Orion slowly went back into the sitting room after he had dealt with a Shadow in the backyard. Not only that, but he had been forced to take care of a Goatling as well. It looked like he would have to run the business while Dante and Trish were away. He looked around but there was no sign of the children. He smiled fondly. They were probably asleep. He slowly mounted the stairs, planning to check on them. He frowned when he saw that they were not in their room. He went back down to the sitting room and sat on the couch, perplexed. He caught sight of a sheet of paper with writing on it. He scanned over it lazily but then read it again. His face went pale.
'…shit!' He clapped his hand over his mouth and swallowed hard. He looked up at the sky fearfully and then grinned apologetically. He picked up the heavy phone and quickly dialled a number.
'Devil May Cry?'
'Dante! It's me, Orion!'
'What's up?'
'It's the children! They've gone! Arson wrote me a note saying that Val and this other boy had gone, and that he was following them, to try and stop them.' Silence. Orion could faintly hear mumbling on the other side of the line. He next heard Trish's voice.
'Well don't just stand there then, moron! Go after them!' Orion slammed the phone down and quickly burst out of the front door. His wings spread out again and he soared through the sky, looking for any sign of the three runaways.
---
Arson, Rayne and Val looked up nervously as they saw Orion wheeling about.
'Are you sure these trees will hide us, Arson?' Val's brother looked at her gravely.
'I don't know.'
'Uncle's gonna be mad when he finds us.' Arson narrowed his eyes slightly.
'Yeah well you should have thought of that before you ran out of the house.' He paused. 'It's not too late to go back you know…'
'No! I want to follow Trish and Gran'pa! I want to find out why Dad left us!' said Val stubbornly. Arson sighed as he saw the rebellious gleam in her eyes.
'Okay…' Rayne remained quiet.
'He's gone,' he whispered. 'I don't think he saw us.' Arson looked grim.
'Are you sure you guys want to do this? Rayne, your parents are going to be worried.' Rayne shrugged.
'They're on a business trip.'
'Well the person who's looking after you is going to be worried then.'
'I wouldn't count on it.' Arson sighed and then broke cover, Val beside him.
'Come on…let's go after them.' Arson looked at Val as she spoke.
'Orion said that they would have to go the wood near here.' Rayne groaned.
'That's ages away!' Arson looked thoughtful.
'Maybe not. Grab onto me.' Val did as was asked, as well as Rayne. Arson concentrated hard. To Val, it seemed as though the ground had disappeared under her feet for a split second. Her stomach lurched and she felt as though she were going to be sick as the ground suddenly came again. The three fell onto the ground heavily. Arson moaned in pain piteously and clamped his stomach.
'Are you all right?' Rayne staggered to his feet and bent down over his friend as Arson rolled over onto his side, gasping.
'Remind me never to do that again…except in emergencies…'
---
Dante cursed under his breath.
'Orion said that their hideout was in the wood near here, right?' Trish nodded.
'Yep!' Dante got out of the car and felt for his sword. He smiled as he felt its comforting weight on his back. Somehow, he had a bad feeling that something was going to go drastically wrong. The fact that the kids had gone missing didn't really help to ease his nerves. Trish evidently felt the same.
'I hope they're okay…wherever they are.' Dante said nothing, but silently thought the same thing.
'Let's do this!' Stealthily, making no sound, he kept to the shadows and crept forwards, Trish doing the same behind him.
---
Arson stiffened as he heard a sudden sound behind him. Rayne and Val were both in front of him, sharing a packet of crisps with each other.
'I wish you wouldn't eat so loud!' Arson hissed. Val munched on a crisp, looking puzzled.
'Why not? We've got to eat, bro!' Arson said nothing but looked over his shoulder, his muscles tense.
'Did you guys hear that?'
'Hear what?'
'Quiet…' All three of them froze as a growl rent the air. Rayne looked at Arson.
'I sure hope that was your stomach…' Arson shook his head, trembling slightly. He felt his mouth go dry with fear. Val looked from Rayne to Arson and then back. She looked at them both scornfully, with her hands on her hips.
