|DMC RP| Fighting the Good Fight |Reserved|

Subject: |DMC RP| Fighting the Good Fight |Reserved| Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:14 am

Back Story A strange Order of people have come to light, stealing people they deem 'worthy' and sacrificing them in order to try and open up the gates of Hell yet again. Many of the sacrifices have been demon hunters, dwindling the already small number of hunters in the world.

What this strange Order hopes to achieve by opening Hell's gates is a mystery. Already fourteen sacrifices have been made. Only one more is needed until the gates are reopened and the devils are released fully on humanity.

Blaze stepped down the streets, her pace quick and her gaze darting about her every so often. She had lost them awhile back but that didn't mean that they couldn't have found her already. They were unnatural, their abilities inhuman. What were they really?

Shaking the thoughts away she rushed around the people that were out and about. It was a sunny day, the sky dotted with puffy, white clouds.

Blaze didn't bother to enjoy the day.

She halted before a small flight of steps, the wooden doorway rather large. This was not what had her attention however. She stared up, a determined expression on her face, at the neon light - turned off for the day - that read 'Devil May Cry' above the doorway. She stood for a moment before nodding to herself and making her way up the steps.

She had barely gotten away as it stood. Would those people find her before she could get help? Blaze had heard many a thing about this specific hunter, maybe he could help. Surely she could name a price that would sway him if nothing else.

Without pausing or knocking a warning on the door she grasped the door knob and swung it open, sparing a glance about at the rather sparsely furnished room that greeted her.

Dante hadn't paid much mind to the door swinging open. He rarely ever did. Propped up in his chair, leaning back with his heels pushing the chair backward a tad, he'd stay in this position for hours simply waiting.

Most days he didn't quite mind the silence. He slept most of the days away.

Dante briefly wondered who had come to bother him. Jobs normally came to him via a close friend. Most people on the streets hardly ever braved his shop, even if they did need some form of help.

So what made this visitor different?

Dante didn't let it bother him too long. He'd wait, see what this person wanted and than decide on an option. That was if he was in the mood to deal with it.

----[x]----

Lexia trotted down the busy streets carefully. A notepad clutched in her arms, she glanced about the people around her. She couldn't shake the feeling of being followed though she figured it was an irrational feeling at best.

She was a worrisome, paranoid young woman at times. Feelings like this, even in her apartment at times, came and went.

Still, she found something unsettling about it. She tried to tell herself that it was simply the people. There were so many around her that it made her nervous. Anyone could easily be following her and she wouldn't even know it.

Lexia gnawed on her lip. This unsettling feeling remained. She hated it but she had no inkling of how to shake it. Rounding a corner, she quickly walked up the steps and pulled a door open. Cool air rushed around her face. Lexia welcomed the silence, the only sound of a few rowdy kids on computers and the turning of pages.

She puffed out a sigh, letting her arms fall to her side. The notebook hung loosely in one hand. Lexia began to wander the library, hoping that whatever that unsettling feeling had been would not return.

[|OOC: You have no idea how long I just kinda sat here, reading through the start and wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do with Lexia. So, her start seems really shitty in my opinion. .__.|]

Her footsteps resounded loudly off of the wooden floors as Blaze stepped further into what amounted to the 'shop.' A pool table stood nearby and she could spy a few couches pushed under a set of stairs that just lead to a little loft of sorts.

The hunter in question was at his desk, feet atop the piece of furniture and pushed back on two of his chair's legs.

"I hear you're the handyman that'll take any odd job," Blaze spoke up, watching the silver-haired man for his reaction. He seemed rather laid back, perhaps he didn't have a care in the world for the moment.

Blaze was hesitant on this man's price. Would he help willingly or would he be difficult? Surely she could get him, she knew where quite a hefty amount of money was kept it would merely be getting him to agree to protect her and receiving it later once things were all said and done.

----[x]----

He held a book, his eyes staring at the pages presented to him and yet his mind was lost in thought. The words on the pages were merely something to focus on as he mulled things over.

Yet again he found himself wondering how he had survived. Surely he should be dead right now. Again he did his best to shake away that broody thought. It would do him no good to wonder. He was alive and that was that.

From afar he could hear the little bell above the library's door. Someone must have entered. There were only a few within the building now, not including the staff. The few humans he had seen before were still over at that table, muttering to one another.

Vergil scoffed at that but otherwise paid them no mind. He had things to brood over and perhaps even try to plan something new.

Dante listened as the footsteps drew closer, a voice ringing out after quite some time of silence in between. It was a woman's voice and from what he could tell, a rather hesitant one at that.

He couldn't say he blamed her for being cautious. Most were when they wandered into his shop.

"That would depend on who's asking, sweet heart." He responded.

Dante let himself yawn, eyes still closed. He was a lax man and didn't quite care that some saw him sleeping the day away, if he could manage it. There were days he simply grew bored and found this was the only thing to do.

Finally, he peeked open an eye, studying the female before him. She was a rather rough looking sort; one who might have passed for a tom boy at one time. He had to wonder just what she needed from him.

----[x]----

Lexia spared a glance at the door one last time before she walked in fully. The woman sitting at the front desk greeted her and asked if she needed any help. Lexia was quick to wave her away, shaking her head slightly. She remained polite and smiled.

Lexia had to wonder if perhaps she looked startled or afraid. Normally, no one asked if she needed assistance. She was a regular and as such, most knew that she shrugged off any offers for help in searching for something to read.

She tried to push it into the back of her mind. She'd always been worrisome. There was nothing to be alarmed about over that.

Lexia paused at the shelves, shooting a glance at a man's back. She hadn't seem him before. His attire alone left him standing out over most others. Snowy white hair and a long blue, coat. Lexia wondered who he was but tried to put it off her mind.

Strangers wandered into this place all of the time.

She shook her head as if the jostle the thoughts that plagued her.

Lexia wandered into a row of shelves, a window visible at the end. She mulled over the titles on several spines of the books, pondering just what to read. She never really had anything in particular.

Once in a while, she'd pull something from the shelf, read over a few paragraphs and place it back. In this pattern, a shadow darted passed the window. Lexia raised her head from the book, watching the window carefully. Her heart thudded against her chest. After a few beats, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, she snapped the book shut and placed it back in it's place.

She was convinced that she was being followed. By who, she wasn't sure.

Blaze leaned over the desk, hands resting along the edge of it. She watched him carefully. Despite the fact that she needed a bit of help she was still a little reluctant to admit it out loud much less to a stranger she had only heard rumors about.

"The one who's asking would be Blaze Maddigan," she answered simply. She didn't have much time. No doubt they were in the city, already on her trail if they hadn't already spotted her.

"And if you're willing to take on this job there'll be a nice little pay off at the end."

She recalled the rumors of his debt. He was in the red at all times now-a-days and didn't seem to be making any effort to chip away at it. In fact from what she had heard he was always adding more to his tab at the local pizza joint in the city.

If Blaze had to she would find some way to lock him out of those simple pleasures if it was to enlist his help.

----[x]----

From his peripheral vision he could spy a young woman picking and choosing from the shelves of books near him. She seemed a little skittish, glancing about herself every so often. Was she aware that she was being tailed by something decidedly not human?

Vergil couldn't be sure. She seemed aware of the fact that something was keeping an eye on her.

He flipped a page of his own book. It wasn't anything like he'd usually pick up. At the moment he was searching for obscure hints. Detest it though he might sometimes humans had a thing or two right about the existence of demons and hell. Perhaps he'd find a clue or two in their inane writings.

He could spy movement from the corner of his eye. The windows of the library spread up to the ceiling allowing a full view of the street before them. Across the way, on the rooftop a demon was hiding.

Vergil waited, wondering what might come about this situation.

Dante snorted at her words. Of all the time's he'd heard something akin to that, it'd never been true for him. The most he managed over time was getting his tab written off.

"You're losin' me sweet heart." Was his simple and rather lazy response.

Dante closed his eyes again, trying to drift off into whatever sleep he had managed beforehand. He ignored the woman's presence. He wondered if this one would be persistent. Dante at least liked some kind of challenge in these kinds of things.

From what he could tell by her tone, she was a little unsure of thing. Whatever she was here for she was either determined to get it through to him or simply unwilling to admit she needed some form of help.

Regardless of the reason, he waited and listened. He could hear the creaks in the floor as she shifted her weight, feel a glare boring into him. It seemed she wasn't too amused with his antics or attitude.

Most weren't so this feeling wasn't anything new and he dismissed it rather quickly.

----[x]----

Lexia's fingertips lingered on the spine of the last book she put away. She gnawed at her lip, her gaze refusing to tear itself from the window. She didn't see anything out of the ordinary from all she could tell.

Her hand finally fell back to her side. She averted her gaze from the window. She had to wonder how long she had been standing there, staring as if waiting for something to attack her. She silently berated herself for being so paranoid.

It wasn't a habit that was so easily kicked however and she found herself just trying to live with it.

Lexia found she was a little reluctant to leave. If there was someone out there, waiting on her to move to a less populated area, than she'd simply be taking a risk to carry on. She gnawed at the inside of her mouth, mulling over her options.

She didn't get much time to ponder on most of them however. She caught sight of the shadow again. Lexia back peddled as her eyes widened. The glass shattered, sending shards flying in every direction.

Her heart pounded against her chest like a jack hammer. If she could have screamed, she would have. Red, glowing eyes bore into her, a skull seeming to ring with some form of cackle. Dark robes shrouded most of it's body but she worried most of the sickle clutched into it's bony hands.

Lexia found herself frozen in fear. She wasn't even sure she was breathing or not. Fear gripped her in place even as this being advanced toward her.

She had expected such an answer. Still, it didn't make it any less frustrating. Blaze was quiet for a moment, eyes narrowed at him. No doubt many came through promising a good pay out in the end only to have nothing.

