Chapter 5

Outside of the house, the odd trio walked towards the half-devil's car. Nero ran right to the door while Naeh stood for a second, admiring the vehicle. It wasn't until Vergil growled and glared at her did she finally move into the car.

"Umm, Vergil?" She started, hesitantly. He didn't respond. "Is that your sword?"

"Your point?" He sneered, though never drawing his eyes from the road. "I never go anywhere without Yamato."

"Right…gotcha." She sucked in air as she responded. "So, uh, I guess we're going to the mall."

"Yay! I'm so excited!" Nero cried from the backseat. "Miss Naeh alweady seems just as cool as Daddy."

The rest of the car ride was smooth and quiet, save for Nero randomly asking questions. The trip to the mall wasn't long, but the slight tension between Vergil and Naeh made it feel like it lasted a while. Once there, Nero was even more excited as he was the only one still making any noise.

Luckily the mall isn't too crowded right now. Naeh thought to herself as she felt Nero jump and grab her hand as well as he had Vergil's. The girl's face turned a light shade of pink, yet she didn't have the strength to pull away from the kid.

"Nero, you need to control yourself a bit more." Vergil said sternly, yet gently. "Remember what I said?"

"Yes daddy." Nero replied as he stopped bouncing and let go of Naeh's hand.

Naeh inwardly heaved a sigh of relief as she watched the excited child trying to resist the urge to pull Vergil towards the building. Once inside, the rush of cool air made her shiver and regret wearing a tank top. She swore she saw Vergil scoff at her as she rubbed her arms trying to warm back up. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"So which stowe awe we going fiwst?" Nero asked, resuming his bouncing. Naeh finally realized the kid had a bit of a lisp. And R's were his enemy.

"Good question." Naeh smiled as she looked around. "Why don't we try the arcade first? That way you can play games for a bit."

"Yeah!" Nero let go of Vergil's hand and started to run off.

Vergil's eyes went wide for a split second before he tried to chase after Nero. Naeh laughed and stuck a hand out, placing it on his chest. He stopped and glared at her then growled when she rolled her eyes.

"Nero, do you even know where the arcade is?" Naeh called out, still chuckling at Vergil.

"No…" He stopped immediately and looked back at the two adults.

"Then get back over here and we'll arrive there together." She smiled, moving her hand away from Vergil.

The blue devil straightened up and smoothed out his vest and coat, making sure to keep Yamato hidden, as they continued on their way. The group reached the arcade within a few minutes of walking and Nero ran inside quickly, Naeh right behind him.

The toddler couldn't see how much money she put in the machine and the coins fell too quickly for him to count, but he pouted slightly when he watched her place them all in her purse.

"This way we can stay together and not get lost." She crouched down to his level. "So what do you want to play first?"

Vergil stayed back, watching them as they moved from game to game and collecting tickets as they went. He watched as Nero smiled and laughed as if his life was no different than a normal child's. He only started to move towards the two when he saw a small group of punk-looking teenagers trying to mess with them.

"Come on, missy." He heard one of the males talk. "Just hand over the tickets and we won't bruise that pretty little face of yours."

"How about no, creep, and you back off?" She growled back as she felt Nero cling onto her leg. "They're for him."

"Yeah?" The male scoffed. "He's a fucking baby. What could he get from the prize rack that keep him happy for long?"

"Brother! I want that giant stuffed tiger!" A much younger, punk-looking girl whined to the male. "Make them give you the tickets! Now!"

Vergil was moving a little faster now, his now green eyes set on the scene. He stopped before he made it to the scene completely, he watched the male make a grab for Naeh's arm and saw Naeh quickly ball up her fist. He couldn't help but smirk slightly when he heard the connection of her fist and his face. The group now growled and all turned towards Naeh and Nero

"I'll teach you your place, you fucking bitch!" The first male growled at her, throwing a punch and aiming for her face, with another one also aiming at her.

Vergil was now in between the two, holding tightly onto the first punk's fist while Naeh had caught the other one and elbowed him in the throat. The one Vergil had tried to hit him with his other hand, the devil boy glared at him and twisted his wrist, almost snapping it. The punk cried out in pain and dropped to his knees.

"Now why don't you and your pathetic little group scram before I really lose my temper." Vergil growled low and deep, glaring at the teenagers coldly.

