Gaku

“You could be the next scream queen.” Mei Mei smiles after Utahime releases another cry. Realizing that it was just her superior after all, the younger woman calmed down with a huff, “Please don’t scare me like that!”

“You’re the one scaring yourself.” It was then that it clicked to Utahime that Mei Mei is with her. “Have you finished the first floor?” Did she take too long that the blue haired sorcerer had come to assist her? This won’t look well if she were to ask for a promotion…

But Mei Mei only looks back at her in confusion. 

“This is the first floor.”

“...That was loud.”

You groan as you sit up, head throbbing in pain from falling head first on the floor— Hm? It doesn’t hurt. Wait, where are you?

An old bedroom filled with antique yet intricate furniture surrounded you as the smell of petrichor filled the air. In another time, you would’ve marveled over the details, but as the faint light from the evening sky illuminates the room, you were filled with a sense of dread. Had you been kidnapped? Why is this room a bit familiar? 

Your eyes landed on the clothes and shoes atop the bed, and you scrambled to your feet. A rainy night, an old bedroom, and an eerie mansion? With chills running through your body from the creepy situation, your body immediately reached for the door. You can feel something approaching you from behind as you struggle to turn the knob. Were you locked inside? 

“-.. . .- - ....”

“What the fuck—-”

“How long is this corridor?” You can faintly hear voices from the other side of the door. There are people nearby! Before whatever the thing behind you could grab your clothes, the door finally bursts open, making you collide with a girl wearing a miko outfit. The both of you released a cry of surprise, scaring each other in the decrepit hallway. Utahime was about to smack you after mistaking you for a curse, before realizing that you’re the person she found inside one of the rooms. “---wait, you were a human?”

“It seems like there are still people alive inside.” You lowered your arms, instinctively raised them to protect yourself, and met eyes with a woman clad in a familiar shade of dark blue. “Well? You seem to know this person, Utahime.”

Utahime?

Utahime visibly flinched and scrambled to explain herself, saying that she thought of you as a corpse in her surprise, but Mei Mei only chastises her about not making sure of things. “Even a small oversight could prove fatal when you least expect it.” Defeated, Utahime lowers her head in reflection. “...Understood. I’ll do better next time, Miss Mei…”

Miss Mei? That woman is Mei Mei?!

Taking your shock as one of horror upon your circumstances, Utahime grabbed your hand and apologized for leaving you behind. “There’s something dangerous going on, so you should better stick with us.” You only blinked at her before shakily pulling your hand away from her grip and taking a step back.

Crazy cosplayers are one thing… but they really look like…

“Wait, wait…” Utahime Iori and Mei Mei? “You’re… Jujutsu Sorcerers?”

Mei Mei’s eyes narrowed at you before she turned away to continue walking. “Oh? That makes things less complicated, then.” 

That makes things more complicated! “So you knew about us… Then, did you come here despite knowing of the danger? But you don’t seem like a sorcerer…”  Utahime frowns disapprovingly and shakes her head, before muttering, “I can’t feel any ounce of cursed energy from you. Are they perhaps a civilian?” Offended from her disapproval, you revealed that you don’t even know how you got here. “I might’ve been kidnapped for all I knew!” She seemed to take it into consideration, and nodded in understanding, saying that she’ll make sure you get home safely. But first, the three of you need to figure out a way to get out of here. With that said, she offers her hand once more, promising to not let anything happen to you.

The three of you started walking through the corridor, and you have a faint feeling that you’ve been going in circles. The moment you saw the strange mark on the wall twice, you tugged on Utahime’s hand and told her about your observation, something that she confirms by saying that the three of you are currently trapped inside the cursed house. You froze on the spot, dread pooling in your stomach as Utahime scrambles to give you an explanation. Mei Mei turned around with a hand over her hip and told you that the three of you are currently in a cursed house somewhere in Tokyo, a place that had become a well-known haunted spot due to its history. “The higher ups sent us to investigate, and exorcise the curse while we’re at it.” 

Utahime praises the woman for the basic rundown of the situation, meanwhile you were left wondering if this was a very detailed dream from all the stress or if you're already dead. What she said was so familiar that you can’t help but speak up. “This… isn’t the one where there was a family suicide, right?”