They didn't know the location of a treasure ripe for the picking, however.

Something told Blaze that he wouldn't much believe her about that claim, however. No, she'd hold off on that. For the moment she had heard something even more interesting about the demon hunter. In fact, she had wondered if it would have come down to this.

"Well, maybe this will get your attention," she answered. "The local pizza joint you so love to frequent? Until further notice they've been given orders to close down your tab until it's paid off."

She let that sink in for a moment. It was a well known fact that this man loved his pizza.

"You help me and I'll be sure to pay off your tab there if nothing else. Clean slate."

----[x]----

In one fluid move Vergil had closed the book and placed it back in its proper spot in the shelf. About that time the windows had shattered inward, allowing a lower classed devil inside the building. The woman had back pedaled, a look of terror across her face.

Vergil tossed the tail of his coat back, reaching for Yamato at his side. It had taken some time to reclaim the lost weapon but now it was back in its rightful spot.

The blade gleamed in what light it could reach. This demon had been searching and tailing this woman. In Vergil's eyes it meant that she had potential information. He would have to make sure she did not run off.

Yamato flashed forward, slashing into the demon and eliciting a screech from the creature. Vergil scoffed at this, even as the devil swung out with the scythe clutched in its bony hands. It was a simple matter to parry and slash outwards again. Precise, calculated movements. They came second nature to him now.

Dante started a little at her words. He grunted, swinging his legs over the desk and setting his feet on the floor. He allowed the chair to sit on all fours now, watching the woman steadily.

"Who've you been talking to?" He inquired. Despite his initial surprise by what she had said it seemed she had done quite a bit of digging on him.

There weren't many who went to that extent just to gain his assistance.

He gauged her a little better now, watching her fully. She was a skinny woman but not very tall. She stared hard back at him, as if expecting him to continue to deny her request.

If he had it his way, he would. Given what she claimed however, he found he was a little more inclined to listen rather than simply deny her.

"If you smiled, you might actually look cute." He noted, pointing to his mouth. Notably, he frowned, finding no reason to grin at the woman. Still, simple jests to ride on her nerves, he wasn't about to put himself above that.

She'd disturbed him after all. She'd pay a bit of the price in the very least.

----[x]----

Lexia barely blinked yet she found she couldn't piece together what had happened. She felt her stomach turn at the screech that pieced the air, blood falling on the floor. She bit her lip, finally able to draw in a breath again, when she noticed several bystanders taking interest in all the noise.

One of the staff members was on the phone, no doubt calling the authorities.

Lexia watched the stranger for a moment, worry and fear apparent o her features. Why was he carrying a sword? Had he done this kind of thing in the past? As far as she could tell, that much might have been true.

She was confused and felt ill after these events. Attempting to will her body to stop trembling wasn't working. She was aware at how small she must have appeared in that time.

Yet, she was unsure of what to do now. Stick around try to explain things? Take off? It wasn't like she could very well talk to this man, express whatever worry or gratitude she had for the help. At least, not verbally.

She wasn't even sure if he was someone to be trusted.

That fact unsettled her a great deal.

"No one of great consequence," she answered vaguely, tipping her head to the side momentarily as she did so.

Really, what had he expected? Blaze wasn't about to just give away the people she had managed to wheedle information out of from. She might not be kept ahead of him if she did so.

She paid his jest no mind. Blaze wasn't quite in the mood to play along with any of them.

"Now that I have your attention," Blaze reached into her pocket, tugging out a necklace of some sort. She placed it on the table, sliding it forward towards him. The medallion was of a strange cross in a circle with a skull in the center with red gemstones for eyes.

"What do you know of the Order that this originates from?" She wasn't expecting much of an answer. No matter where she looked no one had answers about them. Why they had wished to try and sacrifice her for some sick blood ritual she couldn't say why.

----[x]----

Yamato was sheathed as the creature screeched one last time. Its body decayed rapidly to ash, the blood and its remains the only thing being the reminder of its visit.

Vergil turned his steely gaze towards the silent woman who seemed unsure of what to do. Was she in shock? No doubt she was fearful, that much he could glean from her expression.

He stalked forward, the tails of his coat swaying with the movement. He grasped her arm, tugging her close. Vergil had no time to spare her any explanation. Already other were gathering and he didn't need to be held up.

Without a word he took off, tossing the woman up over his shoulder so as not to injure her too badly. His speed would render him but a blur to many eyes, pausing only briefly to catch his footing and dash off yet again.

It would be some time before he could stop in an abandoned area, glancing about to make sure. He could sense no other hell creatures about and thus he placed the blonde woman at her feet, keeping a hand on her shoulder.

"Tell me, why did that demon tail you?"

Dante scoffed at the lack of response toward his jest. At least she was blunt and got to the point. That much, he was a little grateful for. He couldn't recall the last time he'd gotten a blunt person here.

He studied the cross she had handed over. Propping an elbow on his desk, he let his cheek rest in the palm of his hand. He'd never seen anything like it before and certainly never heard of an 'Order' of such wandering about.

