Warning: DantexNero, Evil!Dante, Evil!Trish, suicidal!Nero, Good!Vergil (what the hell?), heavy reference to the Devil May Cry 2 novel, time/parallel world traveling, and character's death

Disclaimer: Due to excessive procrastination, this author was not able to acquire enough knowledge and money to buy Devil May Cry.

Author's Notes (feel free not to read if you have read Devil May Cry 2 novel): The same notes as the first chapter's notes still applies. Added notes are the following: 'Beastheads' is a statue that supposedly shows the past or future to the user and has the power to transport people to a parallel world. If a human 'fuses' with the statue, the statue 'eats' the human and become a three-headed dog-like demon. Beryl is a female demon hunter who commissioned Dante to help her find the Beastheads. The Devil May Cry 2 novel serves as a prequel to Devil May Cry 2 (but it didn't explain why Dante was being more silent than usual).

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Twisted: "Despair"

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The room was clad in black marble. This was one of the few rooms that remained after the fight between the rebel forces and the king of the demon world. On the center of the room was a circular pit filled with different artifacts. Nero recognized some of them as Devil Arms while others appeared to be accessories or decorations.

"They call this a vault." Vergil's cool voice explained from behind Nero. Nero didn't bother to acknowledge Vergil and he continued to stare at the pit. It was like a treasure room but Nero could feel that every item in that pit was dangerous one way or another. He noticed Vergil stopped next to him but he remained silent, focusing his attention to the pit. Vergil sighed tiredly and a small sad smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Do you find my presence that disgusting, Nero?"

"No." Nero curtly replied and he walked around the pit's perimeter. Vergil did the same but he started at the opposite direction. Nero glanced at his companion and noticed the slight furrowing on the man's face. Nero sighed and said in a disinterested voice, "You know, Vergil… you don't have to act like you care."

"I do care." Vergil replied and he stopped, staring intently at something in the pit.

Nero scoffed and stopped as well. He crossed his arms and said, "Please. We all know there are a lot of idiots under your command that wants me dead."

"I will not let that happen."

Nero growled at the reply, finding Vergil's serious tone irritating. Nero glared at the older man and asked loudly, "Why? Why the hell are you trying to protect me?"

Vergil turned to look at Nero but continued to remain quiet. Nero took out his revolver and aimed it on Vergil's head. The blue-clad son of Sparda didn't move. From Nero's perspective, it was almost as if Vergil had resigned to his fate. Nero glared at Vergil as he hissed, "Your face… it pisses me off."

Vergil's eyes softened as he asked, "Is it because I have the same face as Dante?"

"Shut up!" Nero screamed and closed his eyes. Vergil's eyes widened when Nero moved his arm so that his revolver was aimed at Nero's temple.

"Nero!"

A loud ear shattering shot echoed all over the room which was accompanied by a loud thud. The door opened hastily and a man clad in a black jacket rushed to the room, "Nelo Angelo!"

"We're fine!" Vergil shouted as he gripped Nero's wrists. Behind the man wearing a black jacket, every soldier that has heard the shot was rushing to see the commotion.

"Let me go, you bastard!" Nero screamed as he tried to get away from Vergil's grasp.

"Nelo Ange-"

Vergil glared at the man nearing them and ordered, "Leave us, Shadow."

Shadow backed away and Nero shouted, "Damn it! Just let me die!"

There were a few soldiers who gasped. While everyone knew that Nero was part of Mundus' army, they had always assumed him to be a deserter or a traitor. There were doubts about his intention but their leader had made it clear that anyone who would even try to hurt Nero would be punished. They didn't even thought about the possibility that Nero was suicidal.

Vergil glared at them and ordered, "Leave us!"

The soldiers cowered and briskly left the room, not wanting to receive their leader's wrath. Shadow stared at Vergil for a moment before walking towards the door. As Shadow walked out of the room, he began to close the door and Vergil heard him say, "It might be wise to listen to his wish, Nelo Angelo."

