Disclaimer: I do not own Devil May Cry.

Sorry for taking so long folks! Had kind of a hectic time with life but I'm back again!

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666BloodyHell666 - Ah ha! To find out what happens next you'll have to read on I won't give away the secrets that easily! I hope you enjoy this next chapter! Thanks for your review!

Eric Draven201 - Thanks for your review! Hope you like this chapter too!

KuteInsanity - I'm glad you liked the last chapter. I don't know about you but I got bored of the whole: son of sparda reason for killing him. I mean, it's a very good reason, but sometimes I think that they should want to kill him for other reasons too, even if it's something like: hey, you stepped on my pizza! Anyway, I'm glad the action went down well. There isn't so much in this chapter as I'm focusing on bringing a more romantic theme into the story. However, I hope you enjoy it just as much! Now I'm off to read your fic! Thanks for your review!

croaky - I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for your review!

Devil Rebel - Yep I do love putting twists into stories, keeps me entertained as I write! Hopefully you'll like this chapter too. Thanks for the review!

RikkuDevil - Sorry for the long wait! I'll try and get another update in as soon as possible for you. Thanks for your review!

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MISSION 4 – FRIEND AND FOE

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"Do you believe in heaven?" Lady asked somewhat randomly. Her head was cradled in her palm, her elbow rested on the dusty tabletop.

Dante looked up from his magazine and shot her an odd look. "Well, if there is a heaven you sure won't get to see it." He laughed. "Hanging out with a devil and being a general pest doesn't look good on your CV."

"No, I mean it." Lady replied. "Fighting demons day in and day out, never seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Doesn't it make you wonder?"

"Not really." He rustled the pages of his magazine and pretended to look uninterested.

"Well I do."

"Well then, go to the church or something, don't come interrupting my 'peace and quiet time' with your questions. I'm really not the right person to ask." His words may have sounded harsh, but Lady knew Dante well enough not to take him seriously. He was teasing, deliberately trying to wind her up. It seemed the only way he could communicate with her.

Just for once she wished she could have a serious conversation with him.

Maybe, maybe she could bait him into being serious for a change.

"I can't help but wonder where my mother is now. I don't like to think of her as being simply gone. Don't you ever think about your mother?"

She saw him tense.

"Well?"

"My mother loved a demon." Dante replied stiffly. "That wouldn't have looked good either."

"My mother loved an evil man, but that doesn't make her evil."

He peered over the top of his magazine, startling her with the intensity of the colours in his eyes. And then he returned his gaze to his reading and everything elapsed into a state of normality.

With a sigh, she pushed herself up from her seat and stretched. "I'm going out."

"If you're going into town, pick me up some beers will you?"

"And where's the money to pay for it?"

Their eyes locked.

"Dante, how do you get through your money so fast? You're always in debt! You need some training in finance or something. Seriously, how long do you intend to carry on like this?"

"It's nice of you to care." He smiled up at her through bangs of silver hair. "But it's all under control."

"Care? I couldn't care less about you. Just don't come crying to me when you haven't got enough money to pay your rent and you're out in the rain." Talking of rain, the weather was awful. The sky had opened up, drenching everything in its path. Now, raindrops battered against the windowpanes and dripped down through leaks in the ceiling.

Lady pulled the collar of her jacket up to protect her face from the rain and made for the door.

"Where are you going anyway?"

"I'm going to meet a friend."

"Is she cute?"

She frowned at him and opened the door, stepping out into the rain that battered against her. Then, straddling her motorbike she turned the key and revved. This wasn't motorbike weather but it beat walking.

And within seconds she was off, hurtling down the empty streets, winding between parked cars and turning down into a narrow side street.

Lady had always believed in heaven. She had always thought that when she died she'd get to be with her mother again. She'd finally be at peace. She'd never felt settled, not even when her father was dead and her revenge seen to. She couldn't turn away from battling demons because in her search for revenge she had found a passion. She wanted to protect people, other children, from going through the same horrible experience that she had.

But sometimes her faith took a nosedive, not because she didn't believe, but because no matter how much she fought, she always felt alone.

Ten minutes later and she reached her destination, a quiet little café tucked away so carefully that you could drive straight past without seeing it.

The bell jingled merrily as she entered, pausing to remove her soaking jacket and hanging it on a hook by the door. Then, running fingers to smooth back her ruffled hair she cast a look around. The café wasn't busy but cheerful music was being played to cover up for the lack of chatter. A waitress came to meet her with a menu in hand, which Lady took gratefully.

"Mary, over here!"

Startled at being called a name she had rejected long ago, she half-turned, spying her friend sitting on a table in the far corner. She put on a smile, though she felt a little shaken, and strode towards her.

"Kate. It's been too long."

