Author's Note: Will be putting a bit of this in Devil May Cry 5 events, a bit before Morrison arrived with the mission and V. Sparda sealed everything so well that not even Vergil or Nero couldn't sense the differences. Trish has suspicions but is not sure.

Chapter 1: It begins.

Dante groaned as he tried to shake off the headache he had been feeling. He had it for over a week now and it wasn't leaving. He was glad the power was off but when the water and gas left, he got annoyed. How the hell am I cooking or bathing? I can't be dirty or hungry…Morrison interrupted his thoughts and told him of the mission and met the new client, V. He took a breath to calm down and asked questions. The more he knew, the more didn't like the feeling of dread he felt. Not again…He grit his teeth and doubled over a bit. He looked at his calendar. He was glad that he and Vergil were close to Christmas when it came to their birthday. They were to become 45. Something told Dante things would be different soon, as if to herald the beginning of the end. Since he met Nero in Fortuna, Dante had begun to feel something slowly losing hold. It intensified when Nero got hurt and almost died. He didn't leave Nero's bedside until he was told to leave by the young man. But something told him to keep in touch with the boy so he did and took care of him in any and every way. Nero and he formed a bond that could never be broken and this made Dante happy. He loved Nero as a son, saw him as a son. He even tried to compete with Kyrie to care for Nero. Nero was a bit shocked at Dante's behavior but strangely, he found it comforting.

Dante, V, Trish and Lady made their way to the demonic chaos and the smell almost made him double over and vomit. This is bad…..Dante thought as he stopped as he watched Lady and Trish run ahead. Something told him to fall behind a bit. So, he did. But when he arrived to where the feeling was strongest he had to hide the pain. Trish saw the pain in Dante's eyes and something else….Dante is in a lot of pain…and what's this….something else….what is it? She watched as Dante took a stance. He's weakening…..almost as if….he's ending…. Dante dashed with the Rebellion at the big demon who just batted him away as someone would to a fly. Dante kept going trying to land a hit, even went devil trigger but it wasn't enough. The demon punched the Rebellion and it shattered. No! Trish threw Sparda before the tentacles could consume Dante. Again he lunged at the demon who blasted him away. Nero had been removed from the field thanks to V who saved him from being smashed. Nero couldn't place why he was angry when Dante called him a deadweight. It was anger to prove himself to Dante. V managed to calm him with his rational thinking. Somehow and for some reason, Nero didn't disobey this time. He and V got out and decided to regroup when they had a better plan.

A month flew by when he finally picked up the search and V said to meet him. Again, he wasn't sure why but Nero obeyed. What is up, first with Dante and now with this guy? Somethings up….He worked his way and finally met up with the older man, who apologized for being late due to reading. Nero didn't get upset and in fact asked questions and V was more than happy to answer them, as a teacher would. Or a father…Nero thought sadly. His deepest wish was to be reunited with his family. Every orphan's wish…Nero thought. V gently reminded him they had a job to do. Nero nodded and followed the other man. He rarely saw V upset until they saw the Angelos. He couldn't explain why but he felt that there was a close relationship between them, he was even concerned on how the other man fared. V assured him that he was fine but Nero wasn't buying it. The man was weakening. As if…he's dying…

Nero's suspicions were right when V dropped and had problems walking. He respected the man's last request to see the demon king fall. They arrived when said demon king was down. He was dying, having had been stabbed by Dante. V slowly made his way over and climbed onto the demon, delivering the final blow. Dante gasped then ran, but he was too late! The two halves rejoined! Nero blinked at the regal yet cold figure before them. He noticed some traits of himself in the man. He….he feels….

Dante fought the elder but Vergil didn't fight back much. He told Dante to heal and get stronger, sliced a portal, thanking Nero before walking through. Nero didn't understand why he did that and got upset when Dante told him to go home, that the battle didn't concern him. He argued with the older man who revealed that Vergil was his father and explained his reasoning for thinking this. Nero couldn't deny it, he felt that it was true. But why do I feel there's something about Dante I don't know? Like there's a big secret?