Mei Mei smiled at you.

You closed your eyes and smiled back. Wasn’t this the one with that ugly spirit that has a face? “Uh, then… how will we get out…?” The older woman’s expression didn’t change, which was the most unsettling thing out of everything that has happened in the past half hour, so you quickly added, “Miss Mei…?” In response to that, she mentions that what’s currently happening isn’t because of an innate domain but one from a manifestation of mental sorcery. “Which means…?”

“It’s a Barrier Technique.” Utahime responds beside you, she grins proudly as she turns to you, explaining that it’s easier to get out of a barrier than a domain. Mei Mei approves of her answer, much to the younger sorcerer’s delight, “The victims were probably trapped here too, and eventually got killed by the Cursed Spirit.” But Utahime awkwardly looked away when her superior implied her carelessness. You shrugged and sighed, realizing that the girl that’s holding your hand nearly left you to die earlier. So that’s why she’s adamant on keeping me safe.

“But like Utahime mentioned, the Cursed Spirit itself isn’t that strong.” The walk continues as the two of you follow Mei Mei’s lead. “As long as we can escape this barrier…” The woman stopped and turned around, with the sound of her umbrella hitting the wooden floor echoing through the hallway she opened her eyes.

“Now the question is… how would you break through?”

Noticing that it’s a quiz, Utahime immediately thought of an answer. “This corridor will loop infinitely. At first…” She lets go of your hand to search for items that could help her visualize her theory. Using empty snack boxes and random containers, she formed them to make a circle. “It felt like this.”

“You’re bold to touch it with bare hands.” Despite Mei Mei’s comment, Utahime felt pride upon being acknowledged, especially when someone was actually listening to her. You crouch beside her, brows twitching at the realization that you know what she’ll say next. “But it doesn’t, right? We’ve passed that strange mark three times now.” Utahime snapped her fingers at you with a smile, “Exactly!” She sprang to her feet and posed as if to imitate someone walking. “I calculated the intervals with my steps, and they are…”

She trails off, and looks down at you. “Wait, you can see Miss Mei’s mark?” 

Knowing that you can’t really lie out of here, you opted for an honest reply. “It was very pretty.” They already think I know about jujutsu… oh well.

“Well, I guess having no cursed energy won’t stop you from seeing curses.” She bought it!!! Utahime!!! You internally cheered. This interaction made you want to look for her merch later once you wake up. You never realized how adorable she was when she wasn’t getting bullied by Gojo; now you can understand why her students at Kyoto adore her so much.

“Anyway, it was 122 steps, 203 steps, 157 steps, 270 steps, and 93 steps!” 

You nodded and stood as well. “So marks and the interval between marks are random.” But your mind was actually taking in the details of her appearance instead of actively listening. You still couldn’t believe how detailed everything is. “I see.” Mei Mei’s voice caught your attention, but once your gaze landed on her, the same unnerving gaze looked back, making you look away. 

Was Mei Mei always this terrifying…?

But Utahime doesn’t seem to notice what’s happening, "The range of the loop is not fixed.”, having gone back to her diagram and rearranged them into a straight line. “So, I think… it’s probably something like this.”

“The barrier is actually pieced together.”

Mei Mei walked over, passing by you, and leaned closer to see what Utahime did. You couldn’t help but feel like she’s suspecting you of something… or that you did something wrong. I want to hurry and wake up. As much as you enjoy this dream, things are now getting scary. 

“So, as long as we run at full speed in the corridor, this barrier will surely...” Utahime inserts more items to her model and snaps her fingers when she can't see anything more to add. “...collapse at some point.”

“Hmm… Almost. 90 points.” Utahime sighs in defeat upon Mei Mei’s comment. “What did I miss?”, she whines. The older woman stood up and turned to you with a smile. “Let’s see… What did she miss, oh dear civilian?” 

You gulped, Mei Mei definitely thinks you’re suspicious. “If we have to run… we have to do it in opposite directions to stretch it out, right?” You held your gaze against hers, half terrified and half hoping that she’ll look away. But Mei Mei only smiled as Utahime exclaims upon realizing what her theory lacked. “I got it!”