Naeh did her best not to laugh as they whimpered before running out the arcade. She did not, however, hide her smile as showed Nero that she had taken their tickets. He smiled at her as she told him that she'd get that stuff tiger for him and after that she'd buy some ice cream. Vergil walked a little behind them as they headed towards the desserts shop.

While Nero was busy picking out a flavor, or two, Vergil walked up and spoke to Naeh.

"How is it you seem so natural with children?" He asked stoically. "As well as natural in a fight like that?"

"My parents wanted a son, not a daughter, so they could put him through all sorts of sports." She started as she looked over the ice cream as well. "They got me. At first they kinda complained, but then tried to see if they could still do the same thing like they wanted. So, I was put through 'girly' sports and 'boyish' sports. I worked hard to succeed in everything."

"And the 'natural with children' part?" He questioned again.

"I don't know." She stated and shrugged. "Ooo, is that Strawberry Cheesecake? Two scoops of that for me please!"

"I want that too!" Nero added, trying to pull himself up over the counter.

Vergil hung back and watched the way the two interacted with each other as they continued on through the mall. By the time they had left, the day was half over and Nero had three new outfits, the giant stuffed tiger and four new toys. The trunk was a little full and they were still heading to the amusement park.

With the sun halfway down and casting shadows through the windows, Dante and Narah decided maybe it was time for a rest. They lied on his bed, covered only by the sheets, with their chests heaving just barely. Narah's hair was wild and chaotically spread out under her head, part of it covering her right eye.

"I'm really enjoying your endurance there, babe." Dante smirked as he leaned up a bit to look at her.

"Oh, trust me when I say that, I'm really enjoying your endurance." She smirked back, leaning up on her arms as well. "So what else can the legendary Dante do?"

She spoke a little mockingly with a wide and sly grin. Dante returned it quickly, his light blue eyes turning a bright glowing green, showing off decently sized fangs. Narah had just enough time to react, her eyes completely turning red as her tail appeared and whipped around. The bed groaned and creaked in reply.

The amusement park, luckily, wasn't really crowded either. Pluses of coming on a weekday. Nero was excited to be there without having to wait long for the rides. He dragged Naeh on each and every one he could ride on with an adult. Vergil, once again, hung back and watched.

"You know, you could ride with your son." Naeh groaned after walking off the last one, holding onto her stomach. "I don't think I can ride another one."

"Weak stomach?" The devil scoffed, then growled in a way that sounded close to chuckling when Naeh flipped him off.

"NaeNae?" Nero held onto her hand and looked up at her with a little concern. "Awe you gonna be ok?"

She nodded, smiling weakly, at the kid before letting go of his hand and bending over the nearest trash can. Nero looked over at her in concern and worry, trying to approach her before Vergil picked him and pulled him away. Naeh caught up to them rather quickly, her face set in a mixture of embarrassment and slight annoyance.

Luckily, for the both of the adults, Nero was done riding the rides. He wanted to play the games and get more toys. So they walked around and watch the little boy play what few games caught his attention. He hadn't won anything yet, but he wasn't discouraged. So they kept searching for a game that Nero would have an easier time to play. Until he spotted another huge stuffed tiger and Nero wanted it. The 'game' was a test of endurance in a tag-team fight in a cage against two local champions. The Trauma twins, Blunt and Force. Nero was too young for the game master to let him play.

"Daddy, please!" Nero whined, his eyes quickly filling up with tears. "I need the other tiga!"

"I don't see why you need two, Nero. And this is a rather stupid setup for a 'game'." Vergil responded soft, but sternly.

"I need it so I can have one for you and Uncle Dante!" He cried, choking up a bit. "Please Daddy!"

Vergil was about to tell Nero 'no' once more when he noticed Naeh was removing her jacket and walking over to the cage.

"What are you doing?" Vergil questioned gruffly, almost growling once more.

"Helping your son." She stated short and with attitude. "Now, are you gonna be my partner or what?"

He just stared at her as she took off her shoes and walked towards the cage. The devil growled at her before realizing he no longer had a choice. He took off his coat, hiding Yamato underneath it, and followed Naeh to the cage. The girl noted he didn't really look upset as they entered and faced their opponents.