The sound of the door closing seemed to be a trigger to Nero. He lost his desire to fight and simply let Vergil pin him to the floor. Nero turned his head towards the door and whispered, "Why won't you just let me die?"

"I cannot do such a thing." Vergil replied and sorrow filled his eyes as he whispered, "Dante will not forgive me."

Nero laughed but his laughter was empty and it was that emptiness that caused Vergil's sorrow to grow. Nero turned to look at Vergil and smiled cruelly as he asked, "Dante won't forgive you? Or you won't forgive yourself?"

Vergil's eyes widened and Nero continued, "You killed your own brother and now you're trying to find redemption through me."

"That's not-"

"Dante was evil." Nero noticed the slight discomfort his words had caused Vergil but Nero continued, "Killing him… was inevitable."

"But I-"

"You're the new king of this world, Vergil." Nero turned his head to the side once more as he continued, "You should focus on rebuilding this world."

"Face it." Nero smiled sadly as he said, "As long as I exist, you will always feel guilty over what you have done."

"That does not mean I can just let you die." Vergil gripped Nero's wrists tightly as he said, "Dante asked me to take care of you, Nero."

Nero chuckled and looked at Vergil. Rather than the tear filled sorrowful eyes that Vergil had seen when he had delivered the amulet, Nero stared at him with a bitter smile and empty eyes as he whispered, "Liar."

"Why can you not trust me, Nero?" Vergil asked softly. The hands that were gripping his wrists loosened their hold.

"Nelo Angelo!" Shadow opened the door once more but both Nero and Vergil did not look at him. Shadow bowed before he explained, "We have a problem."

Nero and Vergil continued to stare at each other as the younger man whispered, "You should let go, Vergil."

Although he didn't know if Nero meant about his current situation or about what was happening ever since the fall of Mundus, Vergil reluctantly got off of Nero and stood. Nero continued to lie on the floor, turning his head to the side to look at the door where Shadow was waiting patiently with his head bowed. Vergil grabbed Blue Rose from the floor and said, "I'm confiscating this."

Nero remained silent and Vergil walked out of the room with Shadow. Shadow closed the door and their eyes met for a moment. Once the door was close, Nero chuckled and closed his eyes as he whispered, "Idiot. You left me in a room with Devil Arms."

Nero sat up and rubbed the back of his head. With a tired sigh, he stood and walked towards the pit. There were different Devil Arms he could use but the question was did he want to use it?

For what reason did he want to end his life?

Nero's left hand immediately went towards the amulet around his neck, gripping the gem tightly as he whispered, "It's too heavy."

Nero closed his eyes and pressed the amulet against his chest. He bit his bottom lip and covered his eyes with his right hand, trying to keep the pain from consuming him as he whispered, "It's not fair. It just isn't fair."

Who was being unfair?

Dante who didn't let him say what he had wanted to say?

Vergil who was keeping Nero safe because he wanted redemption?

Or him who wish for death even if it meant betraying both Dante and Vergil?

"This is just so fucked up." Nero hissed as he pressed his right hand towards his eyes, refusing to shed even one drop of tear. He had already cried enough. The pain in his chest felt too heavy and Nero dropped to his knees, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to fall as he mumbled, "Damn it. Damn it!"

Ever since Dante died…

The twisted feeling he had always have for Dante began twisting around him, choking him. It was painful. So painful that Nero wished for death but that twisted feeling simply continued to choke him. It never went far enough to kill him.

Nero finally dropped on the cold marble floor. There was a slight pain as his head hit the floor but Nero didn't pay any attention to it, his eyes staring at the pit. If he wanted to, he could reach his hand towards the pit and grab one of the Devil Arms.

Why was he hesitating?

"Dante asked me to take care of you, Nero."

Nero shook his head and closed his eyes. That was a lie. It had to be a lie. Dante hated Vergil. Dante had wanted to kill Vergil. Why would Dante ask Vergil to take care of Nero?

Didn't Dante abandon him?

"I'm sorry."

Those words meant that Dante was sorry he was abandoning him, right?

It was unfair. Everything was just so unfair.

Nero opened his eyes and reached out his left hand towards the pit. Before he could reach the nearest Devil Arm, his fingers slightly touched a statue of a three headed beast and Nero's eyes widened as an image appeared on his mind.

It was a man with his back turned towards Nero.

It was…

"Dan… te?" Nero whispered and he stared at the statue.

… love?

"What?" Nero placed his hands by his ears.

Did he just imagine a voice talking to him?

… with thy love?

Nero's eyes widened as he heard the voice again. He stared at the statue as he finally heard the complete question.

Dost thou desire to be with thy love?

The statue was talking to him. Nero glared at the statue. He wasn't an idiot. He knew that anything in that pit could easily kill him if he wasn't cautious.

But the statue's question…

"Will you… let me be with Dante?" Nero asked as he gripped the amulet tightly with his right hand.

Accept us and thy desire shall be granted.

It was a trap. Nero knew it was a trap. Who in their right mind would listen to a talking statue anyway?

But Nero wasn't in his right mind.

Not anymore.

All that mattered was…

Nero reached out and grabbed the statue. His eyes widened as all of his senses were overloaded by a vision.

Their blades crossed, creating a loud metallic sound that resonated all over the room. Both of them had the same face. Both of them had the same blood flowing in their veins.

But their destiny was not the same.

They jumped away from one another and stared at one another. Both of them were panting hard, their legs ready to give up any moment. The one wearing a red trench coat smiled as he cockily said, "Getting a bit sloppy there, Vergil."

The one with the blue coat gave a forced smile and retorted, "I can say the same to you, Dante."

The man in red gripped his oversized sword tightly and said with a smirk playing in his tired face, "Then let's make this our finale."

The man in blue narrowed his eyes but there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes and gripped the sheath of his katana tightly as he said, "If there is no other way."

"Vergil!" The red-clad man charged, planning to cleave his opponent in half.

"Dante!" The blue-clad man shouted with the same intensity as his opponent, unsheathing his katana.

They passed one another with their blades crossing briefly and they both stopped just behind their opponent. Time seemed to have stopped as well for a moment. Then…

"Too naïve, Vergil!" The man in red shouted as he turned around, his sword poised to cleave his twin in half. As he was turning around, the man in blue changed the way he held his katana and pushed it behind him. The blade of the katana was thrust deep inside the red-clad man's chest just as he had turned to face his twin.

The oversized sword fell on the floor with a loud metallic thud. The red-clad man chuckled as blood began to drip from the wound on his chest. With a smirk, the wounded man placed his hand on the hand gripping the katana and he mused, "Figures… I would have… time to talk…"

"It's our devil side." The blue-clad man explained coolly but his face appeared to be one filled with sorrow as he continued, "It's trying to revive our human side."

"Can't even… die peacefully… huh…" The red-clad man coughed up more blood and his free hand rested on his opponent's back. He gripped the hand holding the katana tightly as he asked, "Vergil… Nero's… safe, right?"

"Yes."

"Good." A small smile appeared on the dying man's face as blood drip from the corner of his lips, "Take care of him. He can be a handful… but…"

The blue-clad man's hands began to shake as the man behind him continued to cough. The red-clad man chuckled once more but it felt as if he was simply masking the pain he was feeling. With a smirk, he asked, "Yamato's… keeping me… from really dying… right?"

"Dante-"

"Good luck… fighting Mundus…" The dying man coughed once more and he pushed his twin away, the katana leaving him. Blood began gushing out of his wound and he fell on his knees.

"Dante!" The man in blue shouted as he rushed to catch the falling man. He caught his twin and his younger brother smiled sadly as he handed his amulet to his older brother.

"Give this… to…" The red-clad man's voice became softer and his eyes began to become unfocused as he tried to force the words out, "… Nero… he'll…"

"Dante…" The blue-clad man whispered the name of his twin as he gripped the amulet being offered to him.

