Dante: The human element Part 1.
Dante lay in a hospital bed. He had been conscious for a few hours now. A nurse came in and informed him that he had been brought here nearly a week ago. Dante asked her where his brother was, and she informed him that he was in the intensive care unit. Dante immediately started to get up, but the nurse put her hands on him and advised otherwise. He would have shoved her away but he was suddenly dizzy and nauseous. When he laid his head back down he could feel the blood pulsing through his head. What is wrong with me? I shouldn't even be here;he though as he lay with his eyes shut. He was frustrated, and wanted to see Vergil his self. Why am I here? I should be fine… but I'm not. Why? Why was at the beginning of all the questions that went through his head. Dante realized he was starting to sound like a sulky little boy. The nurse finished seeing to his needs and had almost stepped out when he stopped here.
"Hey. Who brought me here?" The nurse turned back to him and replied "The paramedics did, of course." Paramedics? Are you kidding me? Why would a demon that can heal his own wounds need a hospital! He realized that he was asking the same questions in different forms over and over. The real question he needed to ask was why wasn't he healing? The dizzy feeling started to intensify, and he could feel a migraine coming on. It wasn't long before he was back asleep, dreaming of the events prior to him and his brothers hospitalization. He dreamt of an old man, five dark figures, and a bright flashing light. He awoke to the sound of a woman talking. He opened his eyes slightly and leaned his head to the right. "Yes I'm here. The doctors said he was awake a few hours ago." There was a pause. "Lady, I'll have to call you back, he is awake again. Alright, stay safe." Trish walked over to Dante and placed a hand on his chest. "How are you, Dante? I'm glad to see you're okay."
Dante looked at her and thought; Boy, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. She wore her normal outfit, all black, and her hair was straight and perfect. "Vergil…" he started.
"He is doing alright as far as I know. He first woke up early yesterday morning." Dante looked at her, and asked a question he desperately needed an answer to. "Trish, why aren't we healing?" She looked deep into his eyes and moved her hand to his cheek. "Dante, I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I think part of you actually died." Dante looked at her puzzled, and then she continued "I think the demon blood in you has either been weakened, or diminished completely." Dante sat thinking, while Trish removed her hand from his cheek and started digging in her purse. "Look for yourself." She held out a small makeup kit that had a mirror. Dante took it and saw his reflection. He almost jumped when he saw that his hair was much shorter, and black as pitch. "What the hell…" He looked over his face and saw that it no longer appeared to be as strong as it had been a week ago. Only then did Dante notice his arm, it was not muscular like it used to be. "Dante, your body has deteriorated at an extreme rate over the week. This would not be possible if you were still half demon."
"The nurse said that the paramedics found me, they must have seen something. If not them, then the police should have. I'll have to talk to them."
"Dante, I found you and Vergil. I was there before the house came down," Trish showed concern on her face "I was nearly in the explosion. There were a lot of people standing outside The Devil May Cry. A couple of police cars were in front of the crowd, and this one policeman kept telling me to back up. He was saying that I needed to turn around and walk the other way. Finally I shoved him aside and before I was thirty feet from the entrance, the whole place blew up." A face was starting to form in Dante's head. Trish's voice became a low hum as he focused on the mental image. "Dante, the eye witnesses have told news channels that they saw you and Vergil standing inside the building with some dark figure. Then there was some sort of shockwave and all three of you were gone. Dante. Dante, are you listening to me?"
Dante was lost in a sort of trance. He could not fully remember the face he was half seeing, but he was starting to remember other things…
"Vergil!" said Dante as he was flung up against a wall. He watched as Vergil was sent flying out the doorway. The cloak that the figure had worn was now on the floor, and the demon it had concealed was now completely bare. The demon looked at Dante and laughed a laugh that seemed to shake the earth. "Nice trick asshole, you just wait till-". He was cut off by his own scream. The demon pulled him forward with some strange force. Dante felt his blood pumping. He was floating five feet from the demon. Now is my chance. The demonic blood surged as its power was called forth. Dante broke free from the lightning demon's invisible grasp… only for a moment. The demon raised his left hand, the same one the rings were on, and Dante slammed into the roof. "Gah! Damn you!" He was being lowered back to the demon when he heard a voice of thunder "You are an interesting creature. You appeared human at first, but now you look a demon like me. Were you simply hiding your true form?"
"Well, I don't go all out until a man proves himself." Dante forced a smile as he said this. "It is comforting to hear that you feel I am worthy of you" said the demon. That's right you bastard, keep talking, focus on something else. "I don't usually go this far without even knowing the name of my date."
The lightning demon laughed "I am the all-powerful Amissio!" It was a fight for Dante to keep a small smile on his face. So you're the demon leader the old man told us about. This guy probably wasn't jack squat until he got his hands on those rings. "Well, Amissio, I am Dante. Look, it was nice meeting you and all, but we really should do this another time." Dante was preparing to send a surge of power to the demon. "Oh, but there won't be a next time, Dante."
Dante let out a small laugh and said "Damn right there won't!" and with that, he let a bolt of demonic power fly out of his hand. Amissio raised his left hand and seemed to absorb it. Dante wore a look of shock and disbelief. "Well, that felt impressive. I guess I'll be taking the rest of that power too." Amissio made a hard fist with his ringed hand and Dante lurched back. Amissio started to laugh again, while Dante began to convulse in mid-air. "You look so pathetic. I can't wait to see how your brother reacts. He is your twin, is he not? You two look so much alike." Dante yelled out "Not him you motherfu-" then he lost consciousness.
Dante looked toward Trish. She had moved to the seat by his bed. "Trish, did you find our things? We will need them as soon as we get out of here." Trish looked concerned "Dante, you can't just go fight whatever did this to you."
"Actually, as soon as Vergil is out, we can."
"Dante stop being such a stubborn child."
"Trish, did you get our stuff or not?" She raised an eyebrow in annoyance and sighed "I got some of your stuff. Rebellion was lying not far from you, and Yamato was in your brother's hand." Dante squinted towards her. "That's it? What about my girls? What about Agni and Rudra or Cerberus?" Trish just shook her head slowly, and rose from her chair. "I'm sorry Dante there wasn't time to gather everything. You did remind me though." She reached down inside her purse and pulled out Ebony. Dante reached out for it, but Trish drew her hand back. "What the hell? Give me that!" Dante reached further. "Be quite!" Trish whispered sharply. "You can't have this out here, I'm just showing you. I also managed to get Ivory, it's in my purse."
"She" said Dante. "What?" Trish asked, looking annoyed.
"You said 'it's in the bag', Ebony and Ivory are female. So, you should say 'she' not 'it'." Trish put Ebony back with its sister. "Anyway, where is Rebellion and Yamato?" asked Dante.
"Lady has them put away in her apartment. It's all being looked after." Trish and Dante heard the door open. A doctor came in carrying a clip board. "Hello there. My name is Doctor Stafford, and you are?" Trish smiled at the doctor and said "I am his friend. Just coming to check up on him."
"Ah, alright. Well I've got some good news for you both. Mr. Dante, you will make a full recovery. You took a pretty nasty hit on your head, but it's healing up pretty well. In fact, you could leave as early as Sunday." The doctor started to write something on his clipboard. "Five days? Can't I go now? I'll be fine I'm sure." Doctor Stafford looked up from his writing and laughed. "Well it's good to see your spirits are up, but we need to make one hundred percent sure your better." Dante groaned and closed his eyes. "It'll be alright Dante, just relax" Trish said. Doctor Stafford stopped writing and looked at his watch. "Ma'am visiting hours are almost over. Dante, I'll see you some time tomorrow" with that, he left the two alone. "Well, tell Vergil I said 'hi' next time ya see him" said Dante with his eyes still closed. "Alright I will. You take it easy okay?" Trish leaned down and kissed his forehead. She gathered her purse and walked towards the door. "Oh, and tell Lady I said 'hi' too."
Trish looked back and nodded, and then she left. Sleep took Dante quickly. He dreamt very little. Every now and then he saw the blurry face of Amissio, floating in the darkness. He awoke suddenly to a large boom. Dante opened his eyes but it was very dark in his room. He could see a faint light coming from somewhere down the hall. There was a scream, barely audible to his ears. Dante rose from his bed slowly and quietly. This definitely isn't good, he though as he put his feet on the ground.