“If my assumption of the structure is correct, then people moving at high speed in different directions are more likely to break the barrier.” The girl clad in a miko outfit sprang up and grabbed your hand, while the older woman stood in position behind her. “Once there’s a gap, we might be able to escape! Ready yourself!”

“100 points.” Reinvigorated by her superior’s acknowledgement, Utahime squeezed your hand to ensure that you won’t get left behind. “That’s decided then.”

“If it works, you have to recommend me for a promotion.”

“How much money do you have?”

“Huh?”

“Nevermind, I’ll consider it.”

“Okay.”

“So… here we go!”

With her signal, both you and Utahime took off. You were never one of the athletic ones due to burying yourself in your studies, but the girl beside you took it upon herself to make sure that you won’t lag behind, shouting words of encouragement as the surrounding area slowly started breaking down. “We’re almost there! It’s workin—-!?” The end of the hallway suddenly cuts off as the two of you fell down from the second floor of a wrecked building. Utahime grabbed and shielded you with her body at the last minute as the debris fell on you.

You seriously thought you’ll wake up upon nearly dying in a dream, but as you cough out the dust that invaded your lungs, you don’t think you’ll be waking anytime soon. The realization made your blood run cold, barely hearing Utahime’s groans of annoyance as she removed the slabs of concrete on her. She’s shouting at someone from above, but you don’t look up as you sit up, knowing exactly who came to save the three of you. But as he laughs, your head instinctively raises its head as your eyes widens in shock. 

“I came to save you!”

The eye-catching mop of white hair, alongside the shit-eating grin made your breath hitch.

Your contract with both Agni and Rudra brought back unpleasant memories, which ended up corrupting your mind. What you can recall was muddy at best, but you remember the feeling of relishing in power. If it wasn’t for the lieutenant’s intervention, you would’ve continued attacking Dante and possibly…

Banishing the thought, your gaze lands at your cuffed wrists. It’s impossible to get out of this with your own strength alone, and you’re not going to rely on the demon brothers that’s currently yapping inside of your head to break you free from this either. Somehow, you think you understand Dante a little better. With his abilities, it takes a whole lot of self control to even appear normal on the eyes of everyone.

…But would this mean that you’re a demon now too? Are you not human anymore? Are you still yourself?

Your head hung low as your brows unconsciously furrowed in pain. A cacophony of voices swallowed your mind as your senses started closing again. You faintly remember Enzo’s advice to stop overthinking too much, as while overanalyzing stuff might be useful in your line of work, it leaves you with a negative mindset, something that both Dante and your adoptive father tries so hard to fix. But you can't help but blame yourself. For if you were just a little more careful, a little more insightful, then none of this would've...

Your vision darkens as your eyes remain locked on your hands. Nerves and blood vessels start popping out in sickly colors, crawling through your arms as your nails begin growing sharper. Each blink made it worse as all you could see were a pair of demonic arms that slowly broke the restraints. Everything looks tainted with red as your breathing starts echoing along the voices inside your head. 

It’s hard to breathe. It feels like you’re being dragged to the darkness again.

“Hey!”

Dante’s face suddenly came to your view, his worried expression slowly bringing colors back to your world. 

“Hey, hey… Look at me.” Having noticed your silence, he turned to see your breathing had turned shallow and rushed to your side. His hand brushed on your forehead, wiping the sweat that had accumulated, desperately ignoring the fact that you’re cold to touch. “We’re going to get out of here.” And as if to provide comfort or distraction from your current predicament, he starts talking about getting you to the hospital and him going after the Lieutenant when the two of you escape. 

But the words barely reached your ears. Despite that, your focus was solely on him. Dante noticed your restraints a moment later and he gently tugs at your wrists to grab both sides of the cuffs. “Give me that.” Within a second, he cracks it open, freeing you from your binds. But as he lifts his head with a grin, expecting your usual unamused retort as he jokes around, he only finds you staring at him as tears fall from your face. 

Noticing his surprise, you realized that you’ve been crying and lifted your arms to wipe it off, freezing upon seeing that it didn’t change from that of a human at all. Not only that, you could now make out words from the voices in your head the longer you look at Dante. As to not further dampen the mood, he suddenly makes a joke about his face being too handsome for you to look away, and sat beside you in triumph when you let out a chuckle.

