"Weird…" Nero whispered to himself. He was very familiar with the place. "We're actually IN Fortuna and not near Fortuna!" He turned to Dante. "Are you sure that this is the place? You said it will be NEAR Fortuna!"

They're at the spot Lady had informed Dante. The place is just near the ruined church because of the Savior incident. They can actually see workers trying to rebuild the place from their position.

"I did, punk. That's what Lady told me! I guess she doesn't know the end of the city or whatsoever." Dante had his Ebony on the hand, he's sensing a demon. "Anyways, I don't care. If we could end this mission quickly, then, I have no problems with this."
Nero's Devil Bringer is glowing brightly, telling him that demons are getting nearer to their spot. Out of his reflexes, Lucy fired his Sora to Nero's direction, shooting a demon few miles behind Nero.

"Shit…" Nero whispered, he thought Lucy shot him.

"Nice reflexes, Lucy. Now," Dante made a Cheshire grin. "Let's take them down."

The scarecrows started appearing from everywhere and surrounded them to which they're guessing it will be in almost half of hundreds. Nero had his Devil Trigger on guard and Dante had his Ivory loaded on the other hand, and Lucy changed his weapons to the swords. Nero grinned, excitement started to run through his blood.

"Lucy, I thought you don't like using the Silver Slayers?" Dante asked at the kid on his right.

"It's not that I hate using Silver Slayers. Besides, these numbers of scarecrows is calling for a bloody battle." He answered.

"Heh, old man." Nero called his attention while looking at the scarecrows.

"Yeah?"

"We're surrounded by these troublemakers. Whatcha your orders?" He asked, smirking at the elder.

"Well," Dante grinned at Nero. "Let's rock this party."

As if it's a signal, the scarecrows ran forward and started to attack them. Lucy growled at them as he started slashing their throats off. Dante shoots the demons and eventually started slashing them whenever one gets near him. Nero uses his Devil Bringer to pull the demons closer and stabbing them or throwing them off in the mid-air where he would shoot them. Suddenly, after the army, other troopers came that pissed off Nero.

"Damn it!" Nero scowled. It was too late to notice that a scarecrow had jumped to stab him while he's off-guard. A gunshot was fired that it killed the scarecrow. Nero looked at Lucy and his eyes widened as he saw Lucy with those psychotic eyes looking down at the corpse.

"Don't you dare fuck with my bitches…" Lucy made a bloodshot glare to the demons. Dante stopped attacking the demons and walked back.

Something's not right with Lucy. The scarecrows sure are screwed now.

Dante could hear Lucy's demonic growl inside, and it's affecting him. Dante had saw Lucy getting fired up or being a mass murderer at some times and it was a very rare event to happen, but the last time Dante let Lucy get so worked up in killing, the boy had to be sedated so he always make sure that's not going to happen or at least lessen those events to occur. But now, this is different. Like someone is controlling him.

Help me…

Now what the hell was that?

Dante's so sure that the voice is not from Lucy. It was someone else, someone darker, and someone more evil.

It couldn't be…

You and I, we can conquer the world… All you have to do is to release me from this cage I'm in, my son…

No shit.

It was Mundus.

Nero could hear those, too. And his demon side is very unhappy and growling at the voice. Dante had his demon side to calm down, if it's Mundus, he's pretty sure that something's going to happen if he heard his demon side threatening the demon lord. Unfortunately, Nero couldn't shut his demon side up and Dante could hear that.

How dare you talk to me like that?

Just get the hell away from us! Don't you even dare to touch Lucy!

Another demon who's betraying me? Hmm… I suppose that the cursed Sparda's son had influenced you.

He had nothing to do with this!

A punishment suits you for talking to me like that…

Dante's eyes widened after he heard the conversation. He tried to stop Mundus but it was too late. Nero was under Mundus' powers.

"Nero!"

Nero's head started to hurt. It was not fever or some sort. But it felt like his brain is getting twisted and folded or something like that. He only knows one thing: It hurts like hell.

