Demoniaque: Haha, yeah I like the rain line too. It amused even me when I re-read it and I wrote it xD! I'm glad seeing that I've updated makes you happy! Your review made me happy as well (as they all do ;D)! Anyway, thanks for the review and it's rad you enjoy the story so far!
noiroux: I feel like I'll be disappointing people by saying this, but no, they aren't who you think they are (as you'll find out this chapter anyway). When I wrote the last chapter I didn't even realize I had made it sound that way until after I read your review lol. But I definitely agree that Dante is awesome (as should everyone with their awesome meters intact) and I would be totally jealous if Dante went to your school XD. Now if he went to my school...well we won't go into that ;3. Uber thanks for the review!
theUndertakerx: Wow, I'm just disappointing all over the place today ;_;. But no, Vergil does not have a crush, mostly because I feel like he'd be starting to get his "need more power and humans suck" attitude since he's older and stuff...but that's just me. Their names crack me up too, especially Alphonso xD. Thank you random name generator lmao. Thank ya for the review! ^_^
After The Fire: It may be relevant, it may not be. You'll just have to keep reading to find out ;p! I'm glad you love the story! Thanks for reviewing!
.vendetta: I couldn't resist with the dodgeball bit. It was calling me XD. The whole "if I cheated my grades would be better" line is another of my favorites and it was very easy to see Dante coming up with that and it fit so perfectly :3. I'm happy that the pace is consistent and I'm getting depth. Hopefully I can keep that going ^_^. Thanks muchly for the awesome review!
Okey dokey! Here's chapter 6! A little on the short side, but I gave Nero more action and attention than I've given him so far. It made me sad that I had neglected him ;_;. But here it is! Enjoy! :3
The remaining portion of the school day progressed at a snail-like pace until the final bell sounded throughout the building. The half demon twins quickly stuffed their school equipment into their bags and joined the throng of students gushing into the hallway, Vergil having to shout down a few for running or destructive horseplay. The number of students thinned out as Dante and Vergil neared the hallway which led to their dormitory, where they found Nero with a foot on the first step leading to the three devils' room. When Dante shouted a greeting at the youngest of the trio, he was met with an annoyed grimace from Nero. "Damn, what's got your panties in a bunch?" Dante asked as he and Vergil approached, the usual carefree, playful tone present in his voice.
Nero just rolled his eyes and continued up the stairs, using every ounce of control he possessed not to unsheathe his imprisoned Devil Bringer and bury it in Dante's smug face. When he was sure the two were following him and were in earshot, he growled a response to the proposed question: "Mr. Moretti wants to see me in half an hour." He kicked the door open with much more force than was necessary, earning him a disapproving glare from Vergil. Hardly noticing this, Nero tossed his belongings onto his bed and nearly tore the sling from his red and blue demonic arm. "Not exactly how I want to start my weekend."
As Dante grinned and opened his mouth to make some stupid remark on Nero's situation, Vergil smacked him in the back of the head before asking, "Why does he wish to see you?"
"It's not like I did anything wrong if that's what you're getting at," Nero snapped, glaring at his eldest room mate, who seemed less than convinced. "Hell, for all I know it might not be anything bad. But I still don't want to waste my time talking to a teacher. I get enough of them during the day."
Vergil scrunched his nose in slight disgust as he sat gracefully on his own bed and pulled a book from the depths of his school bag. "Ugh, Nero. You're beginning to sound like Dante..."
Dante, who had just flopped down on his own bed with one of his "special" magazines, shot a hurt, if not somewhat amused, look at his sibling. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Nero couldn't stop the smirk tugging at his lips.
"It means exactly what I said," Vergil stated haughtily, hopping up from his bed with the speed and agility only a demon could muster, "he's becoming a miniature version of you and soon he'll have as much disdain for authority and his education as you have." He snatched the magazine from his twin's slack grip. "And I thought I had confiscated these wretched excuses for reading material already. Need I remind you pornography is forbidden here?" By this time, Nero was rolling on his bed with laughter at the middle demon's misfortune.
"Anyone should be proud to be as awesome as me." The younger of the brothers attempted to swipe the magazine back from Vergil, only to have it ripped out of his reach, causing him to nearly face plant onto the ground below.
Sensing another sons of Sparda argument brewing, Nero composed himself and slid his sling back onto his right arm again. Without another word or either of his room mates noticing, Nero slipped out of the room and down the stairs. The youngest part human strolled leisurely down the twisting hallways to Mr. Moretti's classroom, taking his sweet time and not really caring if he ended up being late. He arrived with a minute to spare before his scheduled appointment, however, and was greeted my Mr. Moretti's booming voice. "Nero! Just in time! Have a seat!"
Nero blinked, confused and slightly annoyed by the portly man's jovial demeanor. "Er, why did you want to see me?" he asked, cutting straight to the chase. He wanted to get out of here and do as he pleased as soon as possible.
"Of course, of course." Westbrook's mathematician waddled back to his desk and took a seat behind it, motioning for Nero to take a seat in one of the student's desk. As the young demon did as he was bid, the teacher spoke again, "Anyway, I thought I would tell you that the headmistress, myself, and a few of the other teacher's were discussing the prospect of a new prefect, since Vergil will be leaving after this year."
Nero had to fight a powerful urge to roll his eyes and walk out of the room. "Um, not to be rude or anything, but what does that have to do with me?"
"Why, it has everything to do with you, boy!" he replied dramatically, obviously trying to hold off on his actual point for effect. "I tossed your name into the mix! I know you're a little young, but I'm certain you've got the stuff for it! And after I saw you helping little Cindy Lou so selflessly on her assignment the other day just sealed the deal!"
"Oh..." Nero stared down at his human hand, trying to find the right words. "Well, thanks for having er...faith in me I guess. But that sort of thing isn't for me, so I'd probably turn the job down if they tried to give it to me." He paused, then, seeing Mr. Moretti's disappointed expression, added, "Sorry."
Mr. Moretti seemed to be at a loss for words, probably for the first time in his life. Finally, he laughed loudly. "Honest as always! Ah well. Positions of authority aren't for everyone." He stood, and followed Nero to the door. "Well, I'll see you Monday, Nero. Don't forget to study for the test!"
The teen gave him a nod before walking back toward his room. As he approached the corridor which contained the stairway to his room, an argument in one of the adjoining hallways stopped him, since hardly anyone ever came up here. "You can't keep it here, Rina! It's against the rules!" a female voice squeaked.
Nero peeked around the corner and found two girls in his class there. The one who had spoken was small with short black hair. Her eyes were wide with fear and kept darting in every direction as if to make sure the coast were absolutely clear. The second girl's hair was bright red and in a long braid. Large, round glasses were perched on her nose and freckles dotted her cheeks. Upon closer inspection, Nero noticed she was cradling what looked like a black kitten in her arms. "I'm not just leaving it out in the cold again, Lily!" said Rina stubbornly. "I won't get caught! No one hardly ever comes up here!"
Lily bit her lip and sighed, seeming to find her appeal against Rina fruitless. "Well...fine. But please don't get caught! I don't want you to get expelled!"
After opening the door to an unused broom closet, Rina gently placed the kitten in the closet. "I promise I won't." She closed the door after giving the tiny feline a last pat on the head. The two girls made their way toward the place where Nero was eavesdropping, causing Nero to panic slightly and trip as he tried to get away and look as if he was just now approaching the scene. The two girls rounded the corner when they heard the commotion, and Nero silently cursed himself, wondering why his demon reflexes seemed to suck compared to Dante's or Vergil's...Or why his luck seemed so crappy.
Nero jumped back to his feet, coming face to face with the girls, both pale and horror stricken. The boy smiled nervously at the two. "Hey Rina, Lily. What brings you up here?"
"What did you see?" questioned Rina venomously, obviously not believing Nero's little act. Her gaze had gone from frightened to almost murderous in a split second.
Realizing that the jig was up, the half devil sighed softly, instinctively curling the fingers of his Devil Bringer into a fist to make sure they were completely hidden. "All of it."
"Don't tell the headmistress, please!" Lily begged as Rina's green eyes flashed with rage. "Or the prefects..." she added timidly.
"Well...I don't see how a cat could really harm things..." said Nero slowly. Then, he shrugged. "Alright. I saw nothing." The two girls grinned and thanked him before scurrying away. The remaining teen shook his head, then strode across the rest of the hallway and up the stairs to the dorm. When he opened the door, a surprising silence met his ears; part of him had expected the twins to be arguing still. However, he found the two lounging on their beds, Vergil with his nose buried in a book and Dante staring into the depths of the ruby amulet their mother had given the twins as he so often did nowadays.
The sons of Sparda looked up simultaneously (something the youngest half demon had always found a bit creepy about the twins) as Nero closed the door. "So, what did Mr. Moretti need?" Vergil asked, marking his page in his book.
With a shrug, Nero answered, "Just to tell me he mentioned my name to be a prefect when you leave. I told him it wasn't my thing and wouldn't take it even if they gave it to me."
Vergil nodded after a moment and returned to his reading. Dante remained silent, however. Figuring it was because he was in one of his sour "I'm not talking to anyone, not even to make a wise crack" moods after the twins' quarrel, Nero simply returned to his bed bed, pulled his sling off, and stretched out along the length of the soft mattress to take a nap until dinner.