-Chapter 15-

"Dante" Gabriel said, as he reappeared just behind the devil hunter.

Dante, who still had his guns out, turned around and pointed one at Gabriel's head. He relaxed his hand when he noticed it was him. "I figured one of you would be back soon." Dante looked at him, lowering his gun, but keeping distant. He nodded over to the empty spot where Alexander had been just a moment ago. "You guys seem to have a knack of vanishing into thin air."

"Alexander has been sent back home. He will stand trial for his missteps. That is if he has survived that blow."

Dante raised his eyebrows. "Missteps?" The devil hunter repeated. "You call that 'missteps' huh?" He chuckled. "So what's going to happen to him… Is he getting himself turned into a unicorn too?" The sarcastic tone in his voice was hard to miss.

Gabriel crossed his arms. "That is none of your concern." The two men stared at each other for a short period of time, before Gabriel broke the silence. "I am here to thank you for your help. If it wasn't for you, Dante, things would have probably spiraled out of control."

Dante mimicked Gabriels stance; with just a few inches he was slightly taller than Gabriel. "You don't say." He glared at the angel. "I watched you fight. You're quite the swordsman. Cutting through those demons. Ever done that before?"

Gabriel knew what he was getting at, but he decided not to take the bite. Fighting demons was not in his line of business. Angels weren't supposed to fight. So he changed the subject. "This is where my family and you part ways. If we stay here any longer, things can change and important future events might not happen. That could be catastrophic."

"What about Maia?" Dante shot back.

"She's part of my family. She can not stay."

Dante chuckled, pointing a finger at Gabriel. "You decide that for her? You have a strange way of treating your family, pal."

Gabriel actually snorted at that, surprising Dante. "So do you." he retorted.

"I don't have a family. At least not anymore."

"Don't be so sure." The angel's face went back to an emotionless state. Gabriel dropped his arms and turned around, glancing over his shoulder towards Dante. "Maia is back where she belongs. Everything is as it should be. Like I said Dante, we are forever thankful for your help, but this is the last time we will see each other."

And with that Gabriel was gone. Back to whatever place he came from.

Besides the sound of the ceiling fan spinning, it was silent at the devil may cry headquarters. Dante had his booted feet up on his desk, laying backwards in his chair. A magazine lying lazily on his face. On his desk lay empty pizza boxes and soda cans. A wine glass with just a bottom of leftover red wine and an empty bottle were standing next to each other on the floor near the desk chair he was sleeping on.

The door to the shop opened and Morisson stepped in. Looking around the musty shop he shook his head and sighed as his eyes noticed the sleeping devil hunter. "You know you should really air out this place from time to time."

"It has been aired recently." Dante mumbled from under the magazine, pointing out how all his windows had exploded just a couple of days ago.

Morrison checked the windows, and pursed his lips. He had forgotten about that. "Oh yes, that's right. Sure nice of Lady to get you a new set of windows."

A sound from the back of Dante's throat reached Morrison's ears, it sounded something in between a chuckle and a snort. Lady didn't just 'get' him a new set of windows. She was going to hold it against him for the rest of his life probably, now forever in her debt.

"So," Morrison started, hesitant to ask the question that was prickling his tongue. "Have you heard anything from her?"

"Nope." Dante simply stated.

It stayed silent for a while. Morrison walked over to the desk and took off his hat. "Well, she's probably back to her old self then."

"Probably." The tone of his voice indicated that this was the end of that conversation. Dante kicked his feet off his desk, a soda can fell to the ground in the process. "What brings you here, Morisson?" He asked, sounding a bit bored. He took the magazine and tossed it on the pile of junk. "Do you have a job for me that pays? Otherwise, get lost."

Morrison chuckled. It was easy to tell, Dante was in a bad mood. "Well…as a matter of fact I might have another job for you. It does involve gambling though."

Dante leaned forward, folding his hands together. That piqued his interest. "I'm listening."

A couple of days later, after the poker events.

She entered the Devil may cry headquarters without making much of a sound. She noticed with a sigh of relief that the windows were back in place. She had been feeling guilty about that for a while now.

She scanned the dark room. No one was there. It was late at night. He was probably out on another job or so. She walked towards his desk, the heavy doors falling in lock behind her. A hand disappeared into the deep pocket of her robe, touching the smooth stone that rested there. She had wanted to give it to him in person, but perhaps him not bejng here was for the best. She wasn't supposed to be here anyway. According to Gabriel it wasn't allowed for a guardian and a demon to be in any kind of relation. Maia had her doubts about that rule. She knew Gabriel just wasn't very fond of demons. Actually most of the elders weren't all that enthusiastic when it came to demons. Probably all due to an incident ages ago, when another brother of theirs had decided he wanted to connect with the underworld, thus becoming a keeper of hell. Punishing souls that were beyond help.

Maia sighed. Gabriel didn't talk about it much but he really felt betrayed by Sam. She heard from others that Gabe and Sam used to be really close. Maia herself had never met this brother of theirs. It all happened way before she became a guardian.

She reached the desk, taking out the gem that she had kept safe in her pocket. She looked at it; the gem that had been stuck on her forehead for longer then she was an actual guardian. It should be worth quite a sum of money.

She knew Dante was in debt. After all he had done for her and her family, giving him the unicorn stone was the least she could do.

She was about to place the gem on the surface of the desk when behind her the door to the shop opened.

She froze, hand mid-air. Goosebumps went up her arms, eyes widened.

It stayed silent for a while. Then the door closed and heavy footsteps were heard. The sounds of a thud from a falling guitar case filled with weapons and a long red coat being swung in the air, falling down on the armchair on the left side of the shop reached her ears.

"Didn't expect to see you again." Dante said as he walked over to his pool table.

Maia watched him carefully from over her shoulder. She had hoped to see him, but now that he was here, she felt little tiny sparks of anxiety in her abdomen. Or was it excitement? She couldn't tell. Maybe her brother was right. Things did happen for a reason. Him being here now….it had to mean they had something left to finish.

"Likewise." She asked, turning around so she was facing him. She still clutched the gem in one hand.

"Breaking an entry is against the law you know. I could have you arrested."

Maia smiled softly and watched him pick up a pool cue and rub the tip with triangle chalk.

"You left the door open. Anyone could get in." She said, as Dante bent over to take a shot.

The white ball made contact with the rest, they shot out in different directions. A couple of them disappeared into sockets.

He stood up straight, tall and strong. Maia admired him for a moment. She understood why some people would veel intimidated around him. Even Gabriel seemed affected, although he would never admit it.

"Why are you here, Maia."

She shuddered as he spoke out her name. Sighing, she opened her hand, revealing the unicorn stone. "I came to give you this." She showed him the stone that was resting in her hand. "It's a gem. To humans it should be worth quite a bit. They make jewelry out of things like these."

Dante looked at the stone. The same one that had been on her forehead when he'd met her. It already seemed like a long time ago. "Isn't it cursed or enchanted? Can't have any more unicorns running around in the city."

Maia laughed and shook her head. The sound tickled his ears. "Don't worry. The Magic has worn out when it fell off. Now, it's just a sapphire. Nothing will happen."

She walked towards him and took his hand, gently turning it so the palm of his hand was up and open. She placed the gem in the center of his hand and closed his fingers, both of her hands now hugging his one hand. "I want you to have it." She looked up into his eyes. He was looking down at her from under his long bangs. "Please Dante. It's the least I can give you for all that you've done for is."

He chuckled softly. "Who's idea was it?" This confused Maia, he noticed. "Giving me the stone. Are they aware that you're here?" He gave a small nod to the ceiling.

Maia bit her lip and let go of his hand. As she turned a bit, she leaned on the pool table.

"Well…no. It was my idea. It's mine to give away. I've held it for centuries. 'They' don't get a say in this."

He noticed the tone in her voice when she spoke of her family, referring to them as 'they'. Something had changed in the way she viewed them.

She was startled by his intense stare and grinned sheepishly. "I was always considered to be a bit of an outsider. Some considered me to be the rebel of the litter, together with Rhea. I guess being cut off for this long hasn't done me any good."

"I say it has. Showing your own individuality in a rusty environment takes guts if you ask me."

She smiled, staring to the floor. She took it as a compliment. Her hands pressed down on the pool table as she leaned back.

"So…no one knows you're here then. Won't that get you into trouble if they found out? Weren't you guys all 'connected'?" Dante placed the gem in his pocket and turned around, walking around the table to take another shot at the white ball on the pooltable.

Maia shrugged. "It would definitely stir something. I'd probably have to defend my actions in front of the elders if they'd find out. But they won't."

Dante looked at her with raised eyebrows urging her to explain herself. He took his shot. The white ball bouncing off the ridges of the table, knocking a red ball into a corner socket.

"The perks of being cut off for a very long time. I managed to find a way to shut them out for a little while. I do that from time to time now, to get some peace. Can't do it for long though. I'm on close watch, since they don't trust me fully yet, after everything."

Dante snorted as he stood up. "You're kidding. They should try and regain your trust, not the other way around. Shit, what a couple of…"

"Easy…" Maia said,"That's my family you know." She placed herself on the ridge of the pool table now, feet stretch out in front of her.

"Yeah well, in every family there's an asshole. Yours just happens to have a whole collection of em."

Maia laughed at this, quickly covering her mouth with a hand, feeling a little guilty.

Dante smirked and decided to change the subject. "What's with the attire?" He pointed to the white robe she was wearing, making Maia look down.

"It's normal attire for a guardian. Do you like it?"

"Not particularly."

She smiled, brushing the fabric with her hands. "It's not very stylish, I know. But it is practical."

He walked over Maia and bent down over the table, aiming his cue. "How so?"

"It comes off easily."

For a second he stopped. Then he closed his eyes and smirked.

He took his shot. "Is that so…" He stood up and walked over to the rack where he had picked the cue from. His mind now set, he turned around and smiled. He wasn't going to let her back down from this one.

She watched him from out of the corner of her eyes. She felt something change in the atmosphere the moment she had spoken those words. The tone of his voice had given away his mindset and her body tingled in anticipation.

His footsteps sounded heavy as he made his way towards her, with a certain determination.

When he got close, so she could almost feel his body temperature. She swallowed away a lump in her throat.

"How much time do we have, before anyone notices something up there?" He asked, as he stopped just in front of her.

She smirked and looked at him challengingly. "Enough." She bit her lip with a playful smile.

That was more than he needed to know. He grabbed her upper legs, pulling them apart so he could slip in between them. Maia gasped and grabbed him by his arms to keep steady. He placed his hands on both of her shoulders and loosened the fabric that hugged them. Slowly it loosened until the fabric fell down her arms, revealing the porcelain white skin underneath. Maia took in a sharp breath as she felt his fingertips slide down her arms, following the fabric, pulling it further down until it dropped on the pool table.

"You're right, very practical." he said. One hand now traced back up her arm lightly, until he reached her chin. He pulled her chin up further and stared into her eyes. She could feel her heart beat rapidly in her chest. It made a jump when she noticed the devilish glint in his eyes.

He brushed her lips softly and lingered for a bit before teasingly pulling away. "Are you sure this is what you want?" His husky voice breathed in her ear.

She swallowed again and nodded. "Pretty sure."

He smirked, pulling back and staring into her eyes. He looked down, shamelessly taking her in. It was then that he noticed the black laced up boots she was wearing. The ones Lady had given her.

Maia noticed him eying her footwear. "I like them." she said simply, giving him a shy smile.

Dante chuckled. "Then keep them on." he said, suddenly grabbing hold of her bottom, lifting her up against him so she could wrap her legs around him like she had done a while ago. "You are coming with me." He whispered in her ear, before he carried her away from the pool table and up the stairs towards his bedroom.

A/N: Finally, story complete! Hope you guys liked it.

With the whole 'poker job' I tried to place the story on the timeline of the anime.

I'll probably update a couple of chapters the next couple of weeks due to some goofs (like Dante owning a car...he doesn't XD) and grammer/spelling errors.

R&R