"Argh!" Nero bit his lips as he kneeled because of pain, his Devil bringer is clawing on the ground while his left hand is holding his head. Dante ran towards the young man.

"Damn it, Nero! Get a grip of yourself, please!" Dante pleaded as he placed Nero on his lap. The elder's right hand is caressing his forehead and trying to remove the hand at Nero's head. Dante's going to murder Mundus if ever he gets a hold of the hell lord.

"Breathe, Nero. Please…" Dante's voice is soft and full of worry. Lucy's senses were back as he heard Dante's pleading. He shot the last scarecrow in the head before he ran towards the two men.

"What happened?" Lucy asked with worry. Dante looked up on Lucy.

"It's all because of Mundus…" Dante answered with anger in his tone. Lucy touched Nero's forehead. Nero is still in pain.

"His demon side is trapped. It's seeing illusions, Dante." Lucy said. Dante became more worried.

"Can we do something about this stuff?" He asked.

"I think I can. I'll try to reverse the curse. Just hold Nero tightly, this process can be really painful at some sort." He warned. Lucy held Nero's demonic hand and closed his eyes. Dante did what Lucy told him to do. Suddenly, Nero screamed and groaned as he's struggling desperately. Dante gritted his teeth.

"Goddamn it, kid! Get a hold of yourself!" Dante yelled. Suddenly, Nero was back. He blinked.

"Damn, it hurts…" Nero mumbled.

"Oh God, kiddo." Dante hugged Nero tightly that made the other man blush. "You scared me there…"

Nero don't know what to do. However, he decided to let Dante hug him. After all, the sweet and strong scent of the elder seems to soothe his nerves. The strong muscles that are wrapping him around right now gave him a sense of safety and security that he never felt from neither Credo nor Kyrie. There is other thing that seems to get from the man. Is it what Kyrie called warmth?

"Don't you dare scare me like that, Nero." Dante whispered on him with such soft tone. The way Dante pronounced his name sent chills down to his spine. "I could kill those people who hurt you, physically and emotionally."

Nero gulped and pushed Dante away in a gentle way possible he could do right now. If he let Dante say more words than those, he might scream like a high school girl of some sort. And he hates to look like a girl.

"Dante, what the hell? I'm not dying." Nero tried to joke around. However, it made the elder turned serious more.

"Kid, if Lucy didn't save you, you could be dead by now. I don't even know what to do, Nero." Dante answered in slightly annoyed tone. He turned to Lucy. "Lucy, your father seems to possess you at some sort."

"I heard him, Dante. And from that moment, I lost my mind that I don't even know what happened next until I heard you whispered something to Nero." Lucy answered. He shuddered. "His voice is really a nightmare for me."

Dante chuckled. "Come on, kids. We still have some works to do here."

Dante carried Nero that made the other blushed madly as they continued walking.

"H-H-Hey! Put me down!" Nero demanded while trying to hide is embarrassment.

"Now, that is one thing I can't do." Dante snickered as he heard a hint of shyness from the young man he's carrying.

"Just put me down, old man!"

"Nero, you're still weak. If you're going to walk, your legs will go all wobbly and that will attract many perverts here." Dante told him that made Nero scratch his nose. "Although, I can't blame them. You're cute."

Nero's heart pounded. Did he just say… cute?

He shook his head lightly. He can't think of that now! And no matter how much he hated it, feeling Dante's warmth is really nice. Feeling the old man's silky and smooth hair brushing against his ear and cheek felt so good. He can also smell the mix of strawberry shampoo and masculine scent without looking like a pervert. Although he's so sure he's acting like one now. Lucy walked beside Dante, whispering something at Nero.

"I can hear your demon side purring." Lucy teased. Nero, if it was much possible right now, blushed more.

"Lucy, please don't remind me." Nero whispered back. Lucy smirked.

