Author's Note: Something that I've always worry about is messing up Dante's personality, because I certainly don't want him to be OOC. I've played the games, watch the anime and read the manga as well as the novels. So I've got plenty of sources to draw from, which can hopefully help me.
This story takes place sometime after the plot of Devil May Cry 3 (which is why the shop already has a name and he's got a reputation among the locals). Just in case you're wondering Dante is around 19-26 years old, give or take a few years. So yeah, because he's young he can be a bit immature and brash at times, but over time he'll basically become a more refined version of himself (especially if I do any time-skips).
Chapter 5
Not Afraid
"Hey, sleeping beauty wake up. Come on, wake up!" a deep voice said, breaking Yuu from her peaceful slumber. She was nudged a bit and than something cold started poking her cheek. She swatted at the object and her eyes fluttered open with annoyance.
"Okay, okay! I'm up! No need to keep doing that," she said, sitting up and rubbing the weariness from her eyes. She stretched, while yawning and combed her fingers through her hair to make sure it wasn't unruly.
"It's about time the sleeping princess woke up. So, what brings you here to my place and sleeping on my couch?"
Yuu looked up to the voice and saw a tall man with short shaggy silvery white hair and light blue eyes. On his face he worn a smirk and he was wearing a long crimson red leather trench coat with a red strap going across his bare muscle chest. He wore black boots, olive green cargo-like pants and black fingerless gloves. On his back is a large sword, the handle visible above his shoulder and poking from the sides on his back are two holsters for his guns.
He also has an oval shape amulet hanging from his neck. '...am I still dreaming? He can't be real, because attractive guys like him don't ever talk to me. Wait what did he say?' she thought, her eyes going wide once she noticed the silver gun in his hand. 'Did he fucking poke me with that?! What the hell!'
She took a deep breath, keeping herself calm in order to not upset the guy with the gun, which was slightly raised in her direction.
"Sorry, I fell asleep while waiting. Enzo told me he knew of a place where I can stay temporary until I can find myself a job and a new place to stay. He told me to come here and well, I'm your new roommate. That's if you're the guy he said that was living here too?" she said, eyeing his face and the gun in his hand.
He stare at her a second, but lower his gun and put it away.
"Enzo, huh? He sent you here to stay with me?" he said, frowning and scratching his head. "Don't get me wrong. I'll be nice to have a pretty girl around, but I don't think it'll be a good idea."
He seem unsure about her staying with him. So she continued talking to him to hopefully persuade him to let her stay without any issues. "I already paid Enzo the amount for the week. So you can't just kick me out. I don't have anywhere to go if you did. Beside, I'm quiet and I won't get in your way of whatever you do. You probably won't even know I'm here, since I'll be spending most of my time going out to look for a job."
He sighed and walked to the coat rack to hang his coat up. Then he walk behind his desk and dropped onto the chair, propping his feet up on the desk. His eyes roamed over her body and his smirk seemed to widen. Her eyes narrowed at his lecherous glaze, but his question didn't match his action.
"Do you know how to use those blades or are they just for show?"
"I know the basics, which has helped me so far with the...creatures I've come across," she replied, raising her eyebrow at his question.
"Okay, make yourself at home than. I'm Dante and this is where I live and run my business."
"Thanks," she said, breaking into a smile. She introduced herself, sitting back down on the couch again and turned her body to face him.
"So..." he said, picking up the pizza box and taking a bite of the slice that was still left inside. "Why do you look like you got into a fight with a box of band-aids?"
She looked at her hands and arms, wincing at the cat and gun theme band-aids covering her scratches. "I helped someone and she went a bit overboard with them," she replied, thinking back to when Kitty insisted on treating every cut.
He laughed, shaking his head as he pushed the empty pizza box away.
''So, where will I sleep?'' Yuu asked, as she watched him finish the remaining cold pizza.
''I don't know, but there's always room in my bed,'' Dante replied, licking the sauce from his fingers.
Yuu rolled her eyes, "Pfft, yeah right."
She crossed her arms, leaning back on the sofa. "If there's no extra bed I'll sleep on the couch for now. Is there even an extra room that I could use?" she asked, hoping that she just overlooked it.
"Eh, maybe upstairs behind the boxes of junk," he replied, staring up at the ceiling in thought. "I haven't gone up there in a while so I'm not completely sure."
"Okay, I'll check it out in the morning," she said, staring at him and sweeping her eyes around his desk and walls. "So...what do you do?"
"I'm a demon hunter. I do jobs that relate to demons and the cash I get from them pay the bills and whatever needs fixing," he said, stretching his back until it cracked.
"Oh, you've got a bit..." she pointed to the corner of her mouth.
"Thanks, he said, wiping the tomato sauce off his face with the back of his hand.
"I figured that much. So demons really exist. Even those puppet things are demons? Are there other kinds of demons too?" she asked.