"… understand… what…" The red-clad man's eyes slowly closed as he continued, "… it… means…"

"Dante!" The older brother shouted as he shook his twin. His eyes widened as the man in his arms did not move. He held his twin tightly as tears fell from his eyes, "Dante…"

Nero fell on his knees once more, tightly gripping the statue with his left hand while his right hand gripped the amulet around his neck. Tears were falling from his eyes and he stared at the black marble floor as he tried to process the vision he saw.

It was a vision of the past… Dante's death…

Nero felt the need to throw up but he couldn't even do that. His entire body racked with pain and grief. His chest felt like it was on fire. Nero closed his eyes and whispered, "You're so unfair, Dante!"

Nero's eyes widened as he felt another vision rock his senses. Nero fell on the floor, clutching his head with his right hand.

Visions upon visions rocked all of his senses, threatening to destroy him. They weren't visions of the past or the future. They were visions of what could have happened.

What could have happened had Nero accompanied Dante to fight Vergil…

Dante would still die. Dante would have still died by Vergil's katana and Nero would have been powerless to stop him.

What could have happened had Nero begged Dante to not fight, to leave with him…

Dante would still die. He would not listen to Nero's plea and will be killed by Vergil.

Even if he did agree, Dante would have been killed by Mundus' army.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Nero shouted as he gripped the amulet tightly, tears falling from his eyes but the visions continued.

What could have happened had Dante betrayed Mundus…

Dante would still die but he would be killed by Mundus instead of Vergil.

What could have happened had Nero tried to kill Mundus…

Before Mundus could kill him, Dante would protect him and die in his stead, dying in his arms as he ordered Nero to run away.

Nero tightly gripped the statue as visions upon visions appeared before him. No matter what happens… No matter how small or how large a difference Nero made, Dante's fate was always the same.

It was as if the statue was telling him that Nero will never be with Dante, no matter what he does or what he doesn't do.

The visions finally disappeared and Nero felt as if his entire body was too heavy. He simply continued to lie on the floor, his left hand gripping the statue while his right hand gripped the amulet with enough intensity that any normal metal would have bended. Tears continued to fall from his eyes but Nero paid no attention to them, staring at the black marble ceiling.

"I want…" Nero's voice was hoarse as he closed his eyes, "I want to see him…"

Nero placed the gem of his amulet on his face and he closed his eyes as he whispered, "I want to see him alive…"

It didn't matter if Dante didn't know him. It didn't matter if Dante hated him.

All Nero wanted was to see Dante alive once more.

… to us?

Nero's eyes opened and he turned to look at the statue.

… sacrifice thine all to us?

Nero smiled bitterly and asked, "Would you grant my wish if I do?"

It was a deal with the devil.

No good could ever come from agreeing to it.

But Nero didn't care anymore.

How many times did the visions kill Dante?

Four?

Ten?

A dozen?

No…

More than a thousand…

Every possible change in the past would still result to his death.

All Nero wanted was to see him alive.

That's why…

Nero shoved the statue to his mouth and tried to grind it with his teeth.

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It felt like he was sleeping in a cold space. His entire body seemed too heavy and he simply wanted to continue to rest but he heard a voice.

"How many times do I have to fight you before you bring me back to my world?"

He opened his eyes and saw the man he had wanted to see for so long. His chest swelled with happiness but then he noticed it.

The man in front of him looked older than he remembered. His attire was also different. He still had a red trench coat but it was different from the usual red trench coats he wore. But the voice and the feeling he gave him was still the same.

He wanted to shout his name but his lips wouldn't move. He saw the red-clad man dodge an attack and fire off his twin handguns towards him.

It hurts…

It hurts…

Was he punishing him?

"Just roll over and play dead already!" The red-clad man shouted as he raised his oversized sword to cleave him in half.

A pained howl escaped his lips and that's when Nero realized what was happening.

Dante was fighting him.

Dante was killing him.

