The Geryon neighed in delight as Hara played with it while holding the reigns despite keeping a respectable distance. The horse now content with her nuzzled his nose against her palm, earning the horse a smile from Hara who chuckled at the playful nature of the demon.
"Still can't believe this is the same demon who gave us trouble" Griffon muttered darkly as he rested on V's shoulder. His eyes twitched in disgust at how the horse became putty in her hands.
Where was it's dignity?
"And yet I managed to get him to be nice as long as I allowed him to live" Hara added with a sly smirk "something I am willing to let happen, especially since it wasn't his fault he was being made to attack us" Hara added as Griffon muttered a few things under his beak earning him a smirk from Hara and V.
"Getting jealous are we?" V mumbled to Griffon's shock, looking at him with indescribable eyes the avian cursed a few times. Taking off into the air Griffon flashed V a dirty look.
"Oi horsey! Mind showing some self respect?" they all looked at him while the Geryon stopped trotting around Hara. Snorting at Griffon the horse rolled his eyes before going to Hara, nuzzling her shoulder lightly he stood still as she reached up to scratch the back of his ear.
"Bloody pony" Griffon cussed causing the horse to flash a dark look, without warning Griffon screamed in pain before swooping around in an arc. Looking his tail feathers in horror he gave the pair a furious look.
"Alright! Which one of you two did it?!" Griffon screamed but kept a distance. Hara looked at the blue horse before shrugging as he shook his head.
"Phantom says shut it, your patronising words are making his ears bleed" Hara explained making Griffon scream in anger.
"Butt out you eight legged-GAH!" Griffon dodged a large bluish black fireball that shot itself straight at him, looking at her in alarm V felt his mouth drop as she blew into her right hand.
"Warned you" Hara said sternly "now Griffon, be nice or else you're going back inside V got it?" giving the avian a sharp scolding look. Groaning weakly Griffon flew to V who then eyed him with a look of disapproval.
"Aren't you going to do something? I'm getting bullied here" Griffon said feeling upset and vexed.
"One mustn't pick a fight they know would just backfire" V replied with a knowing look, sighing the avian eyed Hara and the horse who frowned at before looking at V.
"Sorry" Griffon muttered before going back in V's tattoos allowing them to have a brief moment of respite.
"Thank goodness" Phantom muttered darkly as Hara gave him a mental pat in order to pacify the spider.
"Don't worry V, I'm not holding it against him" Hara assured V who looked worried, sighing heavily V shook his head.
"We should get going, after all there's the Sword of Sparda that needs to be found" V said before walking with his cane.
"What's the deal with this Sword of Sparda?" Hara asked looking perplexed as the horse followed silently. "Why are demons getting agitated over it?" V hearing this blinked in surprise.
"I forget you're not from around here" V said in a wry smile as he gripped his cane lightly, feeling her hand grip his free hand he looked down at her to see worry.
"It's the sword my father once had many years ago" V explained sombrely as his mind went to how he wanted to be just like his father- undefeated, powerful only it lead to a string of defeats and suffering. Seeing this Hara pulled him to follow her, curious he allowed her to guide him to a bench so they could sit down.
"I'm guessing this is why we are here right now?" she summarised leaving him feeling bashful and melancholy. Pushing hair from his face, V looked away feeling more ashamed to face her after all he had done as Vergil.
"You should talk about it, it's not good bottling things up" Hara nudged him as the horse laid on his legs, resting as he watched the pair silently. Something that V almost envied, how little the Geryon had to worry about. In a way he would live a carefree life if unprovoked and yet he- a human/demon hybrid had to focus on surviving all the trials thrown at him. It felt suffocating to think about how low he had sunk, how he was now on borrowed time and had to survive through Hara's lifeforce.
A thing even now made him sick to his stomach. Just wondering how much he could use before it took a toll on her health in general. So far she seemed fine but she could just be hiding things for his sake. A thing that made V even more guilty.
How many more people had to suffer for his mistakes?
"He was powerful… I wished to be like him" Hara blinked at his words as a cold chuckle left his lips "a silly notion I now realise" Hara rolled her eyes as she smiled.
"Nothing wrong with idolizing your parents. Heck, one of my boys is a police officer because of me" Hara shrugged with a grin, V blinked in surprise. "Heck some of my talents stem from my predecessors. Some from many generations ago. This fox form?" Hara glowed briefly before turning into a white fox and chirped with a grin.
"This was from a guy who could shapeshift ten thousand years ago! No one in the family could do it except me. All it takes is practice and having faith in your abilities" Hara nuzzled V who felt shaken up from seeing the form after so long, images of her being impaled filled his trembling hands. Without thinking V scooped her into his arms and hugged her tightly, sensing his distress she nuzzled and hugged him as best she could.
