Chapter 3: Heart to Heart

Nero looked at the shell shocked Dante and actually blinked a few times to clear his head. His mind was warped into overdrive with questions. Who was that guy? He looked like Dante and yet he seems to be older and darker. He had never seen Dante in such a state and it honestly worried the young Knight.

"Dante…Dante!"

"Hmm?" The Demon Slayer asked as he shook himself clear from his trance. "Oh, Nero."

"Yea that's my name don't wear it out. What happened to you, you zoned out!" Nero said as he looked at the other man. "I've never seen you this way. Honestly, it scares the crap out of me."

"I'm sorry." The Demon Slayer said as he fingered the amulet nervously. "It's just, well; I didn't think I'd see him ever again. I thought I killed him, along time ago." Nero looked at the other man and sighed. He knew that now he was gonna get to the problem and he wanted to give the older man his full attention.

"So who was that, and what's the deal with you spacing out like that?" Nero was glad he was seated 'cause if he hadn't, he would've fallen on his ass.

"His name is Vergil." Dante began quietly. "And, he's my brother."

Nero felt himself pale and his blood ran cold. What the fuck?! He looked at Dante, who pulled off his gloves with a sigh and sat down next to the younger man. He was ready for the boy's reaction and he knew that he had to calm him before going any further.

"How do you think I feel kid?" He asked with a small grin. "I mean, hey it's not everyday that people would encounter their family members rising from the dead." Nero had to crack a grin at that one. HE had to give Dante credit. He was taking his brother's return really well. Nero knew that if the tables were turned and he saw his twin brother that he'd wet his pants!

"Yea, so you were saying." Nero egged him. Dante looked up and sighed again before continuing.

"Vergil is my older twin brother. He always thought that he would follow in our father's footsteps, and inherit his power. He also thought that he was the best. Even when we were kids there was always that sense of competition. I always told him that it wasn't going to fly but Vergil was persistent. We grew apart, from childhood rivals into something more. When we were preteens we, experimented." Nero looked at Dante's rapidly blushing cheeks and knew exactly what the Demon Slayer meant!

"Aw man," Nero whistled as he looked at his friend. "Who was bottom?" Dante gave him a look to say 'who do you think?' Nero burst out laughing. "Aw man, the great Dante was actually pounded into the mattress!"

"Nero, think you can say it louder? I don't think my father heard you from the nine pits of hell!" Dante said with another blush. "But yes I was. And honestly, I enjoyed it. Hell we both did. It felt right to us. Vergil was surprisingly gentle and made it last on a sweet note."

"Then what happened?"

"Well, I wanted something more permanent." Dante said. "But we weren't ready yet. We both knew it. For some reason I was able to accept it and wait. Vergil was not. In fact we got caught one night and Vergil became hostile. I just took it in. Our father didn't yell at us. In fact, he grinned! As if he knew what was to happen. Our mother loved us no less but everyone around us was disgusted. So we had to 'keep it down' as father put it. We grew apart though. Vergil was more engrossed into becoming the best again while I was carefree! When evil came in and stole our mother, I was out of it. Vergil was the one who told me to snap out of it and stop blaming myself for something I had no control of. He always put up a tough front but I knew that deep down, that he was hurting too. He wanted to hide his humane side and actually broke contact with me. He disappeared for an entire year. When I did see him again it was as if he was a completely different Vergil. One who was void of all emotions and the smile I once cherished. It was as if he were a shell of himself. We fought and from some unknown reason he awoke my demon power by stabbing me through my chest…"

"Wow, this is some heavy shit!" Nero said as he ran a hand through his hair. "So the rest is history."

"Pretty much." Dante said. "Despite what happened in the last battle against him, I didn't have that feeling that he was dead. That he was just hidden." Nero nodded and Dante smiled. He didn't want to ask the next question but knew it had to be asked.

"So, what happens now?" He asked. Dante looked at him then stood up with his sword in hand.

"We follow Vergil."