Why?

He saw his reflection on Dante's sword.

He was no longer a human.

He was a demon… a three-headed demon.

The statue had granted his wish. He finally saw Dante alive. Now… it was time for his punishment.

Every deal with the devil will have compensation and Nero's compensation was to lose his body.

The demon that had taken his body threw Dante to the wall with its paw. Dante prepared to charge him once more.

Nero raised his right hand and focused everything he had to control the demonic body.

What Dante wanted was his death.

That was alright.

Nero already got his wish.

If his death meant Dante's survival then… Nero would give it to him.

Dante charged him and Nero closed his eyes as he tried to wrestle control over the demonic body that now held him. He could only stop the demon's movements for a few seconds but that was all Dante needed. Dante cleaved the three-headed demon in half. The demon howled and Nero let out a pained scream as he felt the same pain as the demon had felt. The pain he felt seemed to slowly disappear, leaving behind a numbing sensation.

And it was that numbing sensation that was the most frightening of all…

Dante's eyes widened as a figure fell from one of the cleaved portion of the demon, falling straight to Dante's arms. Although he should have kept his guard and move away from the falling figure, Dante's body reacted automatically as he recognized the figure.

"Nero?"

Nero fell on Dante's arms with his eyes closed. Dante saw the large wound across Nero's chest, an exact replica of the demon's cleaved body. Dante was confused at what was happening.

Why was Nero here?

Why was Nero inside the Beastheads?

Dante's questions came into a halt when Nero opened his eyes and smiled at Dante softly. He weakly placed his left hand on Dante's cheek and whispered, "You're alive."

"Nero, are you from another world?" Dante asked as he stared at Nero with confused eyes. That was the only explanation Dante could think of. The first parallel world he had been, he found out his twin had been a hero. Maybe Nero came from another world…

Another world?

Dante's words may seem far-fetch but Nero believed him. How else could this man currently holding him be Dante yet not his Dante?

"Even if it's not really you…" Nero whispered as he felt his conscious slowly fading. He was dying. He knew it. But before he dies… before he could no longer see Dante again…

"I wanted to tell you…" Nero's eyes began to water once more as he whispered, "I love you."

He wanted to say more but he knew that he wouldn't be able to.

But to finally say it…

It was enough…

No.

That wasn't the truth.

Dante's eyes widened and Nero chuckled as he mused, "Maybe your world is far too different from mine but…"

Nero continued to smile softly as tears began to fell from his eyes, "… no matter what world you're from…"

No matter what past Dante may have. No matter how twisted Dante could be. Even if the world this Dante had come from had been a world where Nero was never there for him…

"I will still love you."

He was still Dante.

"Your heart…" Nero unlocked the clasp of his necklace as he continued, "I'm returning it to you…"

Nero locked the clasp of the necklace around Dante's neck as he added, "… together with mine."

Nero closed his eyes and leaned towards Dante as he whispered, "Please… lie to me, Dante."

"What?"

"Tell me…" Nero continued to smile softly as he gripped the fabric of Dante's trench coat, "… you love me."

Even if it was a lie…

Even if he was being unfair…

Just this once…

"Please…"

Let this twisted feeling come to peace…

"Nero…"

He could feel his conscious falling. Everything was starting to feel too far away. But his voice…

"I love you."

The man's words, although they may be a lie, was enough. That choking sensation he always felt started to crumble… or was he starting to lose all of his sensation?

"I love you."

He felt something fall to his face, wetting his cheeks. Was it tears? Was Dante crying?

"I love you."

He felt Dante's hold on him tightened. He felt warm. Dante was warm and his words, which may be a lie, brought warmth to his heart.

"I love you."

