Imagined Love

A/N: I'm bored waiting for Vergil and feeling disappointed. Very disappointed. So I decided to read some Nana manga, and this popped into my depressed mind.

A crossover of anime characters and OC. *Sighs* I love you so much, Vergil... come back...... *Cries and cries*

Won't CAPCOM ever bring him back to life again???!!!!!!! And not through Nero's Devil Bringer either! Just bring him back to life!!! UWAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!
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It was a rainy day out there. Ryorin pressed her palm to the window as she stared at the falling droplets of water, looking somewhat depressed. She had no idea why she was feeling so depressed. Maybe it was because she knew Vergil wasn't going to turn up. Or maybe because she hoped and wished he would turn up, and she had gotten a glimpse of him in the recording studio's lobby, only to be disappointed. Oh, she had thanked God when she caught that flash of silver hair, but her heart sank deeply when the man didn't respond to her call.

Pressing her forehead against the glass, she almost let the tears fall, but told herself not to cry. She would see him again. It wasn't as if the world was going to end...

"Rin?"

Ryorin turned around from the window, black hair swishing over her shoulders to see a long, silver haired man with rust-red eyes standing in the doorway and smiled painfully. "Hey, Bakura."

Bakura sighed and flopped down on her sofa, putting one leg on top of the other as he reclined back. "What's the problem? You look sad. Is your monthly pal bothering you or giving you cramping mood-swings?" He pulled out a cigarette and lit one

"Shut up!!!!" Ryorin yelled as she turned a beet red. "I'm not having my period, okay? It's just that.... this rain. It bothers me."

Bakura glanced at her out of the corner of his reddish-brown eyes as he smoked. "Cheer up, Rin. It's just water. Want me to get blondie to cheer you up?"

Ryorin smiled a bit. "As if getting Malik would help. I'll be fine. It's just one of those rainy day times..."

"Yeah, I can see that..." Bakura noticed a cd sitting on the table. "Oh, you brought along the 'Alliance' cd?"

"I was listening to it on the train." Ryorin said, coming over to look over his shoulder. "Risa's voice is really mesmerizing."

"I wonder why all lead singers love to change their names, especially females..." Bakura mumbled. "You're Jade, but you call yourself Ryorin. Risa goes with Solene."

"It's much nicer that way. Besides, we don't want our fans to stalk us." Ryorin jabbed a finger at him and smirked. "Though everyone thinks Risa's name is the opposite, which is kinda good for her." She straightened and looked at the clock. "Aren't you supposed to meet Mika-chan for makeup?"

"I know. She won't mind if I'm a few minutes late, though." Bakura stood and put out his cigarette. "I came here to check on you because Malik said you were acting kinda sad."

"Bakura..." Ryorin looked down. "I'm fine. I don't need you to check on me. But thanks, though."

"No sweat. And Rin..." Bakura looked back over his shoulder and smiled. "Keeping emotions in will only serve to hurt you more in the future. It's better if you talk it out."

Ryorin's head shot up as her eyes widened in surprise.

"Trust me." Bakura continued as he walked out of her room, lifting a hand to wave. "There's always the Pharaoh to talk to. Let it all go, Rin. He'll understand."

A small, longing smile appeared on Ryorin's lips as she gazed at his back. "Mm."
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"So prepared to leave.... But then you appeared to me... taking all my guilt away... making me fall..." Risa sang softly to herself, her earphones playing a track from their latest collaboration with 'Forlorn'. She and Ryorin had sat down to write lyrics one night, and this came up from both their efforts. It was amazing to see the rocker/punk chick write some really meaningful lyrics that came from the bottom of her heart. Maybe Rin should try ballad one day. That girl really had talent.

"Sup, Risa?" Chaos bent over to listen to her. "Awww... warming up for the performance, huh?"

"Nah, just thinking about Ryorin." Risa unplugged her ears. "I'm just wondering how she can come up with such melancholic lyrics sometimes. They're sad... but at the same time hopeful and longing. So romantic..." She sighed.

"Don't get too dreamy now, Risa..." Densuke said, looking back at her. "Remember, we still have that interview, then that performance tonight."

"Fans are asking why we're collaborating with a punk band like Forlorn..." Ichigo touched her chin thoughtfully. "I wonder if they'll even understand our desicion."

"Didn't our company say?" Densuke said. "They want people to broaden their views on punk bands. Forlorn is a perfect example because their fan base are made out of teens. It can help them change their minds about bands only sticking to one genre."

"And we can also have fun with punk at the same time!!!!" Chaos cheered, leaping on Densuke and hugging him tightly, making Ichigo laugh.

Risa laughed too, but turned when someone tapped her shoulder. A silver-haired man stood behind her, his ice-blue eyes sending a shiver up her spine. "Excuse me," he asked. "I just want to know.... if Forlorn is staying at this hotel here."

"They are." Risa informed him suspiciously. "And who are you?"

"Let's just say I'm aquainted with the lead singer of that band." The man said shortly. "It was nice meeting you, Risa. Thank you for your help. You really have a nice voice, just like your fans say."

Risa mouth fell open in shock and surprise. How did he know her name? "Risa?" Chaos came up to her. "What's wrong?"

"That man!" Risa squealed, pointing frantically in the direction he went to. "He knows my real name and he asked if Forlorn was staying here and I said yes and asked him why! Then he said that he was aquainted with Ryorin and walked off! What does he mean by that?! And more importantly...." She looked scared. "Who is he?"

Chaos gasped. "A stalker?!" He exclaimed, overreacting just like she was. "Or even worse... a paparazzi?! Oh my god.... it may be a crazed fan who's posing as a paparazzi, then stalking Ryorin so he can do something to her..."

"Like cut off her head and stuff it for his own personal collection!" Risa's imagination was running fast now. "Just like that show I watched, where this famous actress was stalked by a psycho! He cut off her finger and had it preserved so he could wear it round his neck!"

"You guys are overreacting again..." Ichigo sweatdropped as she came back to drag them along with her and Den. "Come on. I'm sure he's just a friend."

"What happened then?" Chaos continued to ask, curious to know the ending.

"She came back and chopped off his head with an axe...." Risa waved her arms about as they walked to the lifts, Densuke giving them a deadpan look with a sewatdrop.
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Vergil raised his head as he stood in the rain, feeling the cool droplets of water on his face. His eyes were trained on one window and one window only, where his love stood staring out, but not at him.

I love you, Jade...

She turned to look at something or someone, then disappeared from sight.
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"So what will it be, my love?" George asked as he smoothened down Ryorin's hair. "Since I'm doing your hair for you, it's only fit that you look like a princess."

"Oh, anything you want, George." Ryorin said happily, hearts on her face and coming out in her voice. "Anything you do looks nice on me."

"Then I'll make sure you look gorgeous today for the interview...." George cooly said as he bent down towards her hair, comb in hand. Ryorin almost squealed in glee, making Malik look up.

