One more for you guys, as I wasn't sure on this one either but decided to let you guys be the judge.

The reason why I am so iffy about this story is it's an AU story where the boys aren't devil's at all, but humans. It bugs me only because I can't explain away the obvious glaring points such as why Dante/Vergil/Nero/Sparda all have white hair but Nero isn't blood related...lol Also Nero has no devil arm...

This would be yaoi, and would be a full story that included almost every character (as I never rule out cameos this early in writing). Including Vergil later on to throw in some fun and eccentric conflict. :D

I like the idea behind this, but my logical mind keeps pointing out the glaring flaws which you guys may not even care about...lol

So far 'A Woman's Touch' and 'Nero Expedition' are winning the vote it seems. I have already begun continuing both just in case while working on my other projects. But I'll throw this one in there and see what comes of it. Enjoy, and let me know what you think. :D

Brothers

(working title)

"You OK Nero?" Kyrie asked as she appeared at his side just by the bike rack. He turned from undoing his bike chain to see her smiling down at him.

"Yeah, just spacing out a bit is all. Your dad not coming to pick you up today?"

"Nope, he's working late," she replied blushing slightly. He smirked at her and shoved the chain and lock into his back pack.

"Wanna walk home together?" He asked knowing full well this was where she was leading the conversation. Yet she cutely looked thoughtful.

"OK."

The two had lived next to each other for ten years, had gone to school together, and were graduating this year together as well. For all intents and purposes Nero liked Kyrie, but had never quite gotten up the courage to ask her out. If not only because she had dated other guys on and off, but because he feared the loss of her friendship should things go sour between them. So he played the part of the guy friend. Both would be heading off to college come September, with Nero remaining in Fortuna while Kyrie went to a university four hours away. With this ahead of them it made the prospect of asking her out even more daunting since all they had left was the summer.

"How are things going at home?" She asked as they walked. He pulled her heavy bag from her shoulder to carry for her as he walked his bike in between them. "Thanks."

"Good. I'm really getting on well with the old man, except he's slightly whacked in the head," he responded with a grin.

Three months ago his mother had remarried, which had come as a shock to Nero when he found out about their plans to marry a year earlier, but he never knew his father so the introduction had been both awkward and entertaining. In that time though he had become very close to Sparda who was kind, and yet... slightly weird.

Case in point, when they began to live together three months ago and the old man had moved in with them he seemed to be oblivious to the fact he had a step-son so Nero would come home to find him and his mom in... compromising positions. They were so madly in love sometimes it was sickeningly sweet.

"He's nice and all, but sometimes I swear he's a demon." Nero mused. He had told Kyrie about it, and found she blushed... well, like a school girl. Upon meeting Sparda herself had been even worse as she went on and on about how attractive he was. "But things should be interesting tonight."

"Oh... his son is coming home tonight isn't he?" Kyrie asked. "You finally get to meet your step-brother."

"Yup, which is why I booked it out of class. I don't know what time he's coming home, but I really want to make a good first impression."

"Awww, that's kind of cute," she said in a babying voice as she nudged his arm. He rolled his eyes.

"No it's not. I've never had an older brother before, and despite the old man being slightly odd he and I get along really well. So I'm anxious to make sure it's the same with his son Dante." Nero replied with a small smirk.

He really meant it too. From the time he was young he wished for a sibling not caring if they were older or younger, boy or girl. But it had always been just him and his mother which had been fine, but sometimes being an only child was really lonely when your mother worked as much as his did. Now, thanks to his step-dad he had a whole family and his mom didn't have to work as many hours meaning he was introduced to 'family time' for the first time. Plus, Sparda seemed to relish his role as step-dad and never made him feel unwanted.

"Don't you have two step-brothers?" Kyrie asked.

"Yeah, but Vergil is studying abroad in Europe. He rarely comes home and is going to apparently be in school a lot longer than Dante." Nero replied thinking about what he remembered being told about the two.

"Imagine that... you ask for one brother and you end up with two," she laughed. "Lucky. I wish I had two step-brothers who looked like your step-dad."

