The disclaimer: Capcom owns D & V.

This story is about brothers having to deal with each other on their way through uncommon setting.

Chapter 1

It was late in the night, an hour or two before dawn, the street was barely lit by few lamps that cast yellow and wan spots on the dark pavement, making it look like a French curve. Suddenly one of the spots was crossed by a tall figure that stumbled over non-existent border of light and cursed loudly. "Damn, what jerk placed them around here?" The red-clad man stopped and surveyed the street, his dozed brains trying to recognize the wobbling surrounding. He'd never stepped into that alley before which meant that his autopilot finally got a glitch. Apparently that drinking bout was too much even for him. What did they call this shit Bobby muddled for him? "Blue dusk?" Promised a hell of awakening, as he sensed it. "We sure need a sober break, buddy." Dante muttered to himself and plodded on, making zigzags and whistling some simple tune.

He made another random turn – it would lead him somewhere anyway, wouldn't it? – and staggered to another lit area. Approaching the street lamp, he grabbed hold of it for support, gazing around, and blinked, peering into the darkness. "They weren't kidding about this cocktail! I already see something blue…" he screwed his eyes, trying to discern the approaching blur. Wait..that was…

"Oh, crap…" he grimaced and turned away, leaning against the lamp. Why couldn't he have a decent binge without that kind of consequences? Suddenly he felt something grasped his shoulder and the next moment he was roughly turned round to face his brother.

"Nice to see you, bro." Dante drunkenly grinned, wondering if Vergil would impale him on his katana without letting him sober up. Vergil shook him by the shoulders and shoved him into the lamp post. "What were you doing in my apartment?" he demanded through set teeth.

"Well, you'd better not shake me this way, Verge" Dante mumbled and hiccupped, smiling. "It would do no good for both of us. Not that I'm not used to that but your dearest coat might be damaged".

Vergil instantly let go of his shoulders and cautiously took a step back, glancing at him in disgust. "What's the use of drinking if you can't keep it inside?" He questioned, watching his twin regain the remains of his composure.

"That just feels good." Dante replied with his eyes closed.

"Even if it makes you feel sick and vomit?" Vergil pulled a face.

"Oh no, dude, that's my organism reaction to YOU!" Dante emphasized the last word and burst out laughing. Vergil growled and punched him in the chest – not hard but enough to turn the laughter into coughs.

"I asked you a question, Dante. Don't make me repeat myself".

Dante got his breath and sighed.

"I thought I've already replied to all of your questions and even got kicked for one fair answer. Bad way to loosen one's tongue, don't you think?" He smirked. Of course, when it came to his methods of getting somebody to talk, there was only one way – good thrashing. But he and his brother were a different story. Nothing would make him talk if he didn't want to.

"Dante." Vergil warned, narrowing his eyes.

"What? My brain's in a doze mode. Try again later." He waved his hand, sending Vergil away.

Vergil balled his fists and was about to give Dante a header but thought better of it. He would not stoop to beating drunken numbskull that was too slow on the draw, now would he? No. The only reason was that Vergil didn't want to dirty himself in the process. He took another step back and summoned several swords, aiming them at Dante who was now blinking in confusion, quickly sobering up. He rolled his eyes.

"Oh, come on, don't give me this sh.. Hey!!" he quickly crossed his arms over his head, covering it from the swords that flew at him. A sharp pain shot through his hands and legs, making him clench his teeth trying not to cry out. He really wasn't in a mood to fight. He planned two things for today's night – get drunk and nod off – and had no stomach for blows, literally.

"Vergil, stop that!" He groaned without putting his hands down, and gasped when Vergil suddenly grabbed at his coat and threw him into the wall of the nearest building. He crashed into the stone surface and collapsed on the ground. Okay, that's enough, he thought, reaching for his holsters when Vergil lifted him off the dirt and pushed to the wall.

"Now what? Have I succeeded in creating an atmosphere for a heart-to-heart talk?" he hissed.

"I don't know, Vergil, you seem to be too pushy. I don't feel at eas.." They were distracted by a strange crimson light, emanating from the wall with a low drone just a couple of meters away from them. They hadn't noticed it before and now were cautiously watching it, expecting something to come out.

"What is that?" Dante asked, craning his neck to have a better view.

Vergil let go of his collar and came closer to the weird area. Dante straightened out his coat and took out his guns, approaching his brother.

"Looks like a portal, though a strange one." Vergil said, frowning. It had fuzzy borders and odd shade of red mixed with black streaks.

"Okay, let's check it." Dante had really been places and no portal could frighten him.

"No way I'm going through this." Vergil snorted, "I see you are not learning anything". It was always the same. Dante was the one to push his fingers into the wall outlet, to dive his hands into scary-looking holes in the ground and find lots of other ways to heap up trouble for himself and hell of a headache for their mother. Vergil, on his part, tried to avoid as much dubious situations as possible, knowing from experience that everything Dante showed interest in would bring no good. Obviously nothing had changed since that time.

"And you are the same killjoy as before." Dante responded. Vergil turned to resume their exchange of fair and foul when suddenly the portal disappeared. Before they could realize what had happened, the red spot appeared on the ground under their feet and they sank into nothingness.

Review if you want me to keep writing, for I'm not sure about that one. My exams kill the tenth Muse everytime she appears on the horizon.