"For Ra's sake... you go after every cute guy in sight, including your own band members..." He complained, half immersed in a newspaper. "Don't you get tired of flirting? It's bad for your health."

"Bzzzzz...." Ryorin stuck out her tongue at him, pulling at her eye a bit. George sweatdropped and tried to cajole her. "Please don't move, Miss Rin...."

March of Mephisto

A/N: Uh, yeah... more Kamelot songs.... seriously, I have to start listening to "Ghost Opera". I've already finished "Epica" and "The Black Halo", but I haven't listened to their latest album yet. *Sighs* And omg, Dante is just.... ah well, MySpace problems again. Damn, I wish Vergil was around...

Or... Rather I wish the second Verge that I know didn't have Amy, cause I will SO jump him.

And then again, there's Dante V, who now belongs to Shadow. Goddammit... if I had the chance, I'd kill her cause I want HIM! >.<

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UPDATES:

1) Dante's phone bill went up to 500. O.O

2) It's probably my fault...

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You know just who I am

Don't be so distant

Cause when you're lost

I am solely there to share your grief

~March of Mephisto~

~Kamelot (The Black Halo)~

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Rebirthing

MazdaKitsune

Chapter 3- March of Mephisto

The quiet atmosphere of the castle was decidedly calming, Vergil thought. He could feel ancient wards, old magic his father had set around the building to protect his lady and nestlings. For years, Dante had tended to the castle, making sure it didn't fall into ruins, preparing it for the time Sparda would return. Vergil let his gaze drop to the ground. He as the older nestling had failed in his duty, but Dante... his younger brother, had risen to the task magnificently, taking care of the property, receiving his heritage, using it to protect humans, and finally.... rescuing him from the clutches of Mundus and nursing him back to health.

Jade was still out cold, barely stirring. Vergil had placed her in a room that was sunny, and had a decidedly large window facing her bed, just the way she liked it, as he had heard her mention to Trish before. The room itself was decorated in a style that suggested a cross between Old World and modern, the colors rich, deep and soothing. A smile almost touched his lips. Jade would fall in love with the room she moment she woke up and took a look around...

A sound by the door made Vergil look up to see Dante there. "Dante."

"Hey, bro." Dante came in. "Ya still here? You haven't gotten any sleep since last night."

"A night of lost sleep won't kill me." Vergil said. "How is Father?"

"He's resting in his room. I don't know when he'll be up." Dante shrugged, then turned his gaze to Jade and whistled. "Dude, she must really mean a lot to you for you to forgo a night of sleep just to be by her side."

"Stop it, Dante." Vergil got up and joined him outside the room, remembering to close the door behind him. "You know that as much as I love Jade, I cannot be with her."

"And why is that?" Dante raised an eyebrow.

He glared. "You've claimed her. Isn't that enough reason for you?"

"Bullshit. That was just during the heat." Dante matched Vergil's glare with one of his own. "She loves you and you know it. There was a connection between her and you when she offered you her blood, and I can feel it, Verge. Don't hurt her by ignoring her feelings."

"Don't you understand?" Vergil hissed. "Telling her that I love her would be sentencing her to live with a monster, literally! You don't know what I've been through all this years, alright?! Because you.. have been living a good life surrounded by women and booze!"

"Fuck it, Vergil!" Dante snarled, anger rising now. "You had me worried sick after your little stunt! So much so that became so depressed, Lady was considering sending me to a shrink! You think you're the only one who suffered?! What about me? My life isn't all about drinking and sexy babes! I could feel every pain inflicted on you, every damn thing you went through, until I lost all memories of "Dante" and became "Tony"! I made Lady worry when I disappeared and didn't return until years later!'

He jabbed a finger into Vergil's chest. "So don't tell me that I don't know what you've been through, dearest brother of mine! If I didn't know better, it was you! You and your fucked up obsession with trying to gain dad's power that made you jump right into Hell! It was you, who started everything, all of this!"

Vergil was quiet. Dante was shouting at this point now, rage in his eyes. But the blue-clad demon seethed with fury too. Dante had felt, he hadn't been through the toture he had endured. "You.. You don't know ANYTHING! Get out of my face, brother! You have no right to say that I'm the cause of everything!"

Yamato was out in an instant, and so was Ebony and Ivory. Dante's glare intensified. "After all I've done for you, hauling your ass back from Mundus' castle, bringing you back to health, it still comes down to this? Taking up our weapons for another death duel?"

"You got that right." Vergil growled in return, but before either twin could move, a stern voice rang out, startling them.

"Vergil! Dante!"
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Sparda had woken from his rest early. Of course, how could he lie there sleeping, when he could feel the hatred from his nestlings throughout the whole castle, as thick as oil in the air, suffocating. It tore at his heart to open the door of his chambers and hear his sons screaming at each other, each blaming the other for things past. His sharp hearing caught the sound of weapons being raised, and he immediately moved, calling for them to stop before they could fight.

Dante's eyes flicked to his form, standing tall and proud in his human form at the mouth of the corridor and lowered his guns. "Dad..."

Vergil lowered Yamato as well. "Father... aren't you supposed to be resting?"

Sparda sighed, running his hands through his silver hair to slick it back. "I was. But the anger and bitterness the two of you were emitting woke me."

Dante winced. "We're sorry-"

Sparda held up his hand. "Come. There is time to explain and tell me what the tales the two of you have, now that I'm awake. True, I'm only at half-strength, but I think this should be enough for the time being." He turned around and began walking towards the drawing room, where his beloved Eva used to sit and paint the time away, and where the family used to spend the evenings talking and enjoying each other's company.

Eva.... Sparda closed his eyes, sighing softly. This place... this home.. held so many memories, yet they were all faded, seemingly like a dream. It had shocked him to find that both of his nestlings were still alive and well, though it had been ages since he last saw them, though Vergil looked slightly younger than Dante, as though something had stopped his growth for a while. Turning, he seated himself in his usual armchair and gazed calmly at his sons.

"Sit down, my sons.. and tell me everything. Leave no detail out."

The twins looked at each other before sinking to the carpet at his feet, as was their custom. Old habits were hard to break sometimes. For a while, everything was silent, Sparda patiently giving them time to gather their thoughts before they spoke. Finally, Dante opened his mouth.

"You see, I-" Dante began.

"Everything is my fault-" Vergil started to confess.

Sparda smiled as they both spoke at the same time and held up both his hands. "One at a time, please. Dante, you start first."

Dante glanced at his older twin, and Vergil nodded, letting him speak on his behalf, choosing to keep silent in the meantime. Dante took a deep breath. "It all started like this, dad...." And for the next hour, everything that the twins had gone through were poured out to their father, just like that, Dante narrating and Vergil interjecting here and there to share his side of the story. Sparda listened closely and patiently, sometimes looking pained, sometimes looking shocked and outraged, especially when it came to the part of Vergil's toture by Mundus.