"Why do you want to know?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Because I want to know what they are and if there are other things that can kill me out there. Besides, who else am I'm gonna ask? The mailman? You're the demon hunter, so you would know these things better than anyone else," Yuu stated, staring at him with an 'duh' expression on her face.
He sighed, leaning back on his chair.
"It's not like I can stop to have a conversation with them when they're trying to kill me. It's usually shoot first, stab, and keep at it until they're dead. Speaking of which, just because they stop moving doesn't mean they're really dead. Always double check."
"But..."
"Here, I'll make it simple for you. If it's not human than it's probably a demon. If it's trying to kill you than it's obviously bad. You really don't need to know what they're call, what type of demon they are, why they do the things they do and whatever else."
"Fine," she huffed. "Do you know any places that are hiring?"
"Love Planet," he quipped immediately.
"No," she shut down just as quickly.
"I don't know. Just ask Enzo when he comes by," he said, getting up and entering the bathroom.
Yuu reclined back on the couch once she heard the shower come on and than sighed. 'I can't put my finger on it, but something about him is familiar. I think I've seen him before...' she thought, leaning down to take her shoes off. 'I know I haven't met him because he's not someone I would've forgotten so easily.'
She pulled hard but the force caused her shoe to slip out quickly, knocking a couple of empty bottles off the table that was in front of her. 'Oops.'
Yuu got up, picking up her shoes and placing them neatly next to the couch. She sat back down, glancing back at the bathroom's door. 'So, his name is Dante and he's a hunter of...demons? I'm in a different world, I think. How else could I explain this? It can't be a prank. It's too elaborate and cruel to do to someone. Unless I've lost my mind? But this all feels too real to be fake,' she thought, curling her hand into a fist, clenching so hard her nails were biting into skin. 'That definitely hurts.'
She relaxed her hand, looking at the indents her nails left. 'I know I'm not crazy. I've bled and my body still hurts. And yet, this all feels so wrong and it's not just because I don't belong here. Something about this place and the people bothers me. It's like an itch that I can't seem to get to. What am I missing?'
She looked around the room, her eyes catching onto the picture frame on the desk. She got up, checking the bathroom door before she picked it up. It was a photo of a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes. The clothing she worn seem Victorian-like. A red shawl hanging from her shoulder and a black high-neck dress with long black gloves covering her hands. 'I wonder who she is to Dante? No, it's not any of my business. I shouldn't snoop. Whoever she is, she's obviously someone important to him to be display on his desk.'
Yuu placed the picture frame back in its spot and sat back down. 'If it's something important it will eventually come to me. I'm not going to get anywhere if I keep letting this weird familiar feeling constantly get to me.'
The sound of the shower turned off and she quickly sat down. She closed her tired eyes to rest for a bit, but something wet dropped onto her face. 'Wet? I'm indoor. It's not raining outside so water can't be leaking from the ceiling,' she thought. She opened her eyes only to meet with gleaming light blue eyes. She automatically whipped her head back once she realized it was Dante.
"What were you doing?" she asked, staring at him weirdly. As soon as she got a clear view of him she instantly regretted it. His silvery white hair was sticking to his face. The water glistened on his hair and dripped down his smooth muscular shoulders and broad chest. It trail down until it was soaked up by the semi-long white towel wrapped loosely around his waist.
"Should I take this off so you can get a better look?" he asked, amused as he gave the cloth a slight tug.
Her cheeks burned hot and she forced herself to look away. He wore a wide grin.
"If you're done staring," he said, "the bathroom is open for you to use."
He crossed his arms and lean closer to her face, smirking. Her stupefied looked turn into a glare. "Put some clothes on! And back up, you're invaliding my personal bubble space."
He laughed, raising his hands with his palms facing her. "Okay, okay."
"Why are you still standing there for? Go!"
"Relax, I'm just messing with you," he said, leaning back. "I actually need a favor."
"What is it?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Are you good with sewing rips and laundry?" he asked.
"I don't know. I guess?" she replied, unsure.
"Since you're living with me you will have to pull your own weight here. If you want to stayed longer it'll help if you clean this place up," he said, heading to his room. "Oh, and take any messages for me when I'm not here."
"Fine," she sighed.
He left his door wide opened.
"Shut your door!"
"You don't want to enjoy the free show?"
"Dante!"
He laughed, kicking it shut.
Yuu pinching the bridge of her nose, hoping the action would help alleviate the pain of her headache. It doesn't, as she noticed the large pile of dirty clothes next to the bathroom door. 'That wasn't there before. Is he serious about me starting now?' she thought, heading over. 'I don't even know if he's got a washer or dryer. Or where the cleaning supplies even are.'
"This is going to be pain," she groaned, entering the bathroom with her backpack. 'He didn't say I had to start today. I want to shower first. I'll get to cleaning and doing laundry later,' she thought, closing and locking the bathroom door before she rummage through her bag for clean clothes.