The information was enough to at least keep him interested.

"Nothing," he responded bluntly, lifting his gaze to watch her expression. "I take it that's what you're here for?"

Dante leaned back in his chair again, placing his hands behind his head. He kept this position as he watched her. What information did she have? Why was she here?

"What can you tell me about them?" He inquired.

Dante couldn't deny that she'd gotten his attention now. A job like this came once in a blue moon, it seemed. Nothing big really came about. Things had been rather quiet the last time he checked. He couldn't recall the last time he had a good job.

It seemed one simply waltz right in with an attitude. He kind of liked that.

----[x]----

The wind was knocked out of her as this man tossed her over his shoulder. She could barely make out what was going on, screwing her eyes shut as he moved. She thought of this as some wild dream. It wasn't uncommon she'd feel these kind of sensations and fear in nightmares.

It was wishful thinking however.

Lexia was relieved when he sat her down. She also felt relief flood over her when she realized her pad of paper was still clutched in her hand. She'd completely forgotten about it in the few moments the devil had attacked.

She blinked up at him, shaking her head lightly. Realizing he might not grasp that she was mute, she quickly turned to a new page in her notepad. Pulling the pen from the wired spine, she jotted down her words.

Silently, she berated herself for shaking so much. She normally had a steady hand from all the years of doing this.

Given a little time, she managed to finally write out the message, showing him the notepad. It was up to him to take it or not. The message was still visible whether he did or not.

'I don't know. It's the first time I've ever seen one.' the message would read. 'Your guess would be as good as mine.'

It was a blunt answer in the very least. He didn't appear the type who wanted to wait around, interrogating unnecessarily if he was able to get to the point..

"Something like that." Blaze paused, nodding her head to the side again. "I know about as much as you do."

It was quiet as she continued to lean against the desk, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She cast a glance over her shoulder, out the windows. None of them had curtains and it made it easy to see out of them. Of course that would mean any number of those shadowing her could find her through them as well.

"Other than the fact that they seem intent on opening the gates of hell and have only one last sacrifice to do so I don't know anymore."

To Blaze this was truth. She had had no idea where she had been taken to and the details on how she had gotten herself out and away from their clutches was a little fuzzy.

"As for the last sacrifice," another pause and a nod of the head. "Well, you're looking at her. They've taken to targeting other hunters. As good as I fancy I am I can't exactly watch my own back twenty-four seven with these guys on my ass."

----[x]----

Vergil scowled at the answer. He didn't bother to question why she wrote it out, why she did not speak. That information was not his concern. However the woman chose to convey herself was none of his business.

He shook his head.

"You have nothing of value? No knowledge you have run into that would be considered unsavory?"

They were shots in the dark. What could that demon have wanted with this human? It had specifically targeted her out of those out on the streets, had tailed her alone. Either she had something, knew something or she was important to something in a whole.

These deductions did not leave Vergil with any answers. Without knowing what she did he suspected he would be at a loss for some time.

Dante studied her. The story sounded a little tall. Still, in his line of work, everything was a tad tall. Giving her the benefit of the doubt might have been the best thing he could provide.

"So what makes you so special?" He inquired further. "What kind of hunter needs my help? Shouldn't you be able to take care of yourself, sweet heart?"

Dante frowned, watching her expressions. She didn't seem to give away her emotions and that left him guessing. She was blunt about what she had to explain.

He grunted a little, finding it a tad tedious to have all of this thrown out at him. It might have been a bigger job than he expected and he didn't quite care for playing body guard when he didn't have to.

Dante waited, pushing himself forward again. He didn't feel the need to speak up again yet. If she was growing agitated with him, she didn't show it completely. Most didn't quite tolerate his attitude, were put off by it.

It seemed he hadn't worn on her nerves just yet.

----[x]----

Lexia stared up at him, a little wide eyed as he plowed on. There was nothing she knew, no reason as to why she had been 'targeted' as he had put it. She gnawed at her lip, her eyebrows furrowing in thought.

She turned her notepad back toward herself again. There was one thought but the chances of it being true to her, she thought of them as rather slim. Lexia took to the time to write out another message, a frown on her lips. She eventually held it out to him again, unsure of what to make of his reactions.

'I knew a demon hunter.' She conveyed through the note books. 'We were close friends. Her job took her rather far however and I haven't heard or seen her in years.

I don't know if that would help you in what you're trying to find.'

Lexia waited, thoughts plaguing her mind. She knew Blaze had been long gone, neither hearing word of her whereabouts or receiving letters anymore. She never took too the whole devil hunting thing and only learned little things from Blaze.

She found she might have done better at paying attention in the past. Lexia had never expected to be targeted by a devil.

Blaze pushed off of the desk, crossing her arms over her chest. She didn't know why she was targeted, why she had been chosen as a sacrifice. In her view she wasn't all that special, not any more than any other person, at least.

"Oh, you know, it's just my charming and sunny disposition," she snarked. "The fuck if I know. If anything I should have been the last on their list of sacrificial orders."