"So after I nursed Verge back to health, he left again, but this time he left to live alone in an old house near the shop," Dante finished. "One of my friends.. Lady, the girl that followed me to Temen-Ni-Gru to stop Arkham and Vergil found a spell that would help to bring you back. And that's it. That's the end of our story."

Vergil lowered his head as Sparda's thoughtful gaze rested on him, his proud voice struggling to keep from breaking. "I'm sorry, Father. I have failed you. Dante is your true son. I.. I don't deserve to be worthy of your blood."

"Don't say that, Vergil." Sparda gave a sigh. "Brothers, especially twins, should never be fighting. You and Dante are still my sons, and I love you both equally as a father. I left Yamato in your care and Rebellion with Dante in the hopes that my power would be passed down, divided to both of you." He looked sadly at Vergil. "You were corrupted by demons at a very young age, my son. After the death of mi'lady, you pursued those demons with the only thought of protecting your younger brother and avenging your mother's death. But your mind was too young... it was easily turned with the need for power. My power."

Vergil closed his eyes. It was true. Everything that his father said was true, and it was like a cutting sword.

"Arkham only served to add fuel to that need, and Mundus... turned your love for Dante into hate," Sparda continued. "There is a reason why demons are born as twins or triplets in a nest. It's to breed a sense of love and competition among siblings in order to grow stronger. Mundus used that fact to his advantage and clearly drove the competitive impulse in you to kill Dante. It wasn't your fault, Vergil."

"But even before I was Nero Angelo, I almost killed Dante," Vergil protested. "That was clearly my fault and my doing."

Sparda cocked an eye towards Dante and smiled. "No. It was Dante's coming of age. Obviously, you came of age earlier when mi'lady was killed. The coming of age ritual is when the demon passes through a phase of death to reach his true and full powers, usually carried out by the head of the nest, in which it was supposed to be me. But I wasn't there, therefore the duty was passed down to you, the eldest nestling. Even if you were lusting for power at that moment, it was pure instinct that caused you to drive Rebellion, the key to unlocking Dante's power, into his chest." Both twins gave a wince at that, but Sparda chuckled. "You did gain your Devil Trigger, didn't you, Dante?"

"Well, come to think of it, I did..." Dante admitted. Sparda gave a chuckle before looking fondly at both of them. "So you shouldn't carry this heavy burden on your shoulders, Vergil. We're your family. We'll always be here for you."

"I.. I know." Vergil managed a small smile. "Thank you, Father..."

(tsuzuku)

Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso

A/N: I admit it. I'm obsessed with Kamelot. And I had no IDEA that The Black Halo was the sequel to Epica! *Sighs* Ah well.... Thomas Cup fever is off... we had such a nice time in college cheering Malaysia over drinks, but we lost 2-3 to China. There goes our hopes to get into the finals...

And Vergil is so refined, don't you think? *giggles*
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UPDATES:
1) Uh... Pork chops, Vergil? O.O Whhaa.....?
2) Me and Dante ish pirates! XD
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C'era una volta un uomo
Con gli occhi verso la luna
E si chiedeva:
"Verra presto l'amore?"
E che altro esiste
In un cuore gelato?
Tranne il pensiero
Di un assassinio molto silenzioso

[Once upon a time there was a man
With his eyes towards the moon
And he wonder to himself:
"Will love come soon?"
And does something else exist
In a frozen heart?
Except the thought of a
Very silent murder]

~Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso~
~Kamelot (The Black Halo)~

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Rebirthing
MazdaKitsune
Chapter 3- Un Assassinio Molto Silenzioso

Byakuya didn't know what these creatures were. Grey skeletons, with tattered skin and ragged cloaks, they emerged from the darkness, wielding curved scythes, a dismal glow in their empty eye sockets, gaping mouth wailing an unearthly cry that sent shivers up his spine. They appeared out of nowhere, swinging their scythes around as they searched for something, or someone.

Obviously, they were not Hollows, nor Arrancar.

Something condensed the air momentarily, Byakuya stiffening at the sudden heavy and powerful force, shocked to regconise it as rieatsu, and before he knew it, the creatures crumbled to dust, blowing away in the passing wind. The captain stood stunned. The burst of reiatsu was so sudden, and he had not seen any other Shinigami close, nor anyone kill the creatures.

Footsteps echoed down the street as a man holding a katana walked past leisurely, his silver hair spiked.
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Magic prickled at her skin and Jade hurriedly took a step back as Dante chalked runes into a pentagram, Force Edge stabbed into the center. She could sense that this wasn't going to be an odinary spell, judging by the amount of gold orbs he had lugged along and the way the air was charged with magic and electricity. "This is going to be a tough one, isn't it?"

"No shit, Sherlock." Dante straightened. "Man, I'm nervous. I should be the one in the middle, not Verge. What if he has a relaspe?"

"I don't think he will." Jade sighed and picked at one of the many scars on her arms that she had obtained during her latest fight. "Vergil seems fine now, you and Trish confirmed that."

"Still..." Dante was going to say more, but he stopped and turned slightly, sensing his twin approaching. Vergil soon emerged in the distance, taking long and slow strides, almost lazily walking towards them. As usual, he had Yamato in his hand, the other buried into his pocket. Dante broke out into a relieved grin and darted forwards to hug him. "Dude, I thought you'd chickened out or something! How have you been doing, bro?"

"Dante, you know me well enough to know that I won't.. chicken out... as you so delicately put it." Vergil had a disapproving look in his eyes. "Besides, this is for father. I'm willing to do anything to bring him back."

"Ah shit, bro. You're still the same as always." Dante smiled and thumped him on his shoulder. "Welcome back."

Vergil nodded and smirked. "So where do I go to start this ritual?"

"In there." Dante pointed to the Pentagram where Force Edge waited. Vergil's eyes travelled over to it, then swept over to Jade who had busied herself with the runes Dante had left when he appeared. Leaving his brother surprised, he went over to her instead, standing before her kneeling form. "Jade."

"Hey, Vergil." Jade didn't look up. "Sorry I didn't notice you just now, it's just that these runes-" She was cut off as Vergil reached down and pulled her roughly to her feet before hugging her tightly. His lips moved silently before he let her go and thrust Yamato into her hands, taking his place in the middle of the circle, before Force Edge. "Let's begin."

Dante frowned at the sudden display of split second affection before stepping forwards. "You know... you don't have to be so to her if you-"

"Begin the ritual now, Dante." Vergil's voice had a note of venom in it. "I won't tell you a third time."

"Alright, alright! Sheesh, you're cold..." Dante grumbled. Jade stood gripping Yamato tightly in her arms as she recovered from the shock of his hug, emerald eyes wide. He was deliberately not facing her now as he waited for Dante to begin, stubbornly refusing to meet her eyes.

Vergil... what is wrong?