His entire body relaxed and he whispered, "Thank you…"

Dante's eyes widened as everything grew bright and he could no longer feel the weight of the young man in his arms. He screamed Nero's name but no sound came out. The sensation was familiar. It was the same sensation as when he was being swallowed by the Beastheads. He was… being transported again…

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He didn't understand why he had traveled all the way to this secluded island. He didn't even bother to leave the port, staring intently at the setting sun. The captain of the boat that had taken him to this island was barking orders to his crew. From the amount of sacks that were still on the port, Dante could guessed that it would take them a few more minutes before they would be ready to set sail once more. Dante had already told the captain that he would be joining them on the way back. Before that few minutes were up, he had to do what he came here to do.

But what was that?

Dante turned his head to look at the amulet in his hand. It was identical to the amulet he always wore but it felt different.

The amulet in his hand felt heavier. It felt… more painful…

Dante gripped the amulet tightly and closed his eyes.

After all the commotion about the Beastheads was done, Dante had been offered a job once more. This time, it was a map to a museum. He could feel it. Whatever was waiting for him in that museum was going to be one hell of a party.

But Dante couldn't shake the feeling.

No.

That wasn't correct.

Dante couldn't shake the memory of the young man dying in his arms as he gave him the amulet.

The young man begging him to lie…

To tell him…

"Dante?" Dante's stupor came into a halt as he recognized the voice of the young man currently haunting his mind. Dante turned around and saw the same young man staring at him but it wasn't him.

This was the Nero of his world. Nero… the punk who tried to kill him more than once, the kid who currently has Yamato, and the man who did everything to save the woman he loves.

A bitter smile appeared on his face as he realized how stupid he was. The young man was probably living a happy life here with his beautiful girlfriend. They might even be married already.

What was he doing here, anyway?

Was he expecting that the young man currently in front of him was the same young man that had died in his arms, asking for him to lie?

Did he even need to lie back then?

"Dante?" Nero called out once more and Dante blinked.

"Sorry. Had a lot of things in my mind." Dante lied as he continued to smile bitterly at Nero.

"So…" Nero rubbed the side of his nose as he looked away, "Do you have any reasons to be here?"

"Not really." Dante replied, turning to look at the sea. It looked as if the sea was slowly swallowing up the sun which only served to remind Dante of how slow the young man had died in his arms. Nero walked towards him and stared at the sea as well. Dante didn't look at him as he asked, "How did you know I was here?"

"I felt it." Nero replied. He rubbed the side of his nose once more and added, "I guess you can say, I suddenly heard myself say: 'Dante's at the port' or something."

"You felt it?" Dante repeated and his smile grew bitterer as he said, "Must be our devil side. They must have communicated or felt each other."

"It was kind of creepy." Nero commented before a shy smile formed on his lips, "But… it also felt nice."

"Nice?" Dante repeated, unsure on how to answer Nero.

Nero nodded and looked at the ground as he explained, "Knowing that you were here… I felt safe."

Nero shook his head and hastily said as he looked at Dante, "Not that I was afraid or anything! Just-"

Dante chuckled and Nero stopped talking. Dante turned to Nero and said, "I understand what you mean, kid. I feel the same way."

Maybe that was why his death had been painful.

Nero continued to stare at him with confused eyes. Before Dante could ask what was wrong, Nero asked, "Dante, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean, kid?" Dante asked, trying to force a smile.

"You look like… you're in pain." Nero explained and tried to reach out to Dante. Dante moved away from Nero's approaching left hand and Nero seemed to have noticed it. Nero's hand dropped to his side and he looked away.

That hurt look on Nero's face brought back the smiling face of the Nero who had died in his arms. He had continued to smile at Dante till the very end but his eyes looked so sorrowful then. It was as if he had been in pain for so long that he could no longer truly be happy.

It was as if someone had twisted his feelings until they could no longer be returned to normal.

Dante continued to smile bitterly as he apologized, "Sorry…"

Nero opened his mouth to speak but Dante sighed and looked back at the sea. The painful smile on the older man's face was all it took to keep Nero from speaking and Dante said, "I… lost someone recently."

"Was that person important?" Nero asked although he could surmise that the person Dante had lost was important. Why else would the older man look like he was in pain?