“Son of Sparda, huh… Didn’t know my dad was such a hotshot.” After a few minutes, Dante spoke up. You had rested your head on his shoulder, still unsure why you cried a moment ago, and the two of you sat in silence until you calmed down. Upon hearing his words, confusion and pity flashed in your mind as you shifted to sit up. The two of you never talked about your pasts, having a silent agreement to never pry on each other’s history. But it never stopped Dante from overhearing Enzo’s stories here and there, and it didn’t stop you either from connecting the dots from merely observing him. You both knew that he’s not quite normal, and that you two were more similar than anyone would’ve liked. 

But perhaps it is because of those similarities that the both of you stuck around, for the two of you were the only ones to truly understand each other. 

You held his hand before he could cover what he just said with another joke, knowing full well that he’s trying to gauge out if you still want to stay after finding out the truth. You’re conflicted, yes, for that just changed a lot of things. Hell, you kill demons for starters. Still, as your hand curls over his’, you cut him off with your own history. 

“I… The demons were right when they said that I’ve helped them before.” Face scrunching in frustration, you don’t face him; but you know Dante’s paying attention with how his hand flipped to hold yours. You told him what happened all those years ago, with your family, DARKCOM, Arius, even the warehouse incident. You told him how enthusiastic you were about the creatures from another world, so much so that you were excited to join the organization at such a young age, so much so that you were fooled by a demon and got your family killed. “But… you’re not like any of those demons… I believe you’re not.” You meet Dante’s eyes, and for a moment, he looked vulnerable. That is, until he caught himself and made another remark. 

"Must've been a hell of a twist to be working against them now." Dante chuckles, making you blink and sigh in exasperation. It’s fine, it’s more than enough that you even got him to open up; so you laughed all the same. "I was fully ready to be a researcher. Demonology excited me more than firearms training. I thought you guys were like... magic." You laughed dryly, eyes landing on your hands, but as you look up, you can almost hear the gears running in Dante’s head.

"Magically irresistable?" He grins and poses; and you stare at him dead in the eye, before shuddering in disgust. Scandalized at your reaction, he slings his arm around yours and pulls you closer. “C’mon, don’t be like that,” Dante started listing your achievements together, saying that your backgrounds don’t matter, for it is your actions that define who you are in the end. You’re not sure if he’s saying that for the both of you or more for himself, but you nodded in response. “Besides, we’re ride or die, remember? Like Bonnie and Clyde.” 

“Bonnie and Clyde are too much—”

Before you could complete your retort, words fell flat as you looked up. You didn’t notice how close you’ve gotten, and neither did he as he froze up. 

There’s something you realized as your conversation with Dante went on. The pain that coursed through your body gradually faded the longer he was in vicinity. The voices and hallucinations were replaced by his own, jokes and all. Despite your outward irritation, you craved every single one of it. 

You could finally understand what Agni and Rudra were saying all this time.

Red sparks flew as Dante leaned in, and you could feel yourself getting warm despite the coolness of your body. His arms around you were heavy, yet secure; and you could faintly smell that cheap perfume he insists on having as your faces drew closer. He mumbles your name as he closes his eyes, lips brushing as the two of you—

A loud banging at the door interrupts the two of you, and Dante was immediately at your front, with Rebellion ready in his hands. When the reinforced steel broke down from a familiar blue appendage piercing through it, the two of you braced for an enemy attack as the one-eyed demon stood outside the truck.

“Who the hell are you?”

…Dante still has his doubts that the demon who masqueraded as his brother, now claims to be an ally. You agree, despite the demon’s desire to be of use and protect you against the Rabbit. You didn’t take it well when both him and Dante started trying to kill each other the moment you were out of the truck, which only ended at the condition that the demon were to be your Devil Arm, much to Agni and Rudra’s chagrin. Firestorm insists that the shapeshifter was a conniving traitor, and that your psyche won’t survive with multiple Devil Arms at your disposal; but as the demon introduces himself as just Plasma, you have a grave feeling that he’ll wreck havoc if you refuse.