"Another thing Vitalie, to be limitless you have to be limited. Accept your limitations because you can be a master of your own craft the more you try to understand and also the bonds you form can give you strength to do the impossible. Don't forget that!" Hara added earning her a watery chuckle as she felt some of her fur get wet.
"Sometimes I still can't understand why you're here" V whispered softly as he shuddered a bit.
"Sometimes we just need help, it doesn't always come straight away. But it's always there for you, even if you can't see it. You always have a choice and can help those around you. We just need a nudge in the right direction" Hara explained "the good thing I'm seeing here is that you do have a conscience, you're soul searching and realising that you've done things that are not right. The best part is that you're owning up to it, that's why I'm helping you. To show you that you are worth another chance. I don't do things out of pity mind you" she said darkly earning her a chuckle.
"Sometimes I forget" V rubbing the bottom part of his palm against his eyes while releasing shaky breaths.
"V…" Hara looked up at him while sitting on his lap. "You can't keep punishing yourself, we always make mistakes be us human or whatever. You need to get back up and like now you're trying to fix things. If you keep allowing all these dark feelings to plague you it'll just make you more depressed. Your father was no saint mind you" V nodded weakly as Hara deadpanned at him.
"He redeemed himself because and chose to act why? Because it's the right thing to do. Good things happen to those who do right and that's why he was able to meet your mother. As a parent I can say he has no regrets-except leaving you all to fend for yourselves. That I'm sure he's turning in his grave for that" Geryon snorted a bit causing the pair to chuckle at the response.
"You're right" V mused before sighing and leaning against the bench. "It's just hard… I wonder even now if I'm doing the right thing" Hara hummed as she rested her head on her front paws.
"What does your heart tell you Vitalie?" Hara asked softly, blinking V looked down at her before pursing his lips as sadness continued to fill and clog his heart leaving it feeling heavy in his chest.
"I'm doing the right thing" Hara smiled before nudging his arm.
"We never get things right the first time, if it was that easy then heavens have mercy on those people" Hara shook her head. "Funny thing is while you and your brother whining and rolling, I was just summoning spirits from dead petals from flowers that flew by my window" Hara mused as a few leaves started to glow before flying towards the trio. The horse almost jumped to his feet until Hara's aura soothed him to relax.
V meanwhile felt his eyes widen in surprise as the leaves acted like they had arms as their limbs were moving, watching Hara's soft expression as the spirits started chatting with her with tiny voices. Nodding a few times Hara watched the spirits leave allowing them silence once more.
"It takes time and at times when I didn't have friends, they would briefly be my companions" Hara said before stretching. Jumping off of V's lap she changed back to her human form.
"Vergil" Hara gave V a stern look "as a mother and your sister I'm telling you to straighten up and take responsibility. However! Do not push yourself, if you find it's too much retreat. Don't keep going if you know it's going to end badly and lastly do not forget you're not alone" Hara added with a twinkle in her eyes. Lifting her right hand she waited for V to grab it.
"You're stronger than you'll ever know, believe in yourself you've lasted this long" V stared at her in awe before a soft smile formed on his face.
"Strange that someone who's suppose to be younger than I gives me all this advice" V said before grabbing her hand lightly, standing up he exhaled heavily before nodding his thanks.
"I truly appreciate what you've done for me Hara, there are no words that I can express to show how grateful I am for you being there" For me V said before flinching as he felt her hugging him tightly.
"Silly billy, you may not be blood related but you are family. Also from what I saw briefly in Dante's head, he loves you. What happened at Mallet Island and back at the tower has really hurt him more than he'd let on" Hara said before looking up at him due to their height difference. Despite knowing she could make herself a bit taller, she knew it wouldn't make a difference to him. Feeling his body tense he shuddered as negative thoughts entered his mind.
"And yet, he gets everything" V muttered darkly.
"It comes with a price" she reminded him sternly as she gave him a look, startled V closed his eyes and shook his head. A weak smile forming on his face.
"Yes, I can see what you mean" V watched as Hara teleported the Geryon away, to where he didn't know.
"As much as it'll be nice riding a horse, it'll attract too much attention and get him hurt-" Hara blinked as she felt her phone buzz. Taking it out of her pocket she looked at V with sheepish eyes.
"I've got to take this" she nodded weakly as he gestured for her to take it. Thanking him with her expression she pressed answer.
"Hey darling" Hara greeted.
"Hara why the hell is there a horse in our back garden?" A voice snapped causing her to laugh.
"I can explain?" she said before laughing once more before the voice grumbled. "Darling please, it's the last of it's kind"
"Don't bring it here! It'll set fire to the garden or something!" The voice ranted as she grinned.
"We have spare room in the barn, let it live with Rapida" Hara said weakly, hearing the voice grumble before doing what she assumed was a shake of their head.
"How are the little ones?" Hara asked warmly in hopes of calming the upset voice down.
"Hmm? Oh Alicia's drawing in a picture book as for Willow-"
"She's pouting again" she heard sighing from the voice.
"Does she ever not frown or pout?"
"So far- no" the pair released a brief chuckle, V as he watched felt his chest skip from seeing Hara talking on the phone.
"Willow you are not going anywhere! Stay indoors! Where is your brother?" the voice scowled before scratching weakly.
"Work going okay?" Hara asked earning her another noise.
"Huh? Oh yeah it's going well, took the twins to see a meteorite site. Alicia was jumping all over the place while Willow just did what she usually does and stand there" Hara pulled a wry face with her eyes closed.
"I'm sure she's curious, she just expresses it in her own way" Hara assured the voice to sigh.
"I hope so, sometimes I'm wondering if this phase is going to stick"
"I'll be fine darling, heck you know how long it took before that melted from you? Even though you go frosty and pouty to certain people" she said with a teasing smile.
"H-Hey!" Hara chortled while covering her mouth.
"So how's this Vergil guy?" the voice asked startling Hara, looking at V she smiled as he gave her a confused look.
"He's doing well, healthy and we're getting close. On route to getting his father's sword, won't be long now" Hara assured the voice who now sighed heavily.
"You know I don't like this, if something goes wrong" Hara smiled despite the voice not being in the same room as her.
"I know, but we have to have faith. He's worth it, you'll see" Hara winked as a small chuckle left the voice's lips.
"I know what you mean, but seriously don't push yourself. It's hard enough oh and Strife was asking for you" Hara's eyes glinted with glee.
"Oh that worry wort, it'll probably take a few more weeks give or take but we will get there before the worst happens. If it does I know who to ask for assistance" she added with a sly smirk earning her a spluttering noise.
"Ah?! No! I'm not kissing him back to life!" Hara laughed loudly earning her a perplexed look from V.
"Well you did that to one of my uncles so thanks man" she said gleefully.
"Why do you have to bring that up? I was only a kid!" the voice grumbled weakly. "Seriously, get back quickly oh and say hi to Maxwell if you see him" Hara blinked.
"Ah I haven't spoken to him since the tree sprung, hope he and Josephina are doing well since their little one got sick a few months ago" Hara said now placing a hand to her cheek. "Then again as long as he doesn't see or hear about Dante he'll be okay" Hara added.
"Yeah… don't want to visit that guy when he's in a mood… take care okay" the voice said softly causing her to smile widely.
"I love you darling" Hara said warmly before hearing the voice mumble back. Hanging up she looks at V who looked a little uncomfortable. Smiling she pocketed the phone.
"My husband says hi and hopes you're doing well" Hara said with a tilt of her head. Blinking in surprise V looks at her.
"He knows about me?"
"I don't keep secrets from him" she said with a grin "told him EVERYTHING about you" V felt his stomach drop from her words before growing squeamish under her gaze.
"Don't worry, he's just worried about you despite his tough exterior" she assured him before looking at the direction of where they needed to go.
"We should get a lift" she said before taking what looked like a capsule from her pocket.
"You did send the horse away-" V paused as a dark blue motorbike appeared beside Hara.
"Good thing I know how to teleport and condense items. This was a gift from one of the kids I adopted during my late teens" she winked before getting on the bike. Handing him a spare helmet she got herself ready.
"Hold on to my waist tightly because this is going to get really fast" Hara warned as V gave her a weak look.
"You truly do not cease to surprise me"
"I can tell that's good and bad" Hara chuckled along side V as she helped him put the helmet on. Once ready she kicked off causing him to panic and lean closer towards Hara.
Despite being in shock V felt the rush of air hit his arms, torso and legs as the wind ruffled his clothes. His stomach plummeted for a few moments before watching the scenery fly past them quickly almost as if they were flying themselves.
"Pretty cool right?" Hara asked with a grin. "Whenever I needed some alone time I'd just hit the road and try to let the wind push all my thoughts away. Sadly when I was pregnant my husband banned me from riding it" she added with mirth, V flashed her a shocked look.
"I would agree with him on that! Isn't it dangerous to do ride when you're pregnant?" V asked in alarm.
"Hmm, as long as he doesn't know I'm riding it. He did say he'd kill me if he ever saw me on when I was pregnant. Complains they crash all the time so I made a comment about cars. If he wants to have a car but doesn't let me drive when I'm pregnant then he's banned also" Hara replied bluntly despite smiling, V's face went pale from hearing how reckless she was.
"I'm careful don't worry" She said before making the bike jump off a raised platform before sending a demon's face to the floor as they landed on the ground. "Except for that demon was being a road hog, what's that about?" she added tersely as V looked terrified from the semi shaky landing despite being in one piece.
"I hope we get there in one piece" V mentally pleaded as he gripped her more tightly, spotting more demons in the distance.