Nero was surprised by Dante's answer.

"I don't know."

Nero furrowed and he asked, "You don't know?"

Dante rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand as he explained, "Maybe it was the fact that it could happen."

… that Nero could die…

… that Nero was in love with him…

"Or maybe it's the fact that I never realized it until it was too late." Dante said and his hand dropped. Dante turned to look at Nero and asked, "Are you happy, Nero?"

"Huh?" The question had caught him off-guard. Nero's cheeks reddened and he stuttered, "I-I… I mean… I-"

Dante couldn't help but chuckle at Nero's reaction but his laughter felt empty.

It wasn't that it was empty.

It was… a pained laughter.

The amulet wasn't the only thing the dying young man had given him back then. He also gave him this twisted feeling that Dante always had but never acknowledged.

Dante closed his eyes and whispered, "I see. So you're happy."

"Dante…"

"Close your eyes, Nero." Dante softly ordered as he opened his eyes. Nero stared at Dante for a moment before silently closing his eyes. A bitter smile appeared on his face once more as he realized how obedient Nero was. The young man didn't even ask why. Dante gripped the amulet in his hand and stared at it.

When the young man had given it to him, Dante couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Maybe it was the memory of his mother's death. Maybe it was the soft smile the young man had continued to give him as his life left his body. Maybe it was the feeling that had been to twist around his chest as the young man continued to die in his arms. Maybe it was the fact that he could only watch in agony as he continued to say the words the young man wanted to hear.

"It wasn't a lie." Dante whispered as he locked the clasp of the amulet around the younger hunter's neck.

Nero's eyes opened slowly and he asked, "What wasn't a lie?"

"This twisted feeling." Dante softly smiled and Nero stared at the amulet on his neck with confusion dancing in his eyes. Nero touched the gem with his left hand and Dante said, "Keep it."

"Huh? But-"

"Hey! We're going!" The captain shouted, causing Nero to stop talking.

Dante turned his back towards Nero and he said, "It's an important amulet and you're the only one who can have it."

Maybe he was simply passing it to Nero because it felt too heavy to carry. Maybe it was his way of giving Nero the twisted feeling that the dying young man who had the same face as Nero had given him. Maybe he was being unfair. But Dante felt that it was the right thing to do. He felt that Nero was the only one who should wear that amulet.

It wasn't the amulet his mother has given him.

It was the amulet of a young man who died.

It was the amulet of a young man who asked for a lie till his last breath.

Maybe Nero could find the happiness the young man had never acquired.

Even if… that happiness wasn't with him…

"Dante…" Nero called out to him and Dante noticed the confusion and worry in his tone.

"Keep that amulet safe. 'Kay, kid?" Dante began to walk away.

"Dante!" Nero shouted and asked loudly, "Will you visit Fortuna again?"

Dante simply gave Nero one wave like the last time they had parted. Since he was already too far away from Dante, Nero didn't hear Dante's next sentence.

"Maybe in another world, we could have…" Dante stopped his sentence and a bitter smile appeared on his lips once more.

He almost didn't felt like he wanted to go to the museum anymore but he was a devil hunter. He would continue to fight demons.

And Nero would keep the amulet that Dante had engraved his twisted feelings in.

When Dante had held the amulet, it felt as if there were two twisted feelings in them and he added his own.

Maybe Nero would be able to carry it. Maybe Nero would be able to untie the twisted part of those feelings.

But for now, Dante had work to do.

He had to work as a devil hunter…

Alone like always.

.

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Author's End Rants: Here's my attempt of trying to explain why Dante was so silent in DMC2. –laughs- Okay. –puts on Kevlar vest and a safety helmet- Before you try and kill me for killing off Nero, I would like to say that I have another sequel in mind for this (meaning this story is now three parts) so just wait for it and maybe I can give it a happy ending… or maybe I would kill Vergil mainly because he's the only one I haven't killed yet. –sees Sempai glaring at me- Uhh… I was kidding! – runs- I was kidding!