'You two are hopeless!' she announced loudly. Rayne and Arson both backed away from her as she continued. 'I'm the girl! I should be scared! But no, it's the other way around! Now will you both stop acting stupid? Otherwise I'll kick you!' Arson's eyes turned wide.
'Val…' he choked. Val blinked and swung her head in his direction.
'Don't worry. I'll only kick you in the shins!' She suddenly grew quiet as a shadow fell across her. She turned and screamed.
'Val!' Arson leapt forward, grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the way as a clear energy ball came towards her.
Something resembling a monkey stood in front of them. It stood about as tall as an Oak tree, certainly its legs were as thick as one. It's face however was like a lion's. The yellow eyes stared at the three. They all flinched as it suddenly somersaulted high into the air. Rayne looked hopeful.
'D'you think it's going to fly away and leave us alone?' Arson shook his head.
'Scramble!' The three scattered in different directions as the beast came hurtling down through the trees, making the ground shake as it landed heavily. The three regrouped and stared at the beast.
'What is that thing?' gasped Val, half in awe and half in terror. Arson swallowed.
'Um…it's an...Oranguerra…I think…' Rayne pushed the two out of the way as it charged forward.
'That's great to know and everything…but right now, I think we should run!' The others needed no second bidding. Val started lagging behind and then tripped. Arson doubled back and searched his bag for his weapons. He slashed at the beast with his swords. Val scrambled back to her feet and raced after Rayne.
Arson turned his back on the demon and began running. He screamed in pain as he felt something solid catch his back heavily, sending him flying forwards. Arson rolled over painfully into a ditch that was partially covered by moss and a log. The gap that was left was big enough for him to squeeze through, but there was no way in which the demon could get him. Arson closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing. He suddenly gasped as he felt something crushing down onto his back. He tried to struggle free but he was pinned down too tightly.
Rayne and Val watched from a distance as the Oranguerra exerted its full weight upon the log. Rayne shook his head in despair.
'Great! If that logs break, Arson will be killed!' Val rushed forward and kicked it with all her might. The Oranguerra snarled, more with surprise then pain and turned to see the hybrid running back to safety. When she was a safe distance away, she threw a stone at it.
'Leave my brother alone you big bully!' she yelled. The pebble bounced off its nose. Rayne moaned and began running again.
'Good going, Val!' he said sardonically. Val didn't reply. Arson clawed his way out of the ditch and began to limp forwards. He fell forward and sighed, feeling completely drained. He wished Inferno was with him, but he had flown away a long time ago, after Arson had told him that he could leave and find his old clan, if he so wanted. It appeared as though this was what Inferno had wanted all along. He had left without even giving Arson any indication that he would be missed.
Almost as though his wish had come true, he heard a familiar piping sound echo in the air. He opened his eyes and raised his head. Inferno fluttered to the ground beside him and continued to sing. He nuzzled against the boy happily and then resumed singing. Arson stroked his head feathers, his eyes shining.
'What are you doing here?' Arson shook his head in wonder and then looked up as he heard Val screaming. He stood up unsteadily and flinched as Inferno perched on his shoulder. He felt the talons squeeze his shoulder gently and Arson smiled.
'Let's go!'
---
Val screamed as they met with a dead end. The beast was coming closer and closer, and it seemed as though they had nowhere else to go. A fast flowing river ran behind them, the current too strong and the river to deep to swim across. Rayne said nothing but closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
Arson suddenly burst out in front of them, his blades shining, a fearless smile on his face. He charged forwards, determined to protect his two friends. Inferno soared overhead in the dark night sky. He flew down at the Oranguerra, distracting it. The demon roared in pain as Arson slashed and hacked away at it wildly, before he jumped back, dodging its blows and then rushing forward again. Inferno shrieked with pain as a huge claw struck him. Arson caught him as he fell and then ran to one side, following the river upstream. The others followed as the demon gave vent to another howl, presumably one of victory.
It then began pursuing them again. Arson felt his breath rising raggedly in his chest as he ran. He suddenly sighed with relief as he saw a cliff rising up before them. At it's base was a sizeable cave. If they could just make it to that, they would be safe.
'Come on!' he cried. 'Not much further now!' Val and Rayne tried to increase their speed. The three ran flat out, the Oranguerra rapidly closing the gap between them. Val gave vent to another scream of panic as she felt its hot breath warming her back. Just then, black closed around the three. They had made it. Rayne stayed near the entrance of the cave but was suddenly blasted back as chunks of rock fell down, blocking most of the entrance. They were trapped. Arson sighed.
'Look on the bright side…at least we've still got air coming in.' Rayne nodded.
'I guess…' he paused and then shuddered. 'But what the hell is that?' The three cried out in panic as they heard another wild snarl.
The three fell backwards and back into the open. A jaguar came rushing at them but then suddenly stopped in mid pounce, coming to land on its side, dead. Rayne looked at the cat in disbelief.
'Wow…a jaguar in the middle of England! Who'd have thought it?'
'It's not a jaguar,' said a voice behind him. 'It's a Shadow.' The three turned around to see a man standing in front of the now dead Oranguerra. Arson took in his green eyes and his black streaked silver hair and his own eyes widened. The man looked at both Val and Arson with great interest but said nothing. Rayne however, spoke out loudly.
'And who the hell are you?' He got to his fighting stance immediately, without thinking.
'That's what we'd like to know as well,' said a new voice. Arson looked towards the sound to see Dante and Trish moving out of cover.
'Gran'pa!'
---
Dante looked at Kryder, circling him slowly. Kryder lowered his eyes and stared at the ground almost as though he were ashamed of himself. Trish felt a sudden stab of familiarity. Kryder looked just like Arson when he did that. Dante at last stopped and smiled, almost sadly. Kryder slowly looked up and then at Arson, who was sitting beside Val on the ground, on a soft patch of grass they had found. Arson's eyes shone with tears. Val watched on impassively.
'Dad? It's you, isn't it?' Kryder nodded wordlessly and then sank down to his level. Arson swallowed hard and then threw his arms about his neck. 'Dad!' Kryder smiled and hugged him close. Arson was too happy to care that he was acting like a small child. This had been all he had wanted; to see his father again.
'I'm sorry. I really am…' Val narrowed her eyes slightly.
'Why? Why did you just go like that?' Kryder said nothing for a while.
'Contrary to what your mother believed, I did not leave her. I was always going to come back. I had explained to her the night before, that I had to go on a mission of sorts. I can't really explain it now; it would take too long. She refused to listen to me and painted her own story that I was leaving her for some reason unknown to both of us. But my mission is finally over.' Kryder gave Dante a sideways glance and smiled shyly. His eyes turned back to Arson, who had closed his eyes, an innocent smile on his face.
Trish looked at Dante, trying to understand what his reaction would be. Dante had turned pale, and for once he looked as though he didn't know what to say. Kryder smiled again at Dante, as though inviting him to say something. When Dante didn't say anything he straightened up.
'So uh…Arson…how are you keeping?' Arson suddenly opened his eyes and pulled away.
'Very funny you should ask that,' he said bitterly. Kryder frowned. Arson looked at him with a sudden realisation. 'You don't know do you?'
'No.'
'You don't know about how Mom…how she…' Arson shook his head and looked at his shoes.
'How she what?' Dante dragged his son away. Trish watched them go and sighed. She hoped Dante wouldn't be too hard on Kryder…or rather that Kryder wouldn't be too hard on Dante. It was a hard situation. Both had reason to be angry. Arson stared numbly at the ground. He had been expecting this day to be the best in his life, but he had been naïve. This day had opened up his old pain again. Trish understood what both Arson and Val were going through. Arson looked as though he were in shock and Val, she looked angry and hurt. She hugged them both close but said nothing. Arson closed his eyes but they snapped open again as he heard something like a low hiss.
'Well this is a pretty scene isn't it?'