He thought a lot about this, even when he stopped them from killing each other. When he bitch slapped Dante, his body screamed. What are you doing bonehead? Are you out of your freaking mind? He told his demon to shut it as he told them their petty feud was over. He fought his father and kicked his ass, telling them that something had to be done about the pain in the ass Qlipoth. On this, they agreed, both deciding to go. Nero begged them not to, even tried to stop him but both of them clotheslined him. Wow, at the same exact time! That didn't feel like a twin thing. More like stop arguing we are your parents thing and our word is final! It took Dante to talk sense into him, bidding Nero goodbye before jumping off. Nero didn't miss the look in Dante's eyes. It was tender, loving and dare he say it, maternal… Vergil stayed a bit promising that he'd come back for the book and rematch before leaving. Nero called them both idiots but picked up the book and left.

The twins made it down, slaying demons left and right. Dante bit back a wave of pain as he fought. This didn't go unnoticed by Vergil.

"Did that little slap actually injure something?" He asked with a slight smirk. Dante smirked back and shook his head.

"Kid just got lucky. I'll kick his ass for it later." With that he walked on but each step was searing pain. He bit it back and the elder noted this. He knew they had a job to do but seeing Dante in such agony was unsettling him. He saw the tears shining in the younger's eyes along with fierce determination, the red clad twin wouldn't quit. This impressed the newly ordained Demon King. Without a by your leave, he summoned up energy swords to assist the younger and changed battle strategy. Dante was in too much pain to object. I'll kick his uppity ass later. Dante swore as another wave of pain hit, this time in a place down below! Dante groaned and took a knee as soon as the last demon dropped. Vergil blinked. Now he was concerned.

"Alright, what happened? I know a bitch slap wouldn't cause such grief…"

"I'm fine!" Dante said sharply, gritting his teeth and getting up. "Let's do this!" Vergil sighed and shook his head. When Vergil heard bones cracking and resetting he demanded answers.

"Dante!" He hissed. "this, is not nothing…."

"FUCK OFF VERGIL!" Dante roared as another bone snapped and reset. The younger was sweating profusely and was pale. Vergil bit back his anger. They had roots to cut. They had to be focused.

Soon they found the root of all evil and Dante nodded.

"So all we have to do is cut this down?"

"That's right." Vergil said. "After that, you're going to give me some answers."

"Like I know what's going on with me."

"After this," Vergil said as he pointed to the roots. Dante nodded and hefted his namesake sword and walked, swearing as he went. Vergil sighed again and shook his head. So stubborn. They cut the roots at no time and all and Dante dropped down heavily with a sigh. Vergil sat down and waited patiently.

"Dante, as promised, I want answers…"

"I don't know. How the hell am I supposed to give you answers I don't even have?"

"Very well, we'll try this way." Vergil said with a sigh. "How long have you been feeling this way?"

"Since I met Nero for the first time in Fortuna. But I didn't think of anything on it. I thought I was just…off my game." Vergil stood up and placed a hand on Dante's forehead. He yanked it back .

"You're burning up. You're sick and you're down here. Do you have a death wish?"

"Vergil I'm sure its nothing, we were never sick before as kids."

"Times and things do change." Vergil said. "The Quiloph is no more, and since I refuse to have you dying here, it's time for us to go home." The silence he got in response unnerved the elder Sparda. He turned to admonish the younger but stopped dead. Dante was passed out, face contorted in pain. Oh no, no I won't allow this! He unsheathed Yamato and quickly sealed the portal of the Quiloph before slicing another and picking Dante up, hoisting him over his shoulder and was glad that the younger had recalled his sword before passing out. He walked through the portal, silently hoping the younger would hold on.

Nero was in Devil May Cry when a portal opened up and gasped when his father walked through but his look went from happy to worried when he saw that Dante was unconscious and over his father's shoulder. He looked deathly pale and sickly.

"Make haste Nero. Let's get him into bed at once." Nero nodded and helped his father to put Dante into bed, but not before cleaning him up first and dressing him in bed clothes. Occasionally Dante would let out a pained whimper or groan. His body was heating up further and Nero put a cool cloth onto his forehead.

"Father, he's very sick, what happened down there?"

"He battled through this pain, since he first met you in Fortuna."

"Father, that was years ago!" Nero said with a sharp tone. "I was going on 19 then. That means he fought…all those demons and all….in pain! His body could be shutting down as a safety measure."

Vergil thought on this and nodded, finding no fault in what his son said. He was mixed in his feelings. He was angry that Dante kept silent for so long but was awed at the will. He sat next Dante's bedside and placed Yamato by the chair. Please, come back to me…come home to us.

Will the battle be won?