The woman, tall and slender with pretty golden curls hanging around her face stood and pulled Lady into an embrace. She had been Lady's childhood friend, before the events that led to her becoming a hunter of devils. Back then she'd been just another tom-boy in a crowd of school kids.

"It has, it's so good to see you again." Kate drew back, regarding Mary with scrutiny. "Dear, you do look like you've been through the wars." She sat down again and Lady took her own seat, sinking gratefully into it.

"Oh, you mean the scar?" Lady laughed. "It's nothing."

"You haven't changed much. Same hard face, same short-cut hair. Your eyes are a total give away too. You always were the rough-and-tumble sort of girl. I remember back in school, you were always getting into fights with those horrible boys. Do you remember when you gave Michael that black eye?"

Lady smiled. "That was so long ago, Kate!"

"It was but I'll never forget how much we laughed about that."

"Anyway, tell me, what have you been up to in these recent years?" Lady sat and ordered a coffee.

Kate beamed. "Oh, there's so much we have to catch up on, Mary. Do you remember when we spoke on the phone last, I told you about that job I was going for in the police force?"

"Yes. That was a long time ago. I'm sorry we haven't kept in touch."

Kate shrugged. "It happens. Anyway, somehow I managed to get the job, so I've been working and training hard ever since. The pay's quite good but the hours are long. Sometimes I think I'll collapse of exhaustion. But I'm really enjoying it and my colleagues are so nice to me. But that's not all. Do you remember Miles?"

"Your old school boyfriend?"

"Yes, we met up again last year and guess what!" She held out her hand and on her finger was a shimmering diamond ring. "We're engaged!"

Lady blinked. "Engaged? Oh, Kate, congratulations! So when is the wedding?"

"Oh, not until next year, but there's so much planning to do. It's scary how expensive everything is becoming and there's so much to arrange. Weddings are a lot of stress. Just the other day I was trying on dresses and just couldn't find one to suit me. But you know how I've always been about clothes. I'm too picky for my own good. But I just want it to be perfect, you understand. There's so much that can go wrong and so much to think about. I'm just glad that Miles is so good and he's willing to let me spend as much as I want so long as I'm happy…"

Lady was only half listening. The realisation that friends from school were starting to settle down and get married seemed to have driven a steak into her soul. She realised for the first time how different she was, how distant she was becoming to those she had once been so close to.

They were living lives that were an impossible dream to her.

She raised her mismatched eyes and realised for the first time that Kate wasn't the Kate she had once known at school. She was a young, mature woman with a good job and a steady relationship. Not the flirtatious, mischief-maker that always managed to get them in detention for breaking rules.

"Look at me boring you to death! You don't want to hear about my wedding woes. Mary, how about you? What have you been doing with your life lately?"

Lady snapped to attention, realising that Kate had stopped talking about weddings and was directing the conversation towards her. Suddenly she felt shy and embarrassed. What could she say about her life? She couldn't very well tell her the truth.

"Oh, well…not much has happened to me really. I mean…I do a lot of freelancing to get by. It pays well when I'm successful but it can be a few days before the next job comes up."

"Freelancing? You're a writer?"

Lady blinked and shifted uncomfortably. She felt awful for lying. "Something like that."

"Wow, I never would have expected that of you. Actually, I would have thought you were suited to joining the police or something. You've always been so healthy and fit. I'll keep my eyes open for any openings if you like."

"Oh don't worry about me, I'll settle eventually. I guess for now I just want to test the water, see what direction I want to take. My future has never been that clear really."

Kate smiled. "So, what else have you been up to? You must have some gossip."

"Not really, I don't see many people from school anymore. I've been out of touch for a while. I guess I get so wrapped up with finding work I don't have much time for anything else. It's quite a competitive business and there's one guy who really knows how to wind me up. I have to battle to keep one step ahead every day."

"A guy, hm?"

"Don't get any ideas." Lady muttered. "He's the most irritating person I know."

"Ooo, tell me more!"

"Why? You're engaged!"

"But you're not, are you?"

Lady burst into laughter. The whole concept of marriage and settling down with someone for life was not something she had ever thought about. It was something that happened to everyone else but not to her. It couldn't! She was too busy fighting demons, too busy training and fixing weapons and making sure her motorcycle was in tip-top condition. No guy would put up with a girl who knew more about engines than he did.

"Kate…you know me. I've never been interested in getting myself tied to a man. They're not worth the effort."

"But that was years ago! Surely you've thought about it since then?"

"No…not really." Lady felt herself blushing.

"I don't believe that for a second. Look at you blushing away." Kate grinned. "Maybe I should set you up on a date! That'd be so much fun, wouldn't it? Okay, so, give me the names of all the guys you know." She leaned forwards, preparing to make mental notes.

Lady flinched. She didn't have friends. Not really. She led too much of a secretive life to let anyone close to her. In fact, Dante and Trish were the only ones she felt comfortable around. Because, they understood what it was to live each day fighting to protect, fighting to stay alive. They knew the hardships of facing demons that were intent on ripping your soul from your body. They knew what it was to fight for something you believed in.

Even still, Trish wasn't the type that Lady could sit and have girlie chats with and Dante…well…she couldn't talk to him about anything without him teasing her.

Lady's friendship with the blonde and the devil was unspoken. They had a silent respect for one another, an unspoken vow to look out for one another and share information. So, whilst on the outside it appeared they didn't get on, they actually trusted one another fully. However, again, she wouldn't open up to them, not on any personal level. Lady just didn't do that. She could trust them with her life but not with her heart and soul. Her thoughts and feelings were hers alone; though sometimes when she looked into Dante's face she had a feeling he knew her better than she realised.

"There's only one guy who comes to mind and he's the irritating one. Sorry, I'm not the best person to play matchmaker with."

"Nonsense! You're just more of a challenge."

Lady shifted nervously. "It's an impossible task to perform in a day."

"We have got all day though. Come on, let's go." And Kate, grabbing Lady by the wrist as she was sipping the last of her coffee, whirled her out of the café and into the rain.

It was going to be a long day.

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"I told you it would be a waste." Lady replied tiredly.

"You weren't even trying to look for a guy. It's a two way process. I can't help you unless you want to be helped."

"How do I even know what guys are the good ones when I don't know them?"

"That's what dates are all about."

"Ugh…" Lady hung her head. "Sounds like torture."

"But it's worth it if you find yourself a nice man." Kate assured. "And trust me, it won't take you long to realise he's the one for you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, you'll start thinking about him a lot, randomly throughout the day. Then when he moves to touch your hand or ruffle your hair, you'll feel all tingly and warm. Then you'll begin to lose yourself in his eyes and start picturing a future with him. Eventually, even the most annoying of quirks become cute and you can't help but smile even if he does something completely mean." Kate sighed contentedly.

Lady just groaned.

"Come on now, where too next?"

Just then a scream rang out, startling both women into silence. Lady's heart clenched. A scream to most people could mean anything but to her it always meant demons, always meant trouble.

"What's going on down there?" Kate asked.

And suddenly a figure in a black cloak zipped across the street. It moved so fast that it appeared to be flying more than running. And then, a second after, a man with white hair and a billowing red coat followed after.

Lady's heart leapt.

"Did you see that?" Kate asked, grabbing hold of Lady's sleeve.

But Lady wasn't listening to her. "Dante!"

"Mary, you know that man?"

"Listen Kate, stay here a moment, okay? I'll be right back."

"Oh…okay." The blonde-haired woman took a small step back, the confusion evident in her eyes.

But Lady didn't wait around to explain. There was no time, besides, she couldn't tell Kate, even if she had hours to spare. She wouldn't understand. No one would understand. She took off, without looking back, following as fast as possible, just hoping that she wouldn't lose them.

It wasn't difficult to track them down. All she did was follow the screaming and eventually she found them, standing up on the roof of a school. Lady was just glad that the schools had already closed and that the kids were probably at home watching television and eating dinner.

No one else was in sight. They had probably run away in fear, not because the demon looked like a demon. In fact, from a distance he looked like a very well-wrapped up person. He was dressed all in black, with a wide-brimmed hat on his head, a scarf all the way up around his neck and face and a cloak that flapped in the wind.

They had screamed because the demon had a gun.

Lady was still running towards them when the demon moved. He was so quick it almost seemed like teleportation. He left a blur behind him and then a fist cracked Dante in the jaw and sent the young man flying, though he landed quickly and was fast to counter the move with a fist of his own.

The demon, however, dodged the attack with surprising ease, and raised his shotgun.

There was nowhere for the bullets to go now except through Dante's gut. And they did. The demon fired and the bullets sprayed up, sinking into flesh and spurting blood. The devil sagged, grasping at his bloodied stomach as he tipped sideways onto the ground.

Lady felt as if those bullets had hit her too.

The demon had hold of Dante's collar now, lifting him up. He was saying something, a taunt perhaps. She was close enough to see Dante's smirk and was so angry that she wanted to thump him. How dare he just scare her like that and come out of it smiling?!

She leapt up onto a car and vaulted herself upwards, swinging from the curved neck of a street light to flip herself up onto the roof. A second later and she bowled roughly into the demon, knocking him sideways and flipping away just in time to get out of range of the shotgun.

But suddenly the demon was there in front of her, leering at her from beneath the dark rim of his hat. His skin, what little of it could be seen, was grey and ashen. His eyes were such a pale blue that they were almost white. Almost.

She staggered away from him, reached for her weapons to find the holsters missing. Damn it all to hell!! She would hardly be walking around with guns in Kate's company. Now what was she going to do? Her rescue attempt wasn't exactly going to plan.

"Well it's nice of you to drop in, babe, but if you don't have the firepower then I'm gonna have to turn you away." Dante was pulling himself up onto his feet, sagging slightly at the waist. The wound was certainly not going to kill him, but just because he would heal didn't mean that it didn't hurt.

Damn, did it hurt.

The demon, distracted by Dante's recovery, left himself open to Lady's attack. She swung her leg up, cracking the toe of her boot across the demon's jaw and sending him spinning midair. But he didn't hit the ground, at least not in the way that Lady wanted. He landed on his feet, balancing himself on the fingertips of a hand.

She couldn't see his mouth but his eyes were smiling and it wasn't a nice expression.

The demon tore forwards and she dodged his fist, flipping sideways. The demon pursued, hooking a foot around her ankle and pulling her to the ground. She hit the ground, rolled and wind-milled her legs, intent on knocking the demon sideways. But he wasn't in range and he waited for her attack to pass before he leapt on her. Long, gloved fingers grasped her wrists tightly above her head.

Instinctively she raised a knee, intending to crush his jewels with one swift blow. But the demon, like a flash, swung sideways, freeing one of her wrists to sling the shotgun from his shoulder.

Lady, knowing full well that she wouldn't be getting back up if he managed to land a shot, grasped for his face with her free hand, digging her nails into his eyes. He reared his head back and the scarf came loose in her hands. A grotesque mouth, sewn together with thick cord, smiled back at her.

A shot hit the demon between the shoulder blades and in the blink of an eye, the hat-wearing creature was leaping off of Lady and turning towards Dante, parrying Rebellion with the barrel of his shotgun. The shotgun was severed as if it were nothing more than butter.

"I didn't know feisty women were your type." Dante raised the smoking barrel of one of his twin pistols and then aimed it again. "But isn't it better to ask permission before jumping them?"

The silent demon smirked, the stitches in his mouth stretching very slightly.

Lady, growling, gathered herself up onto her feet, clenching her fists tightly.

"Well, lets end this." Dante flexed his shoulders.

The demon readied himself for battle.

So did Lady. She threw herself at him, aiming a fist right for the back of the demon's skull. But he must have known she was coming. He dodged her attack, span with blinding speed and caught her throat in his cold grasp. The air was forced from her lungs. She drew in a gurgled breath, reached up to tug herself free.

And from the swaths of his flapping cloak, the demon retrieved another gun, pressing it to her heaving chest.

He smiled silently.

"Not so fast, pal." Dante slammed his fist into the side of the demon's head and this time the demon really did hit the ground hard. He thrashed and the gun clattered across the rooftop.

Lady, rubbing her throat, glanced up angrily.

Dante flashed her a smirk and then raised both pistols, shooting simultaneously. The demon looked up, his pale, weeping eyes, bulging. He tried to open his mouth to scream, the stitches tearing into flesh. And then without warning he turned and leapt from the roof. Dante raced after him, pausing to glance down for him. But the demon was out of sight.

Lady, with the demon's fallen gun in hand limped up to Dante, setting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Is it gone?"

Dante, one hand on his bloodied stomach, just grunted. "He'll be back. They always come back."

"Are you alright?"

"What's this, Lady's actually concerned about me? Well, I'm touched."

"It shot you, of course I'm going to be worried." She frowned.

He laughed and turned to face her, reaching out to wipe dust from her cheek with the backs of his fingers. Her face tingled from the contact and despite herself, she blushed. It was the first time she'd admitted that she worried, and worrying about a person meant you cared about them.

She pushed his hand away, but the action was somewhat playful.

"What're you doing here anyway?"

"I saw you chasing the demon and thought it looked like you needed some help. You sure were getting the run around."

"No demon gives Dante the run around." He smirked. "Are you sure you weren't just after some quick cash?"

She looked into his eyes, saw them sparkle with mischief. He was trying to find something to irritate her with. Why did he like to see her angry so much?

"I can get my own jobs thanks." She pushed past him and moved to swing down from the roof. She glanced back at him, and laughed at the look on his face. "Besides, you need all the jobs you can get, the way you get through money."

"Hey, it's not my fault the women want me. Dating every night costs money."

She arched a brow, clearly not believing a word of what he was saying. "Well a word of advice. You might want to clean yourself up before going out tonight. Women don't date men that smell like blood."

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"So, where's your cute friend?"

"Cute, engaged friend." Lady corrected. "So don't get any ideas about her. I don't want you messing with my friend's relationship." And with one last glare – just for good measure – she swung to the ground, straightened the folds of her now crumpled and dirtied clothes and headed back the way she had come.

Dante, grunting with pain, lay back on the rooftop and waited for the pain to ebb.

to be continued...