A/N: Okay… so I know that I've been gone for a while and… I don't have a lot of excuses, other than that there's currently six people living in my apartment while we wait to transfer and it's hard to find time to myself to type. But other than that, I've just been lazy.

Disclaimer: I'm still too lazy.

Guest: I'm sorry… I've been lazy, I'm glad you like it though, thanks for the review!

Then I'd Punch Him

Dante grunted at the pain that leapt to his mind after a couple surprised seconds. Another second and the Devil Bringer was removed from his abdomen. He hissed in a breath between his teeth and a hand fell to the hole on instinct. It was far from a mortal wound for the half devil but it didn't make it any nice to experience. Distantly he could hear the scientist laughing and could clearly hear Nero growling behind him.

"As you can see, the control is nearly perfect." Dante spat out a glob of his own blood and then felt a pulse that he hadn't felt in a very long time… it was one that he'd grown up with, one that he was intimately familiar with seeing as his brother had stabbed him through with it. Yamato. The half devil growled again and focused his mind, barely reacting as the Devil Bringer pierced him again, the claws scraping against his ribcage. If he could just focus… Yamato's energy was fragmented and Dante huffed, trying to pull it anyway. Slowly… ever so slowly, the energy of the blade focused into the razor sharp edge that he was more accustomed to and the blade heeded his call, flying to his hand, his Trigger altering with a ripple of red sparks as he whirled and slashed at his partner, the blade cutting a clean, deep line in the other hunter's chest.

"What?! No!" He could hear the scientist in the background and he snarled, turning and lashing out again, the energy flying from the blade as he did and striking the slimy man directly in the chest. He squawked and flew backward but Dante was already on the move again, calling on the power in his blood and the power in the blade and summoning and handful of glowing swords and flinging them at his partner who was already oncoming again. The partial devil snarled angrily as he was secured to the wall behind him by his shoulder, leg and wrist. Nero growled and immediately started trying to pull off of the blades, pushing and hissing in pain as the blades caused further damage with his struggling.

"Nero. Stop." the half devil said, his breath coming a little quicker now as his body had spent much of its energy trying to patch the holes in itself. Nero just squirmed harder. Dante huffed and shoved forward, his hand latching around Nero's throat as he snarled at the young man. Whatever was controlling Nero just had him running off of instinct and it certainly wasn't the scientist… he could hear the man groaning, still alive then… Dante dug his claws into Nero's throat, even as a clawed hand scrabbled at his face and shoulder. The half devil growled again and leaned forward, smashing his lips into the other man's, trying to dominate him through a kiss. The partial devil continued to struggle at first but then Dante pressed Nero to the wall with his entire body, pushing his tongue into the other's mouth and hoping for a better response than simple submission. When the clawing at his face and neck turned to confused pushing he pulled away, looking into puzzled amber glowing eyes.

"Dante?" Nero blinked then and looked at his hand, not even seeming to realize until that moment that he'd pulled out his Devil Trigger.

"Hey, there you are." Nero hissed and looked to his other arm where it was pinned at the wrist.

"Okay, so I know we like to experiment but this is pushing it. Plus I don't remember agreeing to this…" Dante chuckled and took a step back, dispelling the summoned swords with a simple flick of his wrist. Nero grumbled as the holes started to close but Dante was already headed for the scientist only to stop in confusion. Where the man had been there was now a large insectoid devil.

"What the hell..?" he muttered, watching as the monster got to its feet. It turned and looked at him and raised a shaking finger.

"No… you can't…!" it said and Dante just tilted his head. The man-monster started to back away and then Nero leapt up onto the upper platform to join him.

"No you don't!" he snapped, his Devil Bringer shooting forward and grabbing ahold of the monster's leg, yanking him all the way back into the wall behind them. The pair stalked forward then, watching the man with interest.

"So…" Nero crouched "I'm not a fan of possession, particularly against myself so you're going to explain what's going on. Right. Now." the demon quivered, its wings fluttering uselessly.

"I… I won't talk! Not to you!" he said and Nero rolled his eyes before lifting one hand, Ifrit coming into existence and flaring hotly. The partial devil grabbed one ankle, grinning when the man started screaming. When the hunter let go the demon looked to Dante who just shrugged.

"Hey man, don't look at me, he's the one who's got a beef with you, you shouldn't have had him mind controlled."

"Answer me." Nero snapped, flaming claws clicking against one another "What the hell's going on here?!" the demon shrieked.

"Alright! Alright! We all took part in the Ascension Ceremony… and His Holiness plans on bringing the Savior back to the world… Please!" he squeaked when Nero pounded a fist into the ground.

"Dammit Dante, why does this always turn back around to your father!?" Dante just sighed tiredly

"Tell me about it, I've been wondering the same thing myself for a long time. If I could see the old fucker one more time, I'd tell him to clean up his own damn messes. Then I'd punch him."

Till next time,

-Winged Element