A/N: Alright, still contemplating the ending, heha. Sad or happy? Ooo, should I be mean and make it sad? who knows who knows.

Chapter 11

Wanting Him Back

Two hours ago.

He once moved on from this place, hoping never having to visit it once again. It brought back so many painful memories, ones that he thought were buried and closed forever. But they never were, were they? And he knew that very well. But coming here was just crossing the line. And he passed that line right into the gates of the dead. The graveyard.

He knew the way of by heart, a map of the route implanted within his head, every step every turn. What grave and where it laid. His mother's grave, the tombstone was carved beautifully, an angel watching over it, it was the ideal thing to have on the grave. Once he got there he couldn't miss it, he knew it was her grave, he absolutely did without a doubt. It was... Sad. It was aching to his heart, just looking at it made him want to sob; he didn't want to believe it, but... There it was the solid hard proof of its existence. And the heavens kept crying.

Dearly beloved Eva

His mother's grave. He wished he didn't have to see her like this, not like this. But it happened on that unforgettable day many years ago... When he and Vergil were still brothers, real brothers. And then the demons came, and took away everything away. Everything. They took his mother, took his brother. He tensed up; he could feel the tears forming inside him once again. This is why he did it, this is why he killed demons and protected humanity, he was like a guard, the saviour. Because without humanity, he'd just be another remorseless demon. Like them. If there was one thing Dante did to follow his father's footsteps, it would be that.

He traced his cold fingers over the engraved letters, crouching down just above the grave on the side. "Mother," he whispered soundlessly, the rain overtaking the sound. It was the one place he could feel at peace for a while right now, he needed to think hard about his decisions. He needed to deal with his disordered mind and plan out his next steps. That last encounter with his brother really hit him hard. He wasn't able to think straight since then.

Vergil meant a lot of things to him, but did he himself mean anything to him? That was the question... He wanted to save him, cure him. Fix him. But he just wouldn't let him, no matter how close he got; how hard he tried. There was no in, Vergil didn't let it happen. And he wished there could be another way to all of this; a better way to fix it. But no, the path would never be easy, always hard. One problem after another, and he just had to solve them all until the very end.

What happened in the end? He didn't know.

He thought of those times he lost him, when Vergil fell into the depths of hell. He cried.

It's only the rain.

And when he thought he killed Vergil...

Vergil... Dante... Happy Birthday.

He couldn't let him go. No. He raised his head from the tomb; putting his self-pity aside. He needed to act, now. And he was ready to do this even if it killed him. "I promise mom, I'll bring Vergil back, and we'll be a family again." He said proudly, ardent to make it happen. No more screw ups, he was going to do this. Even if he had to break Vergil's arms and legs to bring him back. He wasn't going to loose him again, not to Hell not to no one. He said he was going to do it for him, he said he'll protect him. Would be go back on those words now? Dante was not a coward. True to his word, he will do the job without fail.

He set off down the dark path, into hell. This time, with Vergil in his arms when he came back.

Now he was presently within the abandoned mansion where he first found Vergil. The place was forsaken, did he really live here? It was empty! Nothing, how did he survive? And for how many days did he do this, surely Dante didn't get to him the day after his escape from the demon world; it must have been days... Weeks even. The room, it still had the gaping hole he created. And that sword; still there untouched by another's hand. Similar to Yamato it was, but never in power circumstances. It was worthless anyway... Best to leave it there really.

Vergil was no where in sight; he thought he would have come here to rest first then... Dante averted his gaze to something else. This was a joke; Vergil must have gone straight down there, which meant he knew where the gate was. How? He couldn't have found it that fast, he must be looking for it or something! Dante didn't want to believe he could possibly be down there at this very moment, what if he failed! What if the demons got to him before he did... He didn't want to think anymore, too many 'what if' scenarios running through his mind, all of them with bad outcomes. He had no hope, Vergil couldn't do it on his own, he just couldn't! His heart thumped faster that it should be beating, he really did care for Vergil; didn't he?

Out of the corner of his eye he caught something shine in the dull lighting of the room, it was hiding in the shadows now, trying to conceal itself after being spotted. He smirked; too easy. But it was ticking him off, he didn't have time for this but if he had too... "Come out come out wherever you are, I have a present..."He called out lazily, he stepped closer to the shadows, "don't you want it..." He looked carefully; slightly hesitant to come any closer, so he watched for any more movement, he didn't want to be surprised now did he. Was it Vergil perhaps? He hoped that maybe...

"If it happens to be something I dislike Dante, you getting in for it." Thank God, it was only Trish. So he was surprised, but disappointed too. At least he could relax a little now. A little.

"So you followed me babe, I'm that irresistible huh," What a cheek.

"Well Dante, when you're not slacking on the job, and making money..." She smirked there. "I see your taking action on the Hell Gate, now I know the people will pay up. And I thought Lady was right about you," she walked around him, her hills clicking on the floor boards.

"What did Lady say, let me guess something about my, interests?" He turned half way from her, still looking around the mansion. He was going to get it hard from the two about his... How do you put it... Act of Incest. No other way round it, but he didn't care; this relationship was beyond that. Besides, it's not like they were any normal human family, now were they?

"That you're a blind fool to brotherly love." Now that was just taking the piss. "I'm sure your father would be proud," she added in, wanting a reaction out of him.

"Of course!" And here we go, "It's hard for a demon to find love every now and then, I'm sure he's proud," returning the sarcasm. This was getting far too off topic. "Are you here to help me or what, I got a Hell Gate to find." And a brother, or shall we say lover?

"Actually yes, the location of the Hell Gate." She was helpful every time, that's what partners were for. "Now let me tell you everything." Here we go, the whole background information that wasn't important, not that he could stop her anyway. "Vergil opened that Hell Gate, and like the fool he is he left it open." Dante grinned, he should of figured that one out. "If he goes back into hell, it could close again in a couple hours time, probably within a day. The gate has the right to stay open until it property is returned. That being Vergil,"

"How does that work out?" What exactly was she getting at.

"It means Vergil belongs down there, he always has. Like the rest of the demons." It took a little bit for Dante to register those words, there was something... He didn't dare touch on the subject. Trish was sure he understood what she was trying to say. They both left it unspoken; it wouldn't stop Dante from getting him back anyway. "You're going to have to destroy it if you want to stop the demons." She waited for an answer, but didn't receive one. "It's in the centre of this town Dante, there's a pool in the centre park, and it's a portal. If you take a look around town, you'll already notice that the demons have left their mark. No one was there to stop them," she was saying it was his fault. Which it was.

"I'll be getting Vergil out first. I can't leave him in there," he tells her straight, not caring if she disagreed, she deserved to know, they all did.

"I know," sounding unimpressed. "But it would be easier to just to destroy the gate when you find it, but there's no changing your mind now is there." There really wasn't. "See ya around Dante," she was leaving, already? Dante didn't stop her, but it was good to know she wasn't as mad as Lady was about this... Relationship with his brother. Lady will come round soon enough, he hoped.

When Trish left his sight he ambled around the room for a bit, the useless sword caught his attention again. It may not be much, but he was sure Vergil used this to fight his way out of the Demon World, so he took it. He wasn't going to fail on Vergil, not this time. It was about time he left the mansion, nothing important left here... Before he did leave, he took one last look. Empty it was, he could imagine Vergil here one more time, playing his violin, that heart wrenching harmony. It must have been beautiful, it was beautiful. Vergil was... The music he played spoke of sad tales; he wondered where he'd learned to play. He always thought Vergil was a power hungry maniac... But it seems he was wrong. He was something more than that now wasn't he? He smiled to himself. So be it, if he didn't bring Vergil home, then he wouldn't come back either, it was selfish of him. But he couldn't live on without his brother, not anymore.

It didn't take too long for him to get there, forty-five minute's tops, no less. When he did arrive the area was eerie, the strange sort of quietness surrounded. Everything around him was dead, all life evaporated from the surface. Building smashed in, the nature of the park non-existent. This is what a demon did, it brought both death and misery in its path; it always did.

He found the pool, very hard to miss; and no demons were in sight. That was strange. It was like, like someone was waiting for him; he couldn't explain it. But it was very wrong. The feeling of being constantly watched, it disturbed him... He shrugged it off; he had other things to focus on.

Dante thought of many things as he made his way down to the park, he thought about all sorts of outcomes, like what if he didn't get Vergil back? And what would he see down there when he got there? He'd been in Hell many times before, but every time was different. Hell came in all shapes and forms, was he ready to see Vergil's? Will he meet the demons that... Messed with his brother? He swore he'll kill them on sight. Nobody does that to his brother and gets away with it. No time to dilly-dally, he plunged himself straight in without a second thought, his first being enough - Vergil. Time to visit fathers home! He only hoped Hell welcomed him back... he grinned. Was he mad for doing this he wondered? Or was this not what he lived for? Of course it was.

Heart thumping, eyes darting.

His mind racing. Yamato ready, footsteps steady.

He was afraid.

Another scream, he shut his eyes. Too many memories, flooding his mind, was it a mistake?

To come back here, his nightmares did it for him. Now his awake world too.

Revenge drove him, and he obliged to follow. The outcome will only choose whether he was a fool or not.

A fool for coming down there, not one for leaving alive.

Dante came to mind, his precious brother. He was truly sorry, he really was. But in his own words... 'Would you call this a family?' He could never have a family. He was spoilt, ruined, utter filth. He was... Used and abused, no one would want that. An abomination he believed he was. He didn't deserve family, not after all he's done. Though he would never regret all he has done, it did get him far. But it also brought him here, to this Hell. No matter, he drew back his hair and proceeded forwards, the only way he would go now. It was time to get this over with; time to kill - or be killed. Slightly crazed he smiled a little to himself; he had no idea what was going to happen, no idea, not a clue. The noise surrounding him was driving him mad, the screams, and yells. The cries of help. Lust and... The victims of it. Those sounds were everywhere, very hard to miss. Very hard to block out from the ears.

He moved cautiously down the lonesome road; he could feel the eyes on him; the eeriness of it all, the familiarity too. He wasn't sure if he was stable enough to go through with this. Too late now.

He never knew what his reaction would be like if he ever saw them again. For the past month now he'd only been thinking of one thing. To get his revenge, and power, but that want was gone now, only revenge remained. It brought too much disturbance to his plans; and wants. Without revenge he couldn't go on, so dropping the power was a good choice to take.

He wanted some dignity he wanted to redeem himself as the Son of Sparda. What kind of son was he? One to be abused by such lowly demons no! Never! He must set this right; he must put them in their place. He had too.

Trepidation won him over; someone or something was near; so very near. He stopped in his tracks, and dared not to speak, nor breathe. At the moment the entity wasn't being innocuous, but it will soon. He could tell these things. Macabre sounds surrounding hm. The setting was well; it suited the situation; the scene, the moment. Vergil remembered a time when he was once stoic, he wondered where it all went? Some things he could never get back... Not now anyway.

The demon bared teeth through the darkness, his face and his damn smile all coming to view. Vergil never smiled like that; ever. He hated his damn face when it held such expressions, it was- it was- "The son of Sparda, come back for more? I knew you could never stay away," how dare he. Vergil clutched Yamato in his hand. He wasn't weak this time, he wasn't going to give in, he couldn't allow it! He wouldn't. He... He quivered.

I'm so weak.

He's staring at him, the demon was still staring at him with his face and eyes, and he hated it to the core. When he used his face like that he wanted to yell, scream or shout, he had no right! No right at all! "Oh, what's that I sense, there seems to be another on your mind... Finally lost your pride have you? Not only thinking about yourself my little..." Don't finish that sentence. "Let's see who we have in here." No, not again. He absolutely hated it when he did this. It was low. Even for a demon.

"I'm going to kill you- you bastard!" He hollered, slightly unsure with himself. He had one shot at this; he might as well take it. The devil smiled. Vergil charged. That retched smile! He never wanted to see it again. Ever! He needed to remove it, delete it from existence.

The demon laughed in a high pitch voice, it was piercing and unearthly (of course it was). Vergil missed, it was too quick, or Vergil was too slow. He cursed himself for it. Why! This wasn't meant to be happening. He want meant win, he was.

"Seed of Sparda... you have your demon back..." He drawled seductively like it was a good thing. "I'm sure we'll have some fun with that..." Again with the laughter, how long will the agony go on?

"DIE ALREADY! WHY WON'T YOU DIE!" 'SLASH SLASH SLASH!' His mind was slipping, he was taking over. The more he laughed the more it... The memories attacked. He would always laughed when he- when. And the other two they-

-They.

When did Yamato fall to the ground? He wasn't sure himself. Shit, Vergil looked back, this wasn't happening. Oh but Vergil it was."Vergil, don't you want to play," the laugh, why was he laughing. It wasn't funny, it's not funny! He grabbed him, touched him, his hands were on him; again. No, No, No. Vergil froze, his mind failing on him. Submitting to the demon, the plan was to endure it, and finally rest when darkness took over. No, but the- the things that took place. He-

"Give into me Vergil..." His eyes, they were so... So alluring. "You have nothing left..."

-He screamed.

And screamed again.

"Dante I'm sorry."