“This is only because you helped me back there.” Much to everyone’s displeasure, with the exception of the one-eyed demon, it morphed into a coat reminiscent of the one you lost at the plane, and wrapped itself around you. You expected another mental degradation the moment the contract was sealed; and as you feel the suffocating existence of Plasma within your mind, Dante started pulling the clothing off of you, demanding that you let it go when you doubled in pain. You grabbed his sleeve, insisting that you could take it, and that the two of you need everything you could get for the upcoming fight against the Rabbit. “Still gotta take back your amulet, yeah?” When he tried to argue back, you grabbed his collar and pulled him in a kiss.

It was rougher than any of you would’ve liked. Hell, this isn’t what either of you envisioned your first kiss to be like. But it’s better than playing around the topic for so long that you two ended up doing nothing at all, especially at the dawn of the end of the world. “Trust me this once, yeah?”

“Like all the other times.” You pat his cheek, and he grabs your hand before you could pull away; with eyes softer, conflicted, than he would’ve usually allowed himself to look, he closes them and kisses your palm, before letting go.

It wasn’t hard to locate where Lieutenant Arkham went, not when you both have three defectors from the opposing side to tell you about the Rabbit’s whereabouts, and the tracks that she left on her wake. Dante protests against you using Rudra’s ability to keep up with his speed, but you assured him that you managed to have an agreement with the demons about your own limitations. With an explosion marking the lieutenant’s location, the two of you jumped through rooftops as the White Rabbit’s demonic army came to view. 

As Mary was being carried away towards the portal, both you and Dante threw your respective swords. Agni and Rudra burned the surrounding demons, forming a circle of fire that traps everyone in it; and as Rebellion cut through the head of the one carrying the lieutenant, you swooped in to catch her body.

“Hey, Lady.”

The city’s otherwise bright lights during nighttime, illuminating the main street as people pass by each other, was overstimulating with how her thoughts were already running rampant. With the large suitcase grounding her as she tries to clear her mind to focus on her objective; Mary’s eyes narrowed in focus, glaring at every passerby to make way. Spotting a vehicle at the end of the sidewalk, she met eyes with its driver and sped up towards him.

“Hey baby, you need a ride? But what the man thought to be a night of pleasure at the company of another woman turned out to be a night where he’ll be held at gunpoint to surrender his car. “Because I definitely need you to ride this dick—”

“Out of the car! Now!”

There is only a few minutes left before the agreed time, and Mary doesn’t want to waste any by idling in the traffic. Running through multiple red lights, she avoided the police by haphazardly turning at every corner; but despite going over the speed limit, it still won’t be enough to reach the rendezvous area that’s still a few streets away. She could spy the demons atop the building, and since there aren’t any more shortcuts, she grabbed her gun and shot the flatbed truck that was carrying a large set of ladders on its back. Shouting an apology to the driver as she uses the leverage that the ladder gave, Mary drove straight through the traffic wall, with the vehicle flying towards the rooftop where the demons gathered.  

Mid-air, a grotesque demon met her as it prepared to attack. With her hand already at the door’s handle, Mary grabbed her suitcase and jumped out, shooting at the car’s gas tank and detonating it at the demon’s face. With one enemy down, she landed at the ground as its remains rained down from above. And with that, Mary faced the White Rabbit. 

“Arkham.” He doesn’t seem surprised by her appearance however, even giving praise for her entrance. “But you’re out of cars, and I’ve got a lot more warriors.” And as if to prove his statement, Mary found herself surrounded on all sides, with the demons only waiting for a command to strike. Despite her abilities, she won’t be able to win against a horde on her own; knowing this, she’s hoping that your earlier statement of her being a sacrificial maiden would increase her chances at survival. 

Putting away her weapon as if to show that she won’t engage in combat anymore, Mary procured a switch from her pocket and held it out for everyone to see. “Lucky for them, I’m here to negotiate.”

“With what, exactly?

“Dante’s life.”

“I press this button, and the most irritating member of both our species gets turned into a fucking cinder.” That caught every demons’ attention, and as expected, it piqued the Rabbit’s interest as well. “Might be hard to take a DNA sample from him after that.”

“I see.” But Mary knows that it won’t be easy. She’s talking to someone who’s willing to bring an end to Humanