Chapter 12: Dangerous Revelations
The tread of heels against pavement sounded loudly in the empty streets that lead towards the infamous demon-hunting agency.
Trish's leisurely pace allowed her moments more to breathe in the smoggy city air, putting off the return to the reality of her life where slaying demons, saving the world and flirting with pain and death were constants… where the dearest of old friends could turn into enemies faster than Dante could polish off a family-size pepperoni pizza with extra tomatoes and cheese.
She paused in front of the agency, gazing up at the neon sign that proudly declared itself as 'Devil May Cry'; wondering how it would have been like to be like one of those normal people walking down the street with the freedom to pass by this very building, unconcerned, unknowing, uncaring…
Then a muffled explosion from inside the agency shook the street with the faintest hint of violence.
Ah well. Home sweet home.
Trish shook her head in wry amusement and pushed open the door.
"Dammit woman – that was the latest issue of Motorcycle Addicts! I didn't even get the chance to read it yet!"
"After standing me up for half a day that's the least of your worries! Read this!"
There was a burst of gunfire, a startled feminine yelp, a muffled thump and the protest of springs that Trish knew had come from dilapidated couch in the corner of the room.
She stepped into the room just in time to stop the verbal sparring that was sure to come. "Hello, missed me loads I hope?"
Both of the room's occupants turned their heads sharply to look at her, Dante still holding the scorched magazine and Lady on her ungainly sprawl on the couch. The tension hung heavy in the air but Trish calmly strode over and plucked said paper from the white haired demon hunter, before perching herself on the desk.
On cue, the complaints came.
"She shot me!"
"After standing me up for two hours – two hours I tell you!"
"Thrice! She shot me THRICE!"
"..it was freezing out there and this idiot was off at some pizza parlour –"
"Did I mention she shot me thrice?!"
Trish held up her hands in a time-out gesture. "Glad to hear you guys have been as busy as I have. If that's all, I have some news I think you'd like to hear."
Dante dropped himself in his throne-like chair and picked at the hole in his forehead. "Shoot… but not literally."
Trish's lips quirked up. "Keep up that sense of humour Dante love, you'll need it after this. Last week's demon influx isn't limited here; there have been reports from cities as far away as Ciassi and Athenia about the same incident. Lucky for us, there has been a pattern that points out the origin of this mass summoning came from the South – but as to what group and with what agenda, we still have no clue."
Lady crossed her arms thoughtfully. "It must be someone with considerable power or resources; a demon wave that large and all over the country?"
"Exactly," Trish dotted the air with a perfectly manicured nail. "Funny enough, civilian deaths have been kept to a minimum. You'd have thought that a massive influx of demons would mean high death rates, but there's been surprisingly little casualties thanks to some groups – notably that Order of the Sword."
Dante flicked the bullet over his shoulder, his blue eyes darkening slightly. "Ah. The cult that's been drooling over my old man?"
"What's the matter," Lady smiled sweetly. "Jealous?"
The tenseness in his posture disappeared.
"Hardly," Dante snorted. "But I've left them alone long enough. These volunteer police are a pain for us poor demon hunters – gotta keep the bills paid too you know."
"Well, that and –" Trish's throat constricted as her thoughts flickered to the moonlit rendezvous between her and Gloria. In all her years as a member of the DMC, she had never kept any potentially valuable information from the two people in front of her.
Sure they all had their little mysteries about them, but no one had ever deliberately kept the others in the dark when, as her almost infallible instincts insisted, it concerned saving the world from the bad guys. Nevertheless, some lingering attachment to her former sister kept the words from tumbling past her lips and it hovered there, bitter to the taste.
Dante noticed her hesitation and delivered a powerful kick on one end of the table, making it swivel a smooth 180º and turning the blonde demon around to directly face him. He reached out and gently pushed an errant strand of hair off her face, an uncommonly serious look on his own. "What happened?"
Trish raised her head, met his clear gaze and opened her mouth to speak.
Kyrie had just finished putting the rooms to right and drawing the drapes closed for the darkening sky, when the front door opened with a noisy crash.
She warily peered down the hallway, to catch sight of the red-clad demon hunter make his noisy way towards the den, shedding clothing and weapons on the floor as he walked along.
"W-wait!" Kyrie shrieked as he began to tug the zip of his shirt downwards, exposing a well-muscled chest. Dante raised his head quizzically, eyes lighting up in understanding as soon as he caught sight of her.
"Oh, right – hey Kyrie." Dante re-zipped it much to the girl's relief. "Why're you still here? I would've thought that big brother or jealous boyfriend would have picked you up by now."
"I… I just finished cleaning." Kyrie hoped her cheeks would stop burning soon. "I'm on my way home now."
"Alright – you take care on the way back." Dante grinned. "Heh, blushing at that. I wonder what you'd do if…"
"…What?"
"Nah, never mind." Kyrie didn't like the downright sinful smirk on Dante's lips. "By the way, has Vergil been home?"