She shrugged at his other questions. She had stated it already. Blaze couldn't keep an eye on herself twenty-four seven. She had to sleep, to lower her guard at some point. The points she had done this before had all led to near disaster just getting here.

"Hunter has to sleep sometime. Too many close calls."

She paused, letting it sink in. The demon hunter before her seemed equal parts intrigued and irritated. It could really go either way at this point. So Blaze waited, hoping for a favorable answer though really she wouldn't say she blamed the man if he outright turned her down.

----[x]----

Vergil quirked a brow at this new information. She knew a demon hunter - or at least had? Whatever was happening now with that hunter might be grounds enough for this one woman to be targeted now.

He tapped his finger along Yamato's sheath, mulling the little information he had over.

"And you have no idea where your friend is at now? If she's even still alive?"

In truth, he had no doubt that the hunter was alive if this was the case of the blonde being tailed. Whatever had that hunter wrapped up in it was dragging those she knew into it now as well in a bid to get at her.

"Even if you don't those targeting you may very well have connections. They can easily find you again."

It was a warning. Vergil watched her for her expression, wondering what she might take to doing. Despite himself Vergil was growing curious. Something like this? He had no doubt that his brother would get sucked into it somehow. It always seemed to work as such. Perhaps if Vergil took an active interest in this situation as well he might find something that will lead him in a new direction.

Dante snorted in amusement. She seemed overly honest but he saw nothing wrong with that. He would rather have her act blunt than lie to him over something like this.

"Blunt. My kind of woman." He noted, leaning back again. His fingertips tapped the top of his desk but otherwise, that was the only sound that filled the silence between them.

Dante finally shrugged his shoulders. "Alright, you've got a deal." He finally spoke up after a span of silence befell them. "You've got me on your side."

He watched her expression for a moment, not able to contain a smirk. No doubt, she had expected him to deny her. It was written over her face. He gave another shrug as if to dismiss it.

"Before we get further into this," he began, a frown falling onto his lips again. "Anyone you know that might get dragged into all of this?"

Dante knew how some of these people worked. If they had a chance to play dirty, they would. Family members, friends, even acquaintances met untimely dismisses simply being associated with demon hunters. There was no telling if she had anyone like that.

He could only assume as much. Even loners had one person they were close to.

----[x]----

Lexia shook her head once again at his next question. She had no idea where Blaze had gone. If he was correct and she was being targeted because she had connections with Blaze, perhaps that meant she was close by. The thought of her being back in town boosted her spirits a little. Lexia had lost most hope in seeing her friend again.

She bit her lip at the next bit of information he chose to convey, worry crossing her face again. Lexia had never fought, didn't have interest in it. She listened to Blaze briefly before she took off but had no idea how devil hunting really worked.

Thinking on it in a whole, if she was attacked a second time, it wasn't like anyone would even hear her. She couldn't utter a scream if she wanted to.

Lexia averted her gaze, her fingertips pressed lightly against her cheek, a nervous habit normally only seen when she was brooding over worrisome things. Her other hand still clutched the notebook close to her chest as if this would protect her in some way.

All she'd wanted was to take a walk as she did any other day. If Blaze was back in town, she'd have to sit down and talk to her - that was if Lexia could even find her. She'd know what to do. She always had a plan in the past, as far as she could recall.

The matter still remained however. What was this man planning as well? She found herself worrying a little more for her well being now in his presence as she had been before when she was stalked by the devil.

Blaze gusted out a sigh, tipping her head again in her sideways nod. She began to pace a little to the side, hands falling to her hips.

"There could be one person but I haven't heard anything in years."

She was quiet for a moment as she thought. Lexia wasn't one to get involved in things like this but that didn't mean anything. She couldn't be sure if the enemy knew about her, had found her or not. Blaze wasn't even sure where she would be.

"For all I know she's booked it to some other city," she finished, turning to gauge the man's face.

Searching her out would prove futile at this point. Blaze had no number or address of hers, not even the older ones. Everything had been gone soon after she had took off in the first place.

Until something happened that would prove to have dragged Lexia into the mess, to show them where she was located at a search for her might very well prove fruitless.

----[x]----

Vergil was silent, waiting for some sort of response from the woman. It was still in those moments as she thought. Vergil himself was rather unsure as to how to go about this situation. He was not a savior or bodyguard and even when he did work with others it was to fill a more concrete goal.

What kind of information or goal could arise from this?

He scoffed softly as no answer came about to that question.

Vergil was at a loss as to what to do next. Temen-ni-Gru had ended up a failure thanks to Arkham and Dante and after that he had all but been controlled, a lackey to Mundus.

Though thinking back on it, he had heard rumors and whisperings about a strange group of people intent on breaking open the gates to hell. Was this a part of that fiasco? Vergil was unsure on the matter. He had been thinking the entire idea was ridiculous from the get go.

Dante scoffed a little. Even if this friend of hers wasn't in the city anymore, that didn't mean she wasn't out of danger. He knew that she would need to be prepared to witness the worst of that friend was dragged into this fiasco.

"We'll have to keep an eye out, at the very least." Dante answered, scratching his cheek lazily. "If they've been tailing you this easy, a normal person would be cake for them."

Dante paused, gauging her expression and disposition. If she was worried, she didn't allow it to show. She had a good hold on her emotions. That might have been a good thing. Most broke under the pressure of things like this rather easily.

"What's her name?" he pushed a little further. "I might be able to have someone dig something up. See where she is."

Dante leaned back. If he was going to be this woman's body guard or ally or whatever one wanted to call it, he could at least ensure she didn't fall apart if someone was hurt. There was no telling her personality just yet. If she was over protective or if she'd blow up if find this friend of hers hurt.

That form of emotion wasn't something he could afford. It was destructive for not only her but those around her as well.

He could only assume at this point however.

----[x]----

Lexia scratched her cheek lightly, her gaze averted in thought. She held up her index finger as if to indicate 'one minute' before she started flipping through her notepad. It was an old thing. She hadn't filled this one and for specific reason. It was the last few things she had left of Blaze.

On the inside cover, was a picture of the woman. She tugged it out carefully before presenting it to him. When he took the picture, she flipped back to the page she had been writing on. She narrowed her eyes as she started writing again.

'It's the only thing I have left of her. If she's still alive, there's very little to tell what's changed.'

Lexia gnawed on her lip, giving a slight shrug of her shoulder again. She wasn't sure what else to give him. This was all she had. Her own involvement seemed chance at best in her mind. She found she was more worried about her safety than anything else.

She worried for Blaze as well. Was she alive? If she was, was she in trouble?

Lexia hated the fact that she had no answers to answer these questions.

"Naturally," Blaze scoffed at his observation. It wasn't like she didn't wonder as to Lexia's fate but she had to worry about her own immediate safety before anything else.

She leaned against his desk, shaking her head. Lexia had always been a bit difficult, never gave a full name. Even if Blaze had heard it once it was long forgotten now.

"Whoever you send out to search is going to have a hell of a time. Chick hated her own last name or something. All she'd ever let anyone know was that her first name as Lexia. The only other information I can offer up that's concrete is that she's blonde, blue-eyed and mute."

Blaze was aware that it was very little information. It would be hard to work with but after all the years that had passed, all the years of staying alive, taking on dangerous jobs most other little bits of information she had known had been forgotten in favor of fighting and survival skills. Besides, who was to say that Lexia hadn't changed in the years that had passed?

----[x]----

Vergil took the photo, eyeing the woman in it. Shorter hair, a sleeveless top and a leather band about the wrist. He could spy a tattoo on the shoulder facing the camera and about her wrist she held up the 'peace' sign with.

From the foxed edges and the way the photograph was soft to the touch Vergil could only guess that the item was years old. There was no telling just how much this woman had changed over the years.

He shook his head handing the photograph back.

"And you've no idea where she could be at now?"

Vergil was finding himself intrigued now. What had these two humans involved in something like this? For Temen-ni-Gru they had needed blood but what did this demon hunter that this woman knew have anything to do with it? What was her secret and would it come in handy to Vergil later?

He sniffed, taking in the expression on the blonde's face. "I hope you are not under some impression that I am guarding you for your own benefit, however."

It was only fair to let her know he had his own agenda. He wasn't one to really back stab people. No, he made his intentions clear. In that there was honor to be had.

"Goodie," He scoffed in response. It wasn't much to go on. "The mute thing isn't exactly something I hear every day."

Dante figured if he had someone dig deep enough, they might be able to find something on that alone. If she had a picture, she didn't seem to hand it over. There was no telling if the woman's friend had changed over the years anyways. It was easy to change an entire person, from their hair to their face these days.

Still, something small was better than nothing at all.

He glanced at the woman, watching her carefully. "I don't think I got your name." He finally broke the silence once again. At least he'd have something to call her by, even if it was an alias as he knew some demon hunters often did.

Dante ruffled his white hair, leaning forward once again. "What's your next move, anyways?" He pressed further as well.

If she had some form of a plan, the least she could do was let him in on it.

----[x]----

Lexia shrugged her shoulders again, shaking her head a little again. She could speak normally so often times, she spoke with her expression. A frown on her lips, exaggerated movements. Simple things like this. She didn't know how to stress that she hadn't seen her.

'She's called herself 'Blaze Maddigan' since she left home. It's not exactly 'common', so it's possible to dig up something on her that way. Given she moves so often, as far as I can recall, it might not do you much good.'

At the next statement, her eyes widened a bit. She waved a hand in front of her, shaking her head again. She had figured this much. It might have been her own worrisome personality but she had a hard time growing close to people.

Given what she had seen from this man, she had long since figured out that all of this was for his own benefit, not for her own. As fearful as this made her, she knew her position. She'd been a careful observer over the years; didn't make conversation simply listened and watched.

It was easy to tell where she stood.

Blaze snorted, shaking her head a little at his answer. She had no photos of Lexia. Everything she had originally had had been abandoned when she had to take up moving about on her job. Before she had been kidnapped by those freaks in the robes everything that Blaze owned had been kept in a duffelbag in the back of her truck.

She shook her head at the man's question. She had heard his name when she had been running recon on him. Still, Blaze should have expected that he wouldn't have listened when she had said it earlier.

"It's Blaze Maddigan," she answered simply.

Rolling her shoulders, attempting to work out the stiffness in them she pondered her course of action. She needed rest. She had collectively gotten maybe four hours of sleep in the last three days on the run. After that she could think and work more clearly.

"Rest," she turned, glancing at the silver-haired hunter over her shoulder. "Then I need to run recon - find my truck and what I kept in it. If these guys were smart they might have pushed it over a cliff or sent to the scrap yard but I'm rather holding out hope that my shit is still in tact."

After that was done she could focus on these people, what they wanted, why they needed herself for a last sacrifice. She hoped the answers would be in plain sight but something told her that wouldn't be the case.

----[x]----

Vergil's eyes scanned over her message, filing the information away for later use. With that he turned on his heel and began to walk off, storing Yamato back in place so as to keep it hidden from public view. Too many humans now-a-days panicked when they saw something akin to a weapon. Really, it was quite ridiculous in Vergil's eyes.

He didn't spare the woman a glance to see if she followed. If she did he could use her later if not than she would be under her own protection. Something told him that the woman would follow after, even if it took her a moment to think it through.

The tails of his blue coat swayed and trailed after him. The sun beat down on him as he re-entered the main streets of the city. Now that he had some kind of a goal formulating in the future he could get down to work, researching.

If this 'Blaze Maddigan' was important he would find out about it.

Vergil pushed away the distaste at the idea that it might not turn out to be much at all.

Dante pushed himself back on the chair, using his foot for leverage. He pondered her words. It sounded as if she had a rough time. Given that she was here now, he could only assume how lucky she had been.

"Alright than Blaze," he finally responded, scratching his cheek lightly. He put his hands behind his head, lazily rocking himself back a little. "You can take the couch. Unless you want to use my bed." He jerked a thumb toward the loft.

Dante didn't mind it. It was up to her after all. That was her business, not his own. He'd take the time to call up an old friend, see what can't be found on this Lexia friend of hers.

While she rested, he could get to work. Maybe dig something up on this Order she was speaking of as well. If she knew very little on them he doubted there would be much to find.

Still, he had to make some attempts to further his knowledge on the entire issue.

----[x]----

Lexia shuffled a little before she trotted to his side. She kept a distance between them, a frown on her lips. Honestly, she wasn't sure what to make of the entire situation. She had a choice in following or not. Given the devil that had tailed her however, she'd rather not take the risk of being alone. At least, not now.

Lexia was putting trust in this man yet, she didn't even know his name.

She clutched to her notepad to her chest again, her gaze averted from him. He seemed lost in his own thoughts or had no need to question her further. Part of her was thankful for that. The other half was a little fearful with knowing so little of him.

Was she foolish for putting some form of trust in him.

Lexia wasn't sure. It didn't make her any less nervous or calm her nerves. She didn't care for not knowing things like this, what might happen next. It left her nerves shot.

Blaze ran a hand over her face at his words. At least now something could get done. On hand she only had a few hidden knives. The firearm that she had managed to swipe on the run had been lost. If she couldn't find her truck her bag than she was out of luck when it came to weaponry.

After a moment she headed towards the old couches in the corner, two of them set up so that they formed the corner with a table before them both. She flopped down on one, her head resting against the arm chair. From this position she could easily peek an eye open and glance out the windows just in case.

She would listen in on any little sound, logging away what would become the ones she would have to grow used to. It didn't seem as if this Dante was one who was very noisy. In fact he seemed to prefer to laze about when given the opportunity.

Outside she could hear cars go by every so often. Where Devil May Cry was located it wasn't such a busy place, after all.

----[x]----

Vergil took note to the fact that this woman kept to a specific distance between them as she caught up. She was wary and every so often Vergil could feel her gaze on him. Good. If she was wary then she wouldn't be caught off guard as often.

He let his mind wander. Where would be the best place to find a hunter? Where their targets were. In this case the devil had targeted this woman and thus Vergil could only infer that the hunter, this Maddigan woman, was in the city.

Would the woman at his side be able to lead her to him if she had any guesses?

"Think back," he spoke, keeping his voice low as they walked. "Where would this old friend of yours be at if she was targeted and knew it?"

Vergil had no doubt that the hunter was aware of her shadow. The enemy of hers would not have resorted to targeting someone else if it wasn't the case. It would only be a matter of narrowing down where the hunter might have retreated to and then figure out why she was so special to these plans in the first place.

Dante watched the woman for a bit, laying there. She was cautious about it, keeping herself faced toward the windows. It wasn't like he blamed her. Most people like themselves; they simply adjusted to this form of life.

As quietly as he could manage, he began contacting a few people he knew. It would be a long trek to find information on this mute woman and the Order. He had next to nothing on either of them after all.

Still, a scrap of information on their whereabouts would be something.

He scoffed a little at the thought, keeping his voice low as he conversed over the phone. Morrison might have been able to locate something on Lexia, given time.

He had to wonder how much time they had to spare however. Not only for Blaze's safety but for this woman's as well.

----[x]----

Lexia mulled over the places Blaze might have been. Why he was inquiring on it, she could only assume. He might have very well believed she was in the city. Lexia wasn't sure but she didn't protest it. It wasn't like she knew of anything for certain now.

As they walked, she began to write in her notepad again. She had long been used to this, walking and writing at the same time. Lexia would only lift her gaze once in a while to make sure no one was coming toward her. If they were, she'd move a ways but always fall back into step with the man beside her.

'Bars mostly, the message would read. 'She had a thing for 'shady places'. Was a restless sort of person and would throw herself into trouble sometimes just because she could.'

She scoffed at those memories. The world was her playground, if she could make it as such. Blaze had a talent for making a good situation out of a bleak one. It was a strange kind of reassurance, Lexia recalled. Perhaps that was what drew them so close together.

The message continued on. 'Anything that was 'different' in her view or had to deal with her interests, mostly demon hunting, she'd take to those places. I often didn't stick around when she was indulging in those interests.'

It wasn't as if Lexia hadn't been comfortable with Blaze's want to become a demon hunter. If anything, she supported it. The woman had had a hard home life and as such, she seemed shaped for that form of danger and adventure. Lexia had grown up sheltered. Things like that frightened her. She'd have never admitted it but they kept her overly wary at night, as if a she was a child who had heard some ghost story.

She was always a little embarrassed with that thought.

Vergil scoffed a little as he read over her answer. Of course that would be the situation. Already his mind was flashing back to his brother, the more wild of the two. He hadn't even met this hunter and already he thought of her as kin to his twin.

Then again, given the type of people that demon hunters usually were this didn't surprise him all that much.

Vergil would rather not have to sully himself by stepping foot in a bar or any other number of 'shady places' that this hunter might have retreated to. Perhaps she was even smarter than that and had run to help.

His train of thought was halted as he felt the familiar presence of demons yet again. He glanced about, taking note that he could see a few, hiding about and gauging him. They would know that he was a target as well now that the woman was following so closely to his side.

"It looks like you've picked up more friends," he noted under his breath, discreetly nodding his head to the rooftop where one had taken up a hiding place.

He wondered when they would strike. Perhaps they were waiting, listening in. If that was the case than Vergil had no doubts that they were waiting for them to bring them to the hunter.

Lexia found herself swallowing hard at the mention of 'friends'. Without even thinking on it, she was able to take the hint rather quickly. She followed his gaze, gnawing her lip at the sight of the devil watching from the roof tops.

Lexia had to wonder how these things hid themselves so easily to people like herself. They were huge in stature. How did one not see them coming.

She averted her gaze, wandering where the others might be hiding. If they were pron to attack, they didn't act like it. Perhaps the man beside her is what kept them at bay for a time. Or were they simply waiting for something? Lexia wasn't sure.

She tried to turn her attention back to the notepad as she scribbled out a few words again. It was a simple question but Lexia still held doubts.

'You think it has something to do with Blaze?'

Honestly, she wasn't so sure. She hadn't seen or heard from her in so long. In her mind, she figured Blaze had long since met some untimely demise. She knew the woman was determined but she was also still human.

Still, if she truly wasn't alive, why would these devils be chasing her? Lexia had nothing important. Only a pair of goggles Blaze had given her years ago and memories.

What importance did those serve?

Lexia shook her head a little, finding herself a little frustrated inwardly. No questions seemed to be gaining answers for her quick enough. As long as the devils stuck to simply watching for a time, she tried to put her mind off of it all. Still, her wary glances still shot about every once in a while, little sounds startling her.

These were the times Lexia felt she grew too paranoid for her own good.

Vergil spared the woman's notebook only a precursory glance, scoffing at the words jotted down there. Despite the fact that she knew that demons and devils existed she knew next to nothing as to how they operated. Vergil shook his head at that.

"It is not uncommon that demons attack those that are close to the hunter that they are after."

If she had known anything than she should have known that much. That might have even been why her friend and run off as she claimed this Maddigan woman had. In fact, hunters often only allied or befriend other hunters now-a-days because of this fact. They had to make sure those they cared for her protected and if the other person was capable it was one less worry on their mind.

He resisted scoffing at that as well.

He had no new leads other than the woman at his side. So long as the demons were at bay nothing would happen. In fact, they might be waiting as such because the hunter was in the area. Did they think Maddigan would search this woman out on her own?

It was possible. If that was the case then they were waiting to ambush the hunter. Vergil shook his head again, a scoff leaving him. Really, these lesser demons were easy to predict.

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