"Trying to fight your demon's urges?" He asked. "Just a tip: Let your demon decide sometimes when it comes to your love life. Who knows? It could lead to a good one."

They had reached the main street, and to Nero's prediction, the people started glaring at them and whispering on one another. Two people from the Order were doing a patrol and spotted them.

"Lucy."

Lucy nodded. He knows what Dante is talking about. He needs to erase the memory of these two people and they will make a quick escape from it.

"Hey, you people! Stop right there!" One of them shouted and ran towards them. Their eyes widened as they saw DaNero (I got lazy typing their names. :P)

"The hunters! Nero, I never thought you would work with this killer!" One of them yelled. "Oh well, what could I expect? A traitor's blood is running on your veins."

"Are you talking about me as the killer?" Dante smirked, but if only his eyes could kill, those two men could die in a very horrible way possible. "I'm quite honored to know that you guys still recognize me."

"Dante, we should leave." Nero whispered. He doesn't want any more trouble right now. However, it seems like Dante doesn't want to follow what he wants.

"Hey, look. I don't want any more trouble, guys. So please, let us through." Lucy butted in at the conversation.

"Who are you?"

Lucy raised his hand and started moving his fingers. He's now using his psychic ability to delete their memories and control them.

"You don't need to know. Now, you guys will continue patrolling, letting us through and forget the fact you actually saw us. Is that clear?" Lucy asked. The two became a mindless minion and followed Lucy's order. All the people had gossiped about what happened, however, Lucy didn't mind them. They had forgotten that they are actually worshipping a demon and yet, they don't even recognize Dante as the son of their lord. In either ways, he don't even care. Humans are far worse than demons, that's what Dante told him and he can actually say the elder was right.

"I guess this place is full of hypocrites and shits." Lucy whispered.

"Shh… Lucy, we're here at the Fortuna and those words are definitely not allowed." Nero warned.

"Ah, Fortuna is a boring place." Lucy couldn't help but mumble the thought.

OoOoO

"Dante."

"Yep?"

"Something is really off about this place."

They decided to stay at Nero's apartment before he moved to the office. It looks like it was abandoned because there's not even a single person there aside from them. Nero had an ice pack placed on his head as he's resting at the couch. Dante is preparing a food for them.

"Kid, this place is really off from the start." Dante answered as he started boiling the water. Lucy sighed.

"Aside from them being religious, something is really off, Dante. I can smell… demons…"

Dante almost dropped the knife he's holding and looked at Lucy.

"What kind of demons?"

"I don't know… a strong one? It's kind of releasing the same smell and aura like Trish." Lucy wondered. "Who on earth would have thought that someone at this religion-is-the-law place would be a nest for the demons?"

"If it releases the same smell like Trish, I will be doomed." Dante shuddered at the thought. Trish had been a pain in the ass for him even if she's helpful for some times.

"Maybe those people from the Orders are what you smell, Lucy." Nero said. "You know, there's a history of the demons at the Order. The priest itself is a demon and the guards are demons, also."

Lucy nodded as if understanding Nero's story. The pot started making noise, Dante turned the stove off.

"Food's finished." He happily told the other two while pouring the content to a clean bowl. Lucy took a plate and spoon and fork and started eating. The elder took a plate and started filling it with rice and the food he cooked. He took a spoon and fork and walked towards Nero.

"Thanks." Nero was happy inside. Dante is taking care of him. At least he knows there's a little chance for him…

Okay, that was definitely… Creepy? He liked the thought, anyway.

Dante scooped up a portion of the food and looked at Nero while grinning. "Since you can't move that much, I'll feed 'ya."

"What?!"

Okay, he can take the part where Dante had to carry him, but feeding him? Dante had made him look like a child!

"I'm not a kid, for God's sake, Dante! Stop treating me like one!" Nero gritted his teeth. The elder is still calm and amused.

"Well, I'm just worried about your health, kid." Dante answered. Nero scratched his nose and glared at Dante. However, in Dante's point of view, the young man looks so cute pouting and glaring at him.

"Come on, say 'ahh'."

"Jesus Christ, Dante!"

"And whose fault do you think it is now that you can't even move so smoothly?" Dante teased. Nero avoided his look and blushed.

"It's my damn demon's fault why I'm like this today!" Nero answered. "I'm going to beat the shit out of him."

"Now, now, kid. That's not the nice way to treat your other side." Dante cooed.

Thank you, Dante! I was getting scared here from this guy's death threats.

"See?" Dante held his cheeks. "Treat your demon nicely, 'ya know? They have feelings, too."

"Shut up!"

"Nero… Come on, you gotta eat. I mean, of course I'm worried about you. You have to regain your strength fast."

"Heh, if I'm back on my feet again, I'm going to kick you in the face."

"I would like to see you try again." Dante answered. "You better damn eat when I'm feeding you. I don't have that much patience, kiddo."

Nero had finally nodded at the idea. His hands were being a bitch and no matter how much he hated it, he needs Dante to feed him.

"Alright, say 'ahh'."

"A-ahh…"

Dante feed Nero. At took almost all of Dante's willpower not to kiss the youngster as he's chewing the food while blushing. Well, those lips look so… enticing…

Come on, Dante. You better stop yourself.

Nero was surprised. Dante is pretty good at cooking, to be honest. From his seat, Lucy is staring at the two and can hear the demon sides of both parties purring and growling. He's praying that Dante would stop his demon side or both parties can be too oblivious on what's really happening on their insides.

"Nice kitty."

"Kitty?"

"You look like a kitten chewing your food." Dante answered. Nero felt so contented and happy with himself. Nero guesses what happened to him earlier is not really a bad event. It had created some happenings that brought him closer to the old man… or so, he thought.

Lucy…

Lucy looked around, wondering where the voice came from. And that voice is pretty familiar to him. It was not his father.

Lucy, it's me.

"Leon…?" Lucy whispered. He finished his food and went to one of the rooms to stay.

"Leon, is that you?" He asked once more.

Lucy, it's me, your friend.

"What happened to you?"

Don't even trust the Order, Lucy.

"What? What are you talking about?"

Just promise me you won't trust them.

"Leon, tell me what the hell are you talking about."

I can't say it, Lucy. But, there is one thing for sure, once you let your guard down, the Order would use it to penetrate and attack you.

"Leon, are you okay?"

I can't say I am.

"Just promise me that you're going to be okay."

I'm sorry, Lucy. I just couldn't promise that thing.

"We'll see each other, right? Someday, we would meet again, right?"

I'll try.

The conversation was finished after Leon spoke those words. Lucy couldn't help but cry. What does he mean? Why Leon couldn't promise him that they will meet again?

"I hate you, Leon… I hate you so much…"

No, that was really wrong, those hopeful days where he's looking forward that he would meet the man again; those moments he can still clearly remember when he's with him, that could only mean one thing. But, no, Lucy doesn't want to jump to conclusions already. He needs to find Leon and sort his emotions out. That's how he can make everything clear.

He breathed in and out, trying to regain his composure before he went back to the two.

OoOoO

Lucy found the two sitting on the couch, much better to say that the other one is sleeping on the couch. Nero is sleeping on Dante's lap while the other one is caressing his forehead.

"How's your little feeding program?" He teased. Dante grinned.

"Yeah, we're good." He answered. "Have you been crying, kid?"

"Nah." Lucy went to the kitchen and took a glass of water. "Hey, Dante."

"Yeah?"

"I think we're just involved into something deeper and darker."

Dante scoffed.

"We're always involved in something deeper and darker, Lucy."

OoOoO

Author's note: Yay! Another chapter uploaded! Sorry if I'm not going to update that fast, guys. School's a bitch -.-. Anyways, please review! I would love to hear your opinion about the story ^_^