stretched. "You wanna come over? You sound stressed."

"You know what my answer to that would be under normal circumstances…" Vergil said hesitantly. "But I can't."

"Alisa's gone home," Lady pointed out.

"That's not the point," Vergil grumbled. "After tomorrow, I think… I think it might be best if we avoid each other for a while."

"Let me stop you right there," Lady said sternly. "If you're about to resort to that, I'll just phone Dante and tell him everything right now."

"But-"

"No buts," Lady said firmly. "I'm not about to throw away a year's worth of emotional investment just to avoid a few weeks worth of teasing." When Vergil remained silent, she continued. "I'd rather he didn't find out either,"she said gently. "But if it's going to hurt you this much to hide it then maybe we should just tell him."

"...Not yet," Vergil said at last. He sighed. "Let's...at least enjoy our first year together in peace."

"So... you wanna come over then?"

"Not tonight," Vergil replied, shaking his head even though she couldn't see him. "I'll meet you at your place tomorrow. 7pm exactly. Dress well."

"Wait, what? Does that mean-"

Vergil ended the call before she could get any more information out of him. She had become annoyingly good at doing so. Vergil tossed his phone onto the bed and started to pace up and down the room. He hated how much he wanted to see her, despite only saying his farewells a few hours earlier. Still, he'd have to get used to this if they truly intended to keep their courtship a secret from everyone. Now he just had to make sure nothing got in the way of his plans.

"I won't be able to make it," Vergil said bluntly.

"Aww come on, first Lady and now you?" Dante said pleadingly. The pair were sitting at the kitchen table, which Dante had already managed to litter with various cans and food wrappings. Vergil suppressed a shiver as his elbow landed in something wet.

"We both have jobs booked in for tomorrow evening," Vergil lied. "We had not anticipated your sudden return."

"Come on, it's been an entire year," Dante grumbled, flicking a crumb in Vergil's direction. "You can't delay it just for a day? Or… I dunno, finish early?"

"I fail to see why you can't just have your 'welcome back' meal on a different evening," Vergil retorted, carefully dodging the assortment of tiny food-missiles that Dante was sending in his direction. When Dante had approached him that evening with an excited grin on his face, Vergil had been dubious. An expression like that never meant anything good as far as Vergil was concerned. And now, after dragging him into the kitchen, Dante had revealed the reason for his excitement. "Besides, is it not a little short notice?"

"Nero, Kyrie and Nico have already agreed to tomorrow," Dante pouted. "If you guys don't come it'll just be a double date, and that's a concept I'd rather not think about."

"What about the she-devil?" Vergil asked.

"Trish hasn't got back to me yet," Dante said. "Which is actually kinda unusual when I think about it…"

"I'm sure she'll turn up later in the evening," Vergil said absently. He hoped that this would actually be the case and that the doppelganger wouldn't end up trailing behind them all night. Surely he could be trusted with Lady by now...

"Maybe…" Dante sighed. He glanced over at his brother and absently drummed his fingers on the table. They sat in silence for a moment, Vergil apparently lost in thought. "...Don't you want to see Nero?" Dante ventured at last. He watched as Vergil's shoulders stiffened. The older twin's gaze flickered towards Dante.

"I'd rather see him on my own terms," Vergil stated. He did want to see him, of course, but… "I suspect we will have much to discuss, and I don't really feel like doing so in the middle of a busy restaurant," he said. It was an excuse, but not an entirely untrue one.

"Can I at least tell you where we'll be?"

"That will not be necessary," Vergil sighed, getting to his feet. He glanced down and felt a pang of guilt at his brother's fallen expression. It wasn't that he didn't want to celebrate Dante and Nero's return, it was just that - as usual - his brother's timing was somewhat unfortunate. He promised himself he would make this up to Dante eventually. He hesitated then let out an annoyed tut. "...Soon," he mumbled.

"Huh?"

"We'll have a proper meal together soon. Perhaps just the two of us, or maybe Nero can come too. I much prefer dealing with fewer people anyway." Vergil turned away and headed towards the staircase. It was only as he reached the first step that he realised he'd forgotten to make himself any food - his original reason for even coming downstairs in the first place.

"Heh… I'll take it," Dante called out behind him, sounding slightly happier. Then, "Guess I'll just have to take Lady out myself sometime…"

Vergil suppressed the shiver that threatened to run down his spine. "Indeed," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll be sure to give her your regards if I see her." He walked up the stairs a little too forcefully. The food would have to wait.

Dante lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. Somehow night had fallen again. Above him, he could hear Vergil moving around. He seemed to be pacing about as usual, and Dante was pretty sure he'd heard him go down the kitchen at least once. Dante sighed. Although the room was pitch black, he was painfully aware of his surroundings. He waited for it to start happening again. The scratching came first; quiet to begin with before rising into a steady scraping against the wooden frame of his window. Then the whispering. The whispering was probably the worst part. When the room started to darken even further, he finally jumped out of bed and grabbed his sword. Just as he did so, the phone in the foyer started to ring. He ran out of his bedroom and grabbed it before Vergil could come downstairs and answer.

"Dante?"

"You heard them too, huh?"

"I thought it had stopped."

"So did I, kid. So did I."