"No, I haven't seen him all day actually." Kyrie felt a little pang of disappointment, but quickly shrugged it off.
"Still out huh?" Dante sighed. "Well, if you do see my no-good brother on the way, tell him I'm going to kick his butt if I find out that the reason he didn't come home yesterday was because he's trying to open another door to the demon world."
"… 'another door to the demon world'…?"
"Inside joke." Dante winked and promptly left the room.
"Right." Kyrie picked up her satchel and made her way towards the door, before anything else could happen.
She had just reached for the knob when the door opened again, catching both her, and Vergil who was on the other end, off guard.
"Speak of the devil!" Kyrie brightened. "Welcome back."
A strange look stole across his face at her words, and he opened his mouth as if to reply, thought better of it, and merely sighed. "…What day is it?"
"Monday." Kyrie noticed the darkness beneath his eyes and felt a tinge of worry for him. "Well, I just finished so I'm on my way home now. You don't have to walk me – just rest up okay? You look a little worn out…"
Vergil drew himself up to his full-height. "Your concern is most touching, and unnecessary." His voice was smoothly impassive as he gestured towards the road that led to her home. "Now walk."
His legs were long and his strides were brisk; Kyrie had to jog to catch up. Three blocks later, she broke the unspoken rule of silence.
"W-wait up!"
Vergil jerked to a stop as she reached out and tugged at his sleeve, as only his stringent presence of mind had prevented him from drawing his blade at this unexpected human contact. It had been so long since anyone had voluntarily touched him without the intention to harm that he stood motionless; half-hoping that she would remove her hand, half-afraid that she would.
Kyrie took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm really out of shape… Can we settle for a slower pace?"
Vergil obliged wordlessly, feeling a pang of loss go through him when she moved her hand away.
She wondered at the tense set of his shoulders and floundered for words to fill in the suddenly suffocating silence. "By the way, Dante left a message. He said don't open anymore doors to the demon world or else he's going to kick your… um… get mad."
Vergil's head turned sharply. "What did you say?"
Kyrie felt her heart race under his intense scrutiny. "Dante -"
"I heard that." Vergil closed the distance between them, looming menacingly over the girl. "What else did that idiot say?"
"Nothing," She stared anxiously up at his impressive height. "He just said it was an inside joke."
Vergil relaxed slightly. "'An inside joke'?" He muttered contemptuously. "It's just like him to be so careless just because he's faced with a pretty girl…"
Vergil was suddenly on the receiving end of a beaming smile that distracted him more than he wanted to let on. "…What?"
"You think I'm pretty?" Kyrie clasped her hands behind her back, an uncommonly mischievous glint in her eyes.
Vergil cocked an eyebrow. Well, wasn't someone getting a little bold? "Let me rephrase. It's just like him to be so careless just because he's faced with someone wearing a skirt."
Kyrie burst out laughing. "Touché…. or touchy. I'll let you take your pick."
"You're in a good mood." The words came out unbidden from his lips. "Did anything happen?"
She looked delighted at being asked. "Conversation! You're actually making conversation!"
"… forget I asked."
"No, wait – something did!" Kyrie laced her fingers together and beamed at the sky. "I'm going to sing at a Kindergarten this Saturday."
"Hm."
"Yeah! It's been such a long time since anyone's asked me to perform so I'm kinda nervous… But my best friend said he'll come as well so it ought to be fun. Maybe we can go get some cotton candy afterwards or visit the booths– " She glanced at him, eyes bright. "Vergil, if you have some time, why don't you drop by as well? I'd like to introduce you to Nero – I have a feeling you two would get along."
There was no response from the stoic man, other than a sceptical look.
"I really do!" She insisted. "…Or at least I know him well enough to know that he'd like to meet you. We practically grew up together." Kyrie added as an afterthought. "In fact, he's responsible for half of the scars on my knees. I fell off trees and rolled down hills because of him and his clever ideas. This for instance – " She paused and reached down to grab the hem of her modest skirt, much to Vergil's dismay.
"What the – put that down!" He barked, pale cheeks suffusing with colour. She was not just planning to hitch up her skirt and show him her knees in the middle of the street. No – there had to be limits even in the whacked out world he lived in.
"You don't have to be squeamish," Kyrie looked mildly puzzled, but she obliged. "It's a really cool scar…"
He wanted to smack his, no – better yet, her head.
"Do you go showing everyone your scars when it strikes your fancy?" He demanded exasperatedly.
"Um… I think you're the first actually."
"I'm most honoured." Vergil spoke dryly. "And don't. Not to any other man. Ever."
Kyrie glanced down at the body part in question. "Really, they weren't that bad…"
He sighed and rubbed his temples wearily.
An innocent. Someone spare him, but this was one of those few things that made him nervous.
Blame Eva for instilling vague ideas of chivalry in her sons that occasionally reared their goody-goody heads. He had always tried to avoid killing women and children, even in his Dark Slayer days. Nevertheless… there was a bitter tang in his mouth at the memories that that particular train of thought evoked.
"Do me a favour, just walk."
Kyrie was startled at the resigned exasperation of his tone and the feel of his hand on the small of her back, propelling her forward. She stumbled slightly and looked up to catch sight of another pair of blue eyes, staring incredulously at her.
"Nero!" She began cheerfully, but soon felt the smile slide off her face. His hand was gripping the handle of Blue Rose with surprising strength, his wary gaze fixed on Vergil.
"You again?!" Came the gritted snarl and she felt more than saw the man next to her tense.
Suddenly, this meeting didn't seem like such a great idea…
After the call, Gloria had rushed madly to the hospital and down to the secret laboratories of the Order only to scent the metallic suggestion of blood in the air. A nervous Agnus led her back to his office where the two were currently facing each other.
Gloria's gaze was fixed upon the scientist, her eyes glowing eerily in the dark with some barely concealed madness.
"Explain." Her voice was a breathy hiss.
Agnus kept a wary distance between him and the wild-eyed female. "P-p-please Gloria, I must ask you to c-c-calm yourself."
"How can I calm myself when Nelo Angelo has been poisoned – and nobody seems to be able to tell me how?!" Gloria raged, kicking a chair and sending it smashing against the wall.
"As I said: he is currently unable to communicate to us. Right now, I can only c-c-conjecture…"
"Then conjecture faster!" Gloria hissed, bringing out her blades and gouging at the wooden desk.
Agnus winced. That was genuine oak too… "I believe it has something to do with the blood sample from Nero. As Nelo Angelo binds to his hosts through blood, the sample from the boy, which has been continuously medicated with suppressors, may have had an adverse affect on his already weakened immune system."
"And none of you thought of that possibility before hand?" Gloria shrieked.
"There was never enough d-d-data to be certain!" Agnus spoke defensively. "Even now we don't know enough about his condition to do anything other than wait it out or… give him a temporary host."
Gloria gave a frustrated yowl and flung an arm out. Agnus stayed perfectly still as a dagger embedded itself in the wall, a sparse inch away from hitting him. "I cannot risk it!
"Gloria, " His voice was soothing. "There's not a lot we can do. Nelo Angelo is a demon that needs a vessel in order to survive. He has done admirably well in surviving since the fall of Mundus and the separation from his old host – but that has been eight years ago and he has been growing weaker and weaker since. He needs a body, and s-s-soon."
Gloria stalked past him and wrenched the daggers out from the wall before quietly, and almost calmly, sliding them back in her boots. "How quickly can we schedule their binding?"
"It can be done in a fortnight." Agnus straightened, eyes gleaming. "I've already administered placebo tranquillizers instead of the usual medication. Nero will be ready to be taken by Nelo Angelo just in time for the next ap-p-pointment."
"Good. And you're certain that there are enough similarities between that boy and Nelo Angelo's former host to smoothen the transition?" Gloria's voice rang with warning.
"Yes." Agnus licked his lips nervously. "Credo was one of those who had found Nero inside the ruins of the castle, along with Nelo Angelo, as well as the elder son of Sparda. From his description, Nelo Angelo seemed to be performing the blood rites that would enable him to transfer hosts… until one of the knights p-p-panicked and shot at them." He saw Gloria's lips purse and hastily concluded. "Based on this, I believe we can conclude that Nero is Nelo Angelo's chosen replacement and would be the b-b-best host for him."
Gloria scraped her fingers thoughtfully against the battered desk. "Even better than his original one?" Her voice was a dangerous purr.
"Unfortunately, that one is being well-watched by his brother." Agnus tried not to react when she turned her attention to his leather chair, picking at the seams and digging out the stuffing. "While the Order has grown in power throughout these past years, I do not advise picking a fight with Sparda's successor just yet."
Gloria stopped moving. "You'll fix him; won't you?" She asked suddenly, voice quiet.
Agnus was thrown off-guard by the timid look in her eyes and hastened to assure the volatile woman. "Of course. Nelo Angelo has already regurgitated the tainted blood sample. The weakness will wear off in a day or so – that I can promise you Gloria."
"Good." Gloria turned abruptly, old confidence restored as she rose and sashayed out of the tattered office.
"He's… all I have left."
AN: Finally up - I know, I'm sorry - this chapter had to be dragged (kicking and screaming) from my mind due to its explanation-y nature, hence the lateness.
But now that this is over, the other chappy's ought to be published on schedule!
Also, I'd like to announce that I have finally gotten the most wonderful beta-reader Clairavance!The lack of the usual grammar and spelling mistakes, as well as the sudden appearance of this piece is thanks to her. (Plus - she's so awesome! :3)
Shout outs to Trinity Archangel, Makurasen, Radioactivity, Flo~Pop, BleachedFighter, Yuu-ko, Hao is Hot and The Black Inferno Devil who have been most generous with their time and praise. I cherish every word you guys have written, it means so much when you guys take the extra effort to give the authors back some love. This chapter, as with all future chapters, are dedicated to you all.