"Alright, then... here's goes..." Dante began chanting in the demonic tounge, and Vergil shuddered slightly as shadows rose from the points of the pentagram, sliding about his ankles to hold him firmly in place. He was reminded unpleasantly of the shadows that bound him in Mundus's toture room, where he was forced to stand straight and helpless as other lesser demons enjoyed toturing him, taking their revenge and fulfilling themselves on a son of Sparda. Rage and embarassment flushed his pale cheeks red, but he still didn't move, forcing the memories out of his mind.

Dante chanted the last words of the spell, and suddenly, the gold orbs disappeared and Jade let out a startled cry. The shadows surrounding Vergil and Force Edge sharpened, then transformed into phantom swords, stabbing themselves deeply into Vergil, who let out a grunt of pain and stumbled. Dante and Jade started forwards.

"Vergil!"
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He tried to remain standing. He really tried. But the blood was flowing out of him at a fast rate, and his demonic powers were being drained into the air around him, stopping his ability to heal. All around him, demonic laughter and howls of glee echoed, his tormentors enjoying themselves at their little sport.

Up on his throne, Mundus smiled lazily and waved a hand. A demon broke away from the circle of spectators and threw itself on Vergil, knocking down to the ground. With one powerful thrust, it surged into him, again and again, till even his legs were now stained with his blood.

Vergil gave in and screamed. He knew Mundus loved to watch his minions rape him, and sometimes the demon lord even took him himself. The act always drained out any last shred of dignity left in him, leaving him a whimpering ball of shame as he was thrown back into his prison to heal for his next toture.

He couldn't take it, couldn't pass out if he wanted to. He could feel the pounding, shamefully hear himself moan in pain and pleasure as the demon struck his pleasure spot and ravaged it brutally. Vergil couldn't do anything, but scream his throat raw as he came...
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His eyes snapped open as arms encircled him, a cool hand pressing against the side of his face. Vergil didn't need to look up to know it was Jade. Her scent filled his senses, bringing him out of the horrible memory he had recalled the moment his powers and blood were drained out of him. "J-Jade..."

Dante and Jade had tried to cancel the ritual the moment Vergil collasped and started screaming, but a barrier made out of his powers prevented them from going in. Dante had been afraid to Devil Trigger in case his powers cancelled out that of Vergil's, killing his brother in the process. But Jade, by some sheer will, had unsheated Yamato and cut through the barrier forcefully to reach Vergil's side. The screaming had stopped the moment she held him.

Jade looked afraid, one arm around him, Yamato gripped tightly in her other hand. Tears made her eyes swim, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall as she felt his life drain out. "Vergil..."

"G-Get away.... get out of the circle.." Vergil said hoarsely as he pushed her to the side. "Go, now!"

More shadows formed, sensing another lifeform whithin the circle and moved to stab, plunging towards the couple. Vergil immedieately pushed Jade behind him and the girl gripped Yamato tighter, praying that they both wouldn't get killed...

And a loud roar of rage filled the air as Force Edge glowed with a sudden bright light, dispelling the shadows. Sparda roared with rage at the threat to his nestling, standing in his full glory, towering over their forms. Vergil's eyes widened in awe. "F-Father...?"

Sparda snarled, looking down at him. All was still for a while, then Jade found herself under attack, screaming as he lunged at her with razor sharp claws to tear her heart out. Vergil and Dante made a mad dash to protect her as he threw her to the side.

"Dad! Don't hurt her! She means us no harm!" Dante yelled, trying to get him off her.

She is covered in elder nestling's blood! Sparda snarled in return. Elder nestling is hurt because of her!

Not so! Vergil answered in the demon tounge, inserting himself between the terrified Jade and the enraged Sparda as Dante managed to haul him off. My blood is a sacrifice made to bring you back! She did not hurt me! Father, listen to me!

Sparda surveyed Vergil, his protective stance in front of Jade, and eventually calmed down. Nestling's friend?

Yes... Dante answered, still keeping a hold on him. Our friend.

The demon lord closed his eyes briefly, then nodded. I understand. Forgive me.

"Father, why don't you try becoming human?" Vergil asked cautiously, switching back to the human tounge as he kept Jade behind him.

Sparda shook his head. Not enough power yet. I must rest first. Forgive me, young nestling... if I have hurt your mate. I see now that she carries the mark of the two of you on her. He seemed to think for a while, then shrank to a small size, enough for Dante to carry him in his arms. I must conserve my energy.

"Then we'll go back and rest," Dante said with a smile. "C'mon dad, Verge. Let's go home."

Home.. yes, home. Sparda sounded eager. I will rest... and then you will tell me your tales, my nestlings.

Dante began to walk away, but Vergil stayed in his place for a while, turning to Jade. The girl was trying to get over her shock, the terrified look still in her eyes. "Jade."

"V-Vergil..."

"There's no need to be afraid." Now that his powers had been returned by Sparda's awakening, Vergil was healing rapidly. Bending close to her ear, he took Yamato from her hand and whispered, "Sleep. You have done much for me."

Jade barely had time to think before the hidden compulsion in his voice caused her to pass out. She went down easily, her body and mind already exhausted from the adrenaline rush and shock. Vergil picked her up in his arms, cradling her to his chest before making his way to Dante's car, where his brother waited. Again, his lips moved in the same sequence as it had when he had hugged her, but this time, the murmur was audible to the sleeping woman.

"I love you."

(tsuzuku)

Rebirthing (Center of the Universe)

A/N: I decided to get rid of 'MockingBird' because frankly, I didn't like the way the chapter turned out. The first chapter is solely for my MySpace RP, but since a friend liked it and told me to continue.. I'm going to continue a second chapter. But I'm going to change the title, then.

Maybe Rebirthing, or Never Too Late.. or even Bye Bye..

Heh, I love those songs.....

Anyway, let's be about it, then. Figure out what to write. This new story is not related to my MySpace, though the main OC is Jade. It's... an AU of my mind, and yep. Guess what? The reincarnated Shinigami is.... *da da dummm....* RISA! XD So here we go. The AU of Reincarnation, also known as Rebirthing.

Song from Skillet. Love it.
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UPDATES:
1) GODDAMMIT, DANTE!!!! >.< YOU SET ME UP WITH VERGIL!!!
2) Oh Lord, Vergil! I'm so sorry for waking you up!
3) It's your fault I'm so so embarrassed now, Dante!
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Show me sign of paradise
A place we all would like to go to
Tell me what to sacrifice
So there's a chance for me to want you
~Center of the Universe~
~Kamelot~

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Rebirthing
Chapter 2- Center of the Universe
MazdaKitsune

A foot kicked the door open, and a young woman about 20 stomped grumpily into the shop, covered head to toe in black goop. Her emerald eyes flashed in annoyance as she tried to rake a hand through her hair to get rid of the demonic remains. In front of her, a man with blue eyes and silver hair grinned. "I take it was a job well done, babe?"

"Dante Sparda, don't you ever dare trick me to take another job like that again, ever." She flicked her hand at him, splattering some of the goop on his face, earning a startled and indigant "Hey!" from said man. "You KNOW I hate taking on demons that bleed! Do you know how HARD it is to wash off the blood? Ugh.. I wonder how Lady handles it..." Jade Castero grumbled as she fished out a whole wad of money, slamming it down on the table in front of Dante before heading upstairs. "I'll be in the shower. Don't expect me out for another two hours or so."