"Ha! A little girl and her lover boy, huh?" The bigger thug like man laughed. Heavy weight champion in town. "Well, remember lovebirds, you only have to last five minutes"

Vergil glared at the man, letting his eyes turn green, as Naeh took a quiet starting stance, mimicking the devil.

"Let's get this started, eh Force?" The bigger one kept talking, looking at the smaller one.

"Yeah, and let's see if these two and win the money." The smaller one responded with a wild-eyed smile.

The bell dinged loud enough to echo within the cage for a second, the next second had the Trauma Twins beginning to circle Vergil and Naeh. The bigger one was moving towards Vergil while the smaller one was moving towards Naeh, the odd pair watched intently. They were ready when the Twins charged forward, both aiming for a head shot.

The two ducked and dodged, barely moving in time as they side swept in opposite directions. Force followed Naeh as Blunt followed Vergil, both landing a hit on their targets. Naeh's head whiplashed down as Vergil's shot to the right and the onslaught continued from there as Nero watched with a horrified face.

With punches to the head and chest, with kicks to the stomach and legs, the Trauma Twins kept dealing out blow after blow. Bruises quickly formed on skin as they continued Naeh had been beat to the ground and Vergil was on his knees, looking as if he wasn't breathing. Nero was about to cry.

Blunt and Force took a step away from Naeh and Vergil, chuckling darkly. They smirked to one another until, out of the corner of their eyes, they saw Vergil standing back up with a cold and defiant look in his eyes, a few bruises decorating his cheek. Naeh pulled herself up next, her face, arms and legs covered in blue splotches.

The Trauma boys growled deeply as they moved to continue their attack without giving the two a breather. Strike after strike, Vergil couldn't even pull their arms up for defense in time. Force let Naeh pull her arms up to protect her face just so he could hit them enough to break them. She cried out in pain and drop her arms as Force did an uppercut. She landed on the ground.

Blunt kept attacking Vergil, not giving him a chance for defense or to breathe. He laughed wildly as he did so, making sure to hit as hard as he could.

Ding. "Two minutes left."

The big guy went to hit Vergil one last time, putting as much power into his punch as he could. He smirked as he was about to come into contact with his face. His smirk quickly disappeared as the blue devil caught it with ease, looking at the man with bright green eyes and not a single trace of a bruise. Vergil pushed the man back with enough force that he tripped and fell then he shot a glare towards Naeh, who was still on the ground near a stunned Force.

"Are you going to just keep playing dead or can we finally end these nuisances?" He growled in annoyance. "I let them have their fun long enough."

"All right, all right." Naeh groaned as she pushed herself up and dusted off. Her skin was unblemished.

Blunt and Force growled in anger as they charged at Naeh and Vergil again. This time not a single blow landed. Vergil gracefully moved around his opponent, dodging each punch with ease before landed a couple of his own. He roughly grabbed the punch aiming for his nose and twisted the guy's arm until he heard a quiet cracking sound then kicked him hard enough to send him flying across the ring.

Naeh was laughing as she danced around Force, using her small size as an easy advantage. The moment he stop for a second to breathe, she grinned deviously and kicked him hard in the chest twice. And started her own onslaught of attacks, laughing the entire time. She danced around and aimed at, what could be considered, cheap shots until he was crouched down on the ground.

Blunt and Force started pulling themselves back up as Vergil and Naeh moved back together. The Trauma twins roared at the two and charged, wanting to finish off the odd pair. Vergil watched them with an icy glare and Naeh smirked deviously once more. The dodged the attack with grace and cunning then both landed a kick to their opponents' backs and shoved them into the cage wall. The boys fell down unconscious right as the timer bell dinged.

The manager stood in shocked silence as Naeh and Vergil exited the cage like the fight had been no big deal. Without a word, he handed them five thousand dollars and, after a little threatening from Vergil, the huge stuffed tiger. Nero was once again a happy and giggly child as they made their way back to the car.

Vergil quickly and quietly got Nero into his seat then stopped Naeh as she tried to get into the car herself. She looked at him in confusion as he studied her.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" She asked in bewilderment.

"You're not human either." He growled deeply as he said the statement. Her wide eyes and blush answered him. "You're explaining in the car."