He turned to look pointedly at her and she put her hands up placatingly.

"Why don't you start a fan club?" He growled at her blushing face.

"Maybe I will," she replied with a grin.

He remained quiet at this and turned the topic elsewhere. While he was anxious to meet his new brother what Kyrie said put him ill at ease. His older brother was 24, in college and the son of Sparda who even Nero had to admit was an extremely attractive guy. He'd never seen a picture of Dante or Vergil but wondered what he would do if either of them caught Kyrie's eye. It made a pit in his stomach and gave him a cold flash at the thought yet he did not show it outwardly.

They finally made it home and as Kyrie walked him up to his front door both stopped, frozen in place.

Standing in the alcove of their front porch was a guy and a girl leaning up against the stone wall. They were making out fiercely, and Nero noticed with a sudden hot feeling in his ears that one of the man's hands was pushed up under the girl's shirt while the other... was down the front of her jeans.

Nero turned to look at Kyrie who looked extremely embarrassed, and he felt his blood boil.

"Hey!" Nero growled as he stepped in front of Kyrie. "You pervert, what the hell are you doing?"

The bodies went rigid; apparently not thinking either would get caught. Then as the girl pulled from him an audible slap rang out as she hit him hard.

"I told you, it's over!" She yelled as she pushed him aside, her breathing heavy and face red with embarrassment. She pushed past Nero and Kyrie, storming into the car he hadn't noticed parked on the curb beside them before driving away hurriedly.

Nero turned back to the guy and felt his stomach clench. A much younger and defiant version of Sparda stood breathing heavily and glaring daggers at them both. But it wasn't Sparda. That much apparent by the ardent glare followed by a quick smirk.

"You Nero?" He asked as he smoothed the white shag from his face and straightened his stature.

"Yeah? Are you Dante?" Nero asked in reply.

Out of nowhere a wide grin split his face as he came over and wrapped large arms around him. Nero squirmed, because despite wanting to meet his new brother he still didn't know him well enough to allow that kind of intimacy. Plus, where had those hands been a moment ago?

"Hey, lay off." Nero said as he got his hands between them to push the elder off.

"No hug for your big bro?" Dante asked with a fake pout. "Oh, hey, who's this cutie?"

Dante's attention was suddenly on Kyrie, who seemed to shrink before him with her eyes unable to meet his own after what she just saw. It didn't help the perv licked at his finger on the hand that had just been... Nero shivered.

"This your girlfriend? Did you enjoy the show sweetie?"

Nero grabbed hold of him and yanked him away from her. As much as he had been anticipating their first meeting he was finding he liked the man less and less the more his mouth opened.

"I'll see you later Nero." Kyrie said softly as she reached for her bag which he handed her quickly.

"Yeah, take care."

Dante looked disappointed as she quickly walked off before his eyes fell back to Nero.

"She's cute. You two going out?"

"That is... none of your business." Nero replied irritated as he walked past Dante to go inside.

"We're brothers now, so who you stick your dick in is my business." Dante chimed happily. Nero rounded to glare at him, and to his shock Dante flicked his nose with his finger. The same one he had licked. "Its gonna be fun living with you if you get this worked up over nothing."

"Bastard!" Nero growled as Dante ducked inside. Nero went to push the door open but found it locked. "Let me in!"

"What's the magic word?"

"Fuck you!"

"Fuck me? Bribery won't work although I'd give you an A for effort."

"Quit messing around and let me in!" Nero yelled as he banged his hand on the door.

"Say please and I'll let you in." Dante continued. Nero paused for a moment and decided he really did hate this man, and so instead he went to pull his house key out of his pocket. "Don't even try your keys."

He heard jingling coming from the other side and noted his entire set was no longer in his pocket!

"How?!"

"I'm really good at swiping stuff off people. I'm particularly good at getting bra's off women without them knowing."

"You perverted bastard!"

"Not perverted. I don't do it to just anyone. Only girls who want me... Wait, so I guess anyone." Dante laughed.

Nero huffed and pushed on the door one last time before storming off. He wasn't going to say please to that jerk! Now he was beginning to see the resemblance to Sparda, but Dante was too callous and blunt in comparison to his father. Practically getting it on in broad daylight out in public with some girl, insulting Kyrie, and even asking him such personal things... Oh yes, he hated him.

He walked around the back of the house to his bedroom window, which he knew would be open. Nero tossed his backpack in before hoisting himself up and onto his bedroom floor with a thud. He turned over and got on his knees to get up only for his hand to press down on a foot.

"Well... this is an interesting position isn't it?" Dante asked when Nero's eyes moved upward to see his step-brother standing over him. Nero's eyes glanced at eye level and was mortified to see not only was he face to face with his step-brother's groin area, but the bastard obviously had gotten just a little excited during his rendezvous with the girl just now.

Nero pushed himself to his full height.

"Get out of my room."

"Seriously now. We're supposed to be getting along."

"If you're looking to get on my good side then you're not making the best impression." Nero said as he lifted his hand to point the elder out of his room.

"I'm only teasin' ya. What else does a big brother do to his younger one?" Dante said in a placating tone before putting his hand out. "Let's start over. Name's Dante little bro."

Nero eyed the hand warily then back to its owner's face to see a wide grin. For the sake of civility he should try and get along with him right? He didn't want to cause trouble within the confines of the loving family he had come to know over the last few months and perhaps he was jumping to conclusions about Dante?

"Nero," he said in reply as he took his step brother's hand and gave it a good squeeze. Dante shook it heartily. "Where's mom and dad?"

"I wasn't expected till later, so they don't know I'm here yet. Probably finishing up at work before they head home." Dante replied as he let go of Nero's hand and walked about the room. "This you and your mom?"

"Yeah, when I was seven." Nero answered.

"She's a bit of a babe." Dante began before Nero's eyes narrowed. "Hey, it's a compliment. Lighten the hell up would ya?" He turned back and began glancing at other photos. "Ahhh, now you gotta tell me about her."

Dante handed him a picture of he and Kyrie taken their freshman year. They had gone to some dance as friends only and his mom had taken a picture of them before they left. It wasn't one of those dressy dances, but one where the guys wore button down shirts or vests with dark pants and girls wore cute casual dresses. Regardless, in Nero's mind Kyrie could've been wearing a wedding gown with how lovely she'd looked in his eyes. Even if she was only his "friend date" he was thankful he was taking her rather than someone else.

"She's our neighbor and a good friend of mine." Nero answered truthfully before placing the photo back down.

"Only a friend eh?" Dante began but Nero cut him off knowing where he was headed before he even got there.

"So who was the girl that slapped you?" Nero asked.

"Patty? Meh, she's nothing, just an ex."

"She didn't look like nothing."

"Considering the tail in this small town I figured she was the best I could get, so why not try my luck one more time eh?"

Nero gave him a dead stare.

"Definitely need to untwist the panties kid," he said as he moved to ruffle Nero's hair. Nero pushed his hand off.

"Don't call me kid, I'm 18 you know."

"And I'm 24, therefore making you a kid and me..."

"Old?" Nero asked with a small grin.

He saw a nerve twitch in Dante's temple as he tried to smile through that comment.

"You best watch yourself kid. Or you might be found sleeping in a compromising position." Dante said in polite warning.

"Heh, I'll remember that when I lock my room at night." Nero said dismissively as he moved towards his school bag to pull out his books.

"You mean with the key you keep on your key ring right?"

Nero went rigid as he remembered Dante had his set of keys, and sure enough the skeleton key that opened his bedroom door and many others in the house was now in his step-brother's possession.

"You give those back." Nero demanded with a warning tone as he turned back to Dante.

"Yeah right. I need a set to get in the house, being we're family now. Of course for safety reason's I will need the skeleton key, you know, in case you lock yourself in your room and a fire were to break out..." Dante replied as he pulled the set out and fingered each key as he spoke of it.

Nero launched himself forward, but Dante lifted his hand up to keep the keys out of his reach before grabbing Nero and getting him in a headlock.

"God how I've missed brotherly spats." Dante laughed.

"Let go you ass!" Nero yelled as he tried to get out of the hold.

"Now is that any way to talk to your brother?"

"I said let go!"

Nero grabbed a hold of Dante's leg, causing his step brother to hop on one foot as Nero refused to let go of him until Dante released his neck. With a swift tug he managed to knock Dante off his feet, but unfortunate for him as the elder went down he took Nero's head with him and almost cracked his skull against the wooden floors. Nero saw stars for a few seconds exploding before his eyes as the dull pain turned into a sharp one that caused his eyes to water.

Oh yes, you wanted a brother didn't you? Smooth move jackass, you got one now don't you?

Dante lay beneath him, finally letting go of his neck as Nero sat back to rub at his head.

"Don't go blaming me. You're the one who made me fall." Dante grunted as he looked up from his lying position at Nero.

Nero though had spotted his set of keys that Dante...had dropped. Before he could get them Dante caught his line of vision and they both went for the set of keys. Nero almost got them, but Dante's hand pushed them further away. Nero tried to crawl for them, all the while elbowing his step brother who was trying to crawl up onto his back to prevent him reaching them. With a strained grunt Dante pushed him self up, knocking Nero face down into the floor as he grabbed the keys, mere inches from Nero's outstretched fingers.

Ears red, heart beating like an angry drum Nero turned under his step-brother to give him the throttling of his life in an attempt to get those keys back. Dante held them away though.

"Gotta do better than that kid if you want to get anywhere with me." Dante said jubilantly as if he were enjoying every second of this.

"You can't do this! Those are mine and I want them back!" Nero snarled exposing his teeth as he gritted them together. He pushed at the side of Dante's face with one hand while the other reached for the keys.

"Heh, what are you willing to give me to get them back?" Dante asked as he pressed Nero's hand away from his face to he could stare him in the eye.

"How about a fat lip?" Nero replied dangerously. He didn't like bullies, and as far as he was concerned Dante was bullying him for no reason at all.

"Sounds tempting...," the elder said with a crooked smirk.

It took Nero off guard and for some reason seemed the wrong response to such an offer. With the offer came the realization that his step-brother was lying on top of him, pinning one arm down and staring at him. At times as a child he had severe anxiety with people touching him who he did not know, to the point his mom took him to a therapist as a child. They thought it was a form of aphephobia, but it turned out to pass once he matured. Yet he still felt anxious around new people, managing to get around those feelings of anxiety by keeping a measured distance and only touching briefly if he could help it.

There was no distance between himself and Dante, and Nero felt increasing anxiety at the intimacy of the situation. They were both breathing hard, and his step-brother was so close that he could feel the heated breath blowing against his face. More troubling was the realization Dante was still excited from the events with his ex.

He moved to push Dante off, but at that moment someone appeared standing in his open doorway.

"Oh please tell me you two aren't fighting already?"

They both turned to see Sparda standing in the doorway with an exasperated look.

"Hey old man." Dante said as he got up to greet his father.

"Why don't you ever call me dad?" Sparda asked wearily as he loosened the tie at his neck.

"C'mon, you're way too cool to be a dad." Dante replied in a flattering way.

"And yet I'm old man eh?"

"Think of it as a term of endearment. Now where's the little woman?"

Nero sat up and watched Sparda give Dante a pointed look.

"You promised."

"I didn't say nothing. Me and Zero were just bonding."

"Nero, jackass."

"I can see that." Sparda replied eyeing his son suspiciously. "Think you two could behave yourself before Abigail gets home?"

"Sure thing pops. I'll keep the youngster out of trouble."

"It's not the youngster that worries me." Sparda sighed as he walked out of the room.

Nero glared up at Dante who followed after his father, turning around long enough to show Nero that he still had his keys in his hand.

Nero slumped over and silently swore thinking over and over... Be careful what you wish for.