Dante glared as sniggers came from the twin swords that were hanging from the wall as he scraped the goop of his face and rose to wash it down the sink. "No talking, Agni.. Rudra... I mean it." He had just reached the sink when the door opened and Trish walked in.

"Dante, are you in?"

"In the back!" Dante called out as he splashed water on his face. "What have you got for me, Trish?"

The blonde clone of his mother appeared, leaning against the doorframe. "There is a way to bring your father back. And I dropped by Vergil's just now. He seems better."

Dante turned around, intrest piqued. "Alright, tell me."

Seven months ago, he had rescued Vergil from Hell after the fall of Mundus, the soul of his twin trapped whithin his own sword, Yamato. The process of bringing him back had been long and hard, but eventually, the totured and terrified half-devil had responded, especially when Jade came into the picture.

Nero Angelo, the brainwashed and totured-beyond-repair Vergil Sparda, was weak and skeletal once the armor had been taken off him. He had refused to eat, refused to talk and recoiled when anybody else other than Dante came near him. He had a perpetually wide-eyed terrified look rather than the cold, confident scowl he always wore, and it tore at Dante to see his brother so bewildered and fearful like this. Trish and Lady had helped him the best he could, but then Jade came back to Devil May Cry, and Vergil improved drasticly after meeting her.

Due to his toture in Hell, Vergil's growth had been stunted, looking more like an 18 year old anorexic teen. He couldn't eat human food and clung to Dante desprately, or barricaded himself in his room, buried under blankets and pillows, hiding himself. Dante had fed him with his own blood, but Jade offered him her blood willingly, knowing that whatever it was, Dante still had to earn his living.

It took seven months of patience, but in the end, they brought Vergil back.

How long would it take if Sparda became like his brother?

"Lady got this spell that should reawaken Sparda without the complications we had while bringing Vergil back. It requires lots of gold orbs, though... and an offering," Trish informed hesitantly.

"An offering, huh?" Dante frowned slightly. "You mean we have to spill blood?"

"The blood of the summoner." Trish looked apprehensive. "As far as I know, the only person with enough knowledge of ancient magic is Vergil. But we can't use him to bring your father back."

"Hell no." Dante instantly shook his head. "With the shit Verge has been through, I don't even know if he's well enough to do this. Jade might help, but she's currently pissed and barricading the bath."

"Does it have to do with this demon blood you're clogging the sink with?" Trish pointed. "I'll go get Jade. Dante.. why don't you give Vergil a call? Maybe he's well enough to do this."

Dante grimaced. Damn, he forgot that the pipes would get blocked. "Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks for helping me out, Trish."

"No problem." She smiled. "It's the best I can do to make up for what I did to you."

"Bullshit. That was a long time ago. Get over it already." Dante waved a hand. "God, you're starting to sound like Vergil."

She snorted and made a rude gesture at him before leaving to head up the stairs. Dante shook his head and went back to the desk to pick up his phone, dailing up Vergil. His brother picked up on the second ring. "Hello?"

"Hey, Verge." Dante tried to sound cheerful, carefree as if he wasn't so desprately worried about his brother. "How're you doing?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone, then Vergil answered, voice quavering slightly. "I'm.. fine. What about you?"

"Hectic as usual." Dante smiled in relief. "So... you want to come back and stay with me? Jade misses you."

"I... No, I don't think so. Having you save me and bring me back to life is bad enough. I don't want to leech off your money anymore. Besides, I'm already earning my pay by taking hunting jobs."

"Damn, did you and Trish hook up or something? Because you sound really alike when it comes to this "sorry" stuff. Look, I know you feel guilty for this killing shit and all, but I'm your brother. I love you and you're not a bother to me."

"I know I'm not, but would you at least let me salvage what I have of my pride left?" Vergil seethed on the other end of the line, sounding very much like his own self. Dante smiled. Good, there was improvement. He had been apprehensive to let Vergil live on his own for a while, but his brother had insisted, and Trish agreed to keep an eye out for him. The independence had done him good, then.

"Well well... look who's back. Welcome back, my brother," he teased. "You cocky little bastard. Seven months ago, I was the one feeding you and cleaning you up... now you're turning your back on me?"

Silence. And immedieately, Dante regretted saying that. "Look, Vergil... I'm sorry I brought that up, and I-"

"Dante." Vergil cut him off. "It's okay. I realise I was a fool to jump into Hell and suffer at the hands of Mundus. You're stronger than I ever was, and I expected you to hate me, but you never did. Instead, you welcomed me back and took care of me, nursing me until I was back to perfect health. I'm grateful for that and I admit everything was my mistake. So don't apologize."

"Vergil-"

"You have something else to ask of me? Because I'm rather busy right now."

"I think I have a way to bring dad back."

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It had been far too long, Kuchiki Byakuya decided as he picked up a picture of his dead fiance, a woman with long black hair, emerald green eyes and a great smile. The 6th Division Captain wore normal clothes; jeans and a white shirt, ready to leave on a mission. Senbonzakura was against the wall, the zanpakutoh silent, giving his charge some privacy. Today was the day Risa had died, having killed herself after Byakuya had broken up with her. The man had been devastated, blaming himself for her death, but there was no time to mourn as Soul Society invaded Hueco Mundo to go against Aizen.

The war had lasted ten years, and it took Sereitei another ten to recover.

A tear slid down Byakuya's cheek and he took a deep breath to compose himself, carressing the picture with his thumb. Memories fade away, but you will always be in my heart. I love you still, Risa. I love you still. I regret my actions. I never should've left you.

Setting the picture down and taking Senbonzakura, he turned and left the room. I am a fool...
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Jade woke with a start as Trish pounded on the door, finding that she had fallen asleep in the bath. The hot water had washed off all the thick blood, carressing her skin and relaxing her knotted muscles, chasing away her tension. Turning off the water, she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body, opening the door. "Trish?"

"At last. I was knocking for almost an hour." Trish rolled her eyes, hands on her hips. "Were you sleeping in there?"

"I'm sorry. The hunt really tired me out," Jade said sheepishly. "You want to bathe, Trish?"

"Nah. I'm here to pass you some good news." Trish waved a hand. "Lady found a spell to summon demon lords and modified it for Dante to ressurect Sparda. Unfortunately... we need a blood offering, and Vergil is the only person who can take what's going to happen because he's of royal blood and is strong enough. Besides, Dante's the one controlling the spell in case anything goes wrong."

Jade's heart almost stopped beating for a second. "Vergil?" Her voice came out as a whisper as memories flooded her mind. His half-dead state, eyes full of terror and fear, his helpless sobs and whimpers, his lips clamping on her neck like a remora, sucking out her blood greedily...

"We need you there for him."

She nodded mutely, not really listening to Trish. She had fallen in love with the blue-clad half-devil, and he could feel his fierce passion for her, so much so that it scared them both. Vergil, being nursed back to health and his cold, frozen state, left to gather what dignity he had left, and she felt like he had taken a part of her then. Dante had once said that there was something about her, something that made Vergil recover instantly after they'd met.

And there was no mistaking the jealous protectiveness she had seen in his eyes when they swept over her before.

Jade shivered. Had he inadvertly claimed her as his mate when she offered her blood to him?
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Vergil stood by the window of his darkened room, his piercing blue eyes staring out into the night. He swirled a glass of wine almost thoughtfully, lost in his thoughts. So... Dante was going to bring their father back. He sounded almost bitter in his mind, knowing that his younger brother had truly inherited their father's ultimate power, while he, the eldest and the one destined for it, had ended up in Hell as a slave to Mundus, becoming a pawn for him.

His hand trembled and he almost smashed the glass, but Vergil forced himself to calm down. The reason why he had left was because he couldn't stand the happiness that his brother had. Dante, the one who had pushed away his heritage. How could he, have become the true son of Sparda?!

Vergil gave a growl and set the glass down on a nearby table, folding his arms to calm himself. The horrors Mundus had inflicted on him always came back to haunt him in his dreams at night, flitting infuriatingly through the shadows, evading all his efforts to banish them. But.. there was one person who could chase them away easily, just by holding him in her arms.

Jade...

He unfolded his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets, staring out at the street in the direction of Devil May Cry. The fearless young woman who had sassed him more than once, facing the threat of Yamato without fear, offering her blood for him without hesitation. Inside him, the demon seemed to calm, no longer restless, but settling down at the mere thought of her.

Gods, he didn't deserve her! Vergil turned away and sat at the table, lifting the glass to his lips to take a sip. He had known, seen it from the invisible mark on her shoulder with demon sight, seen the mark of an aggressive male demon marking her as his mate. She had been Dante's mate during the last mating season, though it only lasted through that period. Dante respected her and didn't claim her for life, but it still irked Vergil to see his brother's mark on her.

Why did Dante always have to get everything?

Vergil....

He almost started to hear Jade's whisper in his mind. She sounded close, almost as if they had a special connection between then. Of course, he had marked her when she had willingly bared her neck to him. It was enough to forge a bond between them, and now there was this blossoming feeling he was reluctant to admit.

Vergil shook his head. Devils couldn't love, could they? Thoughtfully, he swirled the wine again. But he loved her. It was true...

Vergil had fallen in love with Jade, and he didn't know why and how. All he wanted to do was to desprately grasp her in his arms and whisper that he loved her over and over again, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Why? He closed his eyes and bitterly finished the wine in one gulp. Why can't I show her that I love her? Am I really that destined to keep on hurting others? Jade... Dante... even mother...

Tell me what I have to do. Tell me what I have to give to have you see that I love you.

(tsuzuku)

Reincarnation

A/N: Side storyline for my MySpace RP character since Zero asked me why I changed my character. Since I'm too imaginative for a simple "Cause I'm obsessed with Devil May Cry" answer, I decided to create a little storyline that can generate a bit of RP with the others. But oh Gods.... I don't know if I can write this within an hour....

UPDATES:
1) Got Dante's phone number. Damn, he actually called me!
2) Uh, we're still in love with each other on MySpace though he has Trish and I have Vergil
3) I'm Little Red Riding Hood now?!
4) No, I'm not afraid of you. In fact, I think that I rather like the position of being pinned against the wall between your arms. I'd just take the oppurtunity to turn you on while nibbling on your neck.
5) Awkward talk on the phone. Let's just stick to MySpace for the time being.
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...Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love, I wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow...
~Rebirthing~
~Skillet~

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Reincarnation
Chapter1-Prolouge
MazdaKitsune

Floating... she was floating in darkness again, for the second time. The first time, she had been brought out of this darkness by the person she loved, but not now. Now she would stay here, floating, seemingly asleep, for months, years, days... centuries, even decades, maybe. What was this? It wasn't hell.... it wasn't heaven... and it certainly wasn't Soul Society. Maybe it was all a dream, a neverending dream where she'll just just float in this sea of darkness, the Land of Nowhere.

Kuchiki Rukia was tired. So tired. But she could not sleep, though her eyes were closed.

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust...

Naked ye was made and naked ye shall return...

How true. Rukia felt weightless, with not a scrap of cloth on her, yet she wasn't cold, though she sensed that her landscapes were of water. It was complicated. She could not feel, yet she could. She could not see, but she could sense. She had no voice, but her mind reverbrated across the darkness as if she were screaming, or talking, or singing.

She remembered vaugely of tears, of an unbearable weight on her chest, of her vision seeing in black and white, the days passing by so quickly she didn't regconise time. She remembered seeing a tall, aristocratic man with long black locks, almost like a god himself. She remembered calling him brother, then more than that, the love that she had felt while with him.

Rukia remembered how he had ended it all, and how she, in despair, had ran herself through with her own sword. She remembered the pain. She remembered dying.

It was days, or maybe even years or decades that had passed while she drifted asleep that she began to sense the tinest hint of color in the blackness surrounding her. It flashed by so fast, she thought it was just her imagination, and she was getting delusional from seeing endless black day by day. But then it happened again. A flash of red thread, warm and inviting to the touch appeared, swirling about in the darkness. Soon after followed a blue thread this one cold but giving off a large sense of power, then a purple thread and a green one, both welcoming and protective, colors interwining.

Rukia was roused out of her sleep, and for the first time, she opened her eyes. Light assulted her, and she cringed, wanting to crawl back into the darkness where she had floated for almost all her life as she knew. But a pink thread, connected to her wrist, reached out to the other threads, forming an intricate knot, a bond that was to hold in the time to come.

This is the future. This is what you will be in the time to come. Embrace it, for you have a new life to live, young nestling. Remember this feeling well, remember these colors, for these threads are the links to your destiny, of who you will be and what you will become. Hold on to it tightly, for this fragile bond will lead you to your home, and your new familly. Kuchiki Rukia, open your eyes and awaken...

Warmth fled her, and she screamed, crying in fear. Instantly, hands embraced her and held her closely to a warm chest, calming her down. When she was brave enough to open eyes that were a beautiful shade of emerald green, she found herself staring up into two loving smiles.

"It's a baby girl. Our baby girl. What will we name her?"

Name? Rukia was confused. She had a name, didn't she?

She was....

She was...

She blinked again.

She had no name.

"Look at her eyes... they're so beautiful. Let's name her Jade... for these pair of beautiful green eyes."

Jade smiled back up at them, and in the instant she recieved her name, she forgot.
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"Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Hath had elsewhere it's setting. And cometh from afar."

~William Wordsworth~

Grief, Death and Pain

A/N: This was based 5 years before DMC 3, when Vergil and Dante were living together, and Vergil was in love with my OC. I imagined that Vergil's thirst for power and his constantly being upstaged by Dante made him leave with a vengeance, leaving both his love and his familly behind. Jade wasn't with them in the fight at Temen-Ni-Gru because Dante told her to stay back, and she did.
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Grief, Death and Pain
MazdaKitsune

The atmosphere of the bar was pretty quiet, not many people out that night. A group of men sat playing poker, the only noise were the taunts from the winner and the grumbles from the losers. The bartender stood cleaning a shot-glass while a woman sat drinking whiskey at the bar.

She had long black hair, slightly tanned skin and emerald green eyes. A real beauty if you looked closely at her, and someone looking out for fun, with her hair tied up in two ponytails. But theis night, Jade Castero was far from looking for fun. Already half-wasted, her bangs covered her eyes as the bottle slammed down on the bar with a loud 'thunk', louder than she meant to. Long legs taunted the men under her short black skirt, but they knew better than to mess with her.

Two Colt M1911s were strapped to her thighs, a wicked looking katana leaned against her stool. She was a partner of Dante's, lover of Vergil, and a female mercenary not to be taken lightly. She was drunk this night, but if anything happened, she would remember it tomorrow. And no one wanted to die by the hands of one of the sons of Sparda.

"Hey, Joe..." Jade's slurred voice brought the bartender out of his thoughts. "Play that song for me, will ya? That slow one on the jukebox...."

Joe cast a worried eye over her before complying, giving the jukebox a small thump before a slow song floated out.


...She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette
She broke his heart he spent his whole life tryin' to forget
We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time
But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind
Until the night ...

Whiskey Lullaby. Jade smiled as she leaned her forehead against the chilled bottle, letting the glass chill her flushed skin. Why was she so depressed tonight? She didn't know. But she did feel rather depressed. Was it because Vergil had gone to Hell, though he promised that he'll be back? Maybe she feared his safety. Maybe she feared that he never would return after all.

What was happiness, then? Was the happiness she felt when she was with Vergil real? Or was it just a maya, an illusion? She didn't know.

The door opened and slow footsteps approached her. She smiled again without turning. "Hey, Dante... what is it? Another hunt?"

Warm hands rested on her shoulders, sliding down to grasp her elbows gently. "Let's get home, Jade. It's getting late." The warmth of a body enveloped her, coaxing her to release the whiskey bottle. Dante's bangs shadowed his eyes as he picked up Insurga, slinging it on his back as he helped Jade stand.

"Did you know.. Insurga's real name is Hizoku?" She slurred, leaning on him for support. "I just changed the name because I thought Yamato would get jealous... that another sword that looked like it had a Japanese name..."

"I know, Jade. I know. C'mon now." Dante guided her out, throwing a grateful look at Joe before opening the door. The bartender lifted the glass he was polishing at him, giving the half-devil a look that was clearly concerned, telling him to 'look after her'.

The trip back was rather uneventful, Dante sullenly lost in his thoughts and Jade singing Whiskey Lullaby under her breath in a rather off-key tone. Once they had crossed the threshold of Devil May Cry, he let go of her, setting the weapons in their respected places before turning once again.

Jade leaned against the wall, silent now, and almost in tears. "Why..?"

"I wish I knew, Jade." Dante's arms crept around her, pulling her into him, chin resting on her head. "I wish I knew...."

"He's such an idiot," her voice broke and she began crying. "Vergil is the biggest idiot ever! I don't even know why I fell in love with him! And it hurts.... frankly, it hurts....."

"You're not the only one hurting inside..." Dante lifted her, and she saw that his clear blue eyes were totured. "I'm hurt too."

With a start, Jade realised that while she had been too busy with her sorrows, she had only added to Dante's hurt feelings with all her disappearing acts and her drinking. That's right. Dante is Vergil's twin brother. Of course he's going to hurt inside... I'm not the only one...

Worldlessly, she looked up at him, and he looked back at her before capturing her lips in a kiss.
____________________________________________________________________

The next morning, Jade woke up to a pounding headache that quickly subsided when her demonic powers slowly worked it's magic. She was lying on Dante's chest, his arms wrapped reassuringly around her. What was happiness to her? Was it in her life as a Huntress? Would she even find it now that she was a half-breed? She knew that when she died, she'd still go to Hell. Devils weren't allowed in Heaven, so there was a high chance of finding Vergil again, living together in eternal damnation.

She sighed, shifting as Dante sleepily pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Last night had passed like a whirlwind, anger, hurt and desperation released in their lovemaking. It was anything but gentle, and truth be told, he was rough with her and she returned it likewise.

They both relished and reveled in the pain the other caused, using the pleasure-pain to drown out the grief of Vergil's departure.

But would she ever be happy? She didn't know....
____________________________________________________________________

(5 years later)

You've heard of it, haven't you? The legend of Sparda. When I was young, my father would tell me stories about it. Long ago, in ancient times, a demon rebelled against his own kind for the sake of the human race. With his sword, he shut off the portal to the demonic world, and sealed the evil entities off from our human world. But since he was a demon himself, his powers were also trapped on the other side.

I never believed it. I thought it was just a child's fairy tale. But I discovered that this so called legend wasn't a myth at all. Sparda existed. How do I know? I met the sons of Sparda, both of them.

Though the same blood of their father flowed through their veins, the two battled each other fiercely, like arch-enemies. It seemed like they derived some sort of twisted pleasure through this brotherly fighting. But in the end, only one was left standing....

Dante fell back as Yamato stabbed through him, landing on his back with a hard thump, eyes wide and disbelieving. Vergil swept back his hair and picked up Rebellion. "Foolishness, Dante. Foolishness."

He walked away, sword scraping against the ground. Dante's fingers twitched as a vision of Jade flashed through his mind and he tried to call out to Vergil, to tell him about her. Vergil stopped, pain suddenly imbedding itself in his heart as the thought was projected at him.

Jade... Forgive me... But I need more power... I swear, I will come back for you when I've become the ruler of Hell... but for now.. stay dead.

He turned and with one swift thrust, buried Rebellion into Dante, cutting off the happy memories of his past. A warrior needed no distractions, but a cold heart.

Somewhere in the city, Jade felt her heart die.

The Sparda Legacy

A/N: Annnndddddddddd.... yeah, here it is. The idea came into my head after a little tiff I had with Vergil for sassing him. Mmmm mmm... the Sparda twins are hot... not to mention Papa Sparda as well!!!!! XD WHHHEEEE!!!!!! I LOVE CHUS, PAPA SPARDA!!!!!! XD

Sparda: ^/////^ M' lady...
Vergil: ....... >.>
Dante: GODDAMMIT!!! QUIT HOGGING MY GIRL, DAD!!!!

Jade's weapons:
Umbra- Black gun, designed for her right hand
Levis- White gun, designed for her left hand
(Both guns are Colt M1911's, a gift from Dante after her beloved Baby Eagles (Jericho 941) wore themselves out during a tiring hunt)
Insurga- A sword (japanese type. Yeah, given by Vergil???!! Nooooo!!!! Okay, he found it, she broke her sword, he threw it at her and told her to take it)
Sentis- A whip (original weapon)

And now, let the insaneness begin!!!!!!
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The Sparda Legacy
MazdaKitsune
Chapter 1- Faded Memories of a Jade

It had been years, many years since she ever saw that man with his silver hair and blue eyes that seemed to pierce through your soul though it shone with playfulness. Jade sighed, her pencil tapping quietly against the table. A blue tear-drop like stone hung between her breasts, a present from the aforementioned man. It glowed softly and sparkled when the light caught it, but she paid it no mind as she yawned, stretching slightly.

Jade was a girl of twenty that had long black hair and mysterious emerald eyes. Her skin was slightly tanned, the product of fighting in the sun. But wait, fighting? Well.... on the outside, this young woman looked like a normal, everyday girl that was harmless and could only be sitting in one place; behind a table, studying. What no one knew, was that this particular girl had a job. A dangerous job at that.

Devil/Demon hunting.

She was no odinary human. While she did play the part of a human girl and went to college, she hunted demons when the sun went down and took on cleaning jobs for people. A mercenary, one could say.

But you must be wondering by now. Why was she in the dangerous business of hunting demons?

It all started with one man....

Dante Sparda.
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Years ago, Jade used to be a normal girl, living with a normal family and leading a normal life. Then everything went wrong when demons attacked her house one day, killing both her parents and everyone she knew.

The young, plump girl with overlage green eyes sat in terror by her father's dead body, watching as her mother attempted to deflect the horrible, ugly creatures with long scythes trying to come at them. She didn't know what her mother was doing, maybe she was trying to put out the fire that raged around them as well, by splashing water at both the monsters and the flames.

A shadowy mist rose up behind the woman, and the child tried to call out, tried to scream a warning, but all she could do was sit there, watching with a kind of horrified fascination as the long, wicked curve of the blade rose and fell in a smooth, graceful manner, cutting through her mother's body, which twisted and fell, as if caught in some macabre dance. The blood reached her legs and the edge of her tattered nightdress, yet the child just sat quietly by, either too afraid to move, or too bewildered to understand what was going on. Death, as she now called the monsters, remembering a picture she had seen in a picture Bible, loomed closer to her, their scythes gleaming in the dancing flames.

Then he came.

Bursting through the flames in dramactic bravado, the silver-haired stranger let off a series of gunshots, which to the girl sounded like thunder, dispelling the Death monsters into dust. His boots clicked on the wooden floor as he walked closer and kneeled to inspect the bodies. "Shit... looks like I came too late.... Nothing can be done for these people now..." he muttered, running a gloved hand through his hair. He lifted his head, and his gaze fell upon the young child, who had her hands over her ears and her eyes squeezed shut. "Hold on a second there.... you're still alive, kid?!"

She opened her eyes to a face full of disbelief and blue eyes that shone with warmth. Gazing at this stranger for a while, she finally decided that she liked him and nodded. "Great. Then we'll have to get you somewhere safe. C' mon now." He picked her up and nestled her in his arms as he made his way through the fire, using his red coat as a shield.

The girl turned back to her parents. "What about mama and papa? Aren't they coming too?"

The man paused. "Sorry, kiddo. I can't do anything for them. They'll have to stay."

She seemed to understand what he was saying. "Are you an angel, then? Mama always said angels had fair hair and blue eyes. You look like one I saw in my picture Bible."

"An angel, huh?" A painful look passed across her rescuer's face. "I wish I was one, kid. I really wish I was..." Without giving her time to say anything else, he forged a way through the flames and soon emerged into the cool night air. There, in the street, he got a chance to study his little friend's face. Her hair was in two pigtails, and a double chin stuck out from a plump face. But her green eyes shone clear and innocent, her dirty face bearing no streaks of tears whatsoever. "No tears. You didn't cry, even when faced with those Death Scythes," he said in wonder. "You're a spunky one, kid. I admit, you have guts for one so young. Well, you'll have to come home with me before I find you a new home. I wonder if Nina wants you..." The man started walking away.

For the rest of the night, she slept next to her angel in his home. The next day, he cleaned her up, offered her strawberry sundae sheepishly for breakfast, and brought her to see a woman in a cafe. The girl sat eating a strawberry cheese-cake, swinging her legs back and forth as he talked to the woman. "Remember how you said you always wanted a daughter or a son to take over from you? Well, I have a kid I rescued from a demon attack yesterday, Nina. Her whole familly was killed, but she held strong. She's got spunk."

Nina ran an eye over the child, expression softening. "Her familly was killed you say? Poor thing.... it came out in the papers this morning. The house was burnt down to the ground... little Jade here was presumed dead as well. She doesn't seem too traumatized though, Dante."

"I told you, she's got spunk. She just sat there and watched those Death Scythes kill her parents, then watched me get rid of those pests before calling me an angel." Dante seemed to grin at that. "And she didn't even cry nor get any nightmares last night. She may be young, but she's got the spirit of a possible hunter."

"Angel, huh?" Nina smirked. "I'll take her under my wing, Dante. It's only me and the big mansion and I'm lonely. Let me go clear things up with the police, then I'll legally adopt her as my daughter."

"Alright, then. Thanks, babe." "No problem. I've always wanted a kid at home." Nina stood and held out her hand to Jade. "C'mon, child. It's a long way back home and I want to get there in time for lunch."

Jade looked at Dante and after a nod, slid off her stool and took Nina's hand. "Home?" Nina smiled. "Yeah. Your new home. And I'm your new mom." She regarded Nina with childish seriousness before nodding. "Mom."

Jade grew up as Jade Castero after Nina adopted her, and she never saw Dante, her angel again. Though she did meet him again when she was sixteen, she didn't remember him as her angel or her rescuer until he mentioned it.
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"Jade Castero!"

The girl shot up straight in her seat as her lecturer called her name. "Yes, sir?"

He frowned slightly at her and she cringed, knowing full well that she had been dreaming again. "What are the advantages of employers adhering to the company ethics? Give me one example."

It only took her a moment to think before answering. "The employers gain the loyalty of the employees, who in result will stay with the company and produce a lower labour turnover."

The lecturer's face broke into a smile. "Good answer. And so class, we see that........."

Jade gave a sigh. They could throw any question at her, but she always made sure she read her notes beforehand to answer their questions.
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Demons. There were always demons trailing her for some reason. Jade scowled as she lashed out with her whip, Sentis. It was Latin for thorn, and could cut through the demons that surrounded her, leaving dust in it's wake. "Dammit, dammit.... leave me alone, you jerks!" More Death Scythes lunged at her and she bit down on the handle of her whip, whipping out two Baby Eagles, Jericho 941s, that she had bought out of her own money. Lifting the guns to eye level, she released the safety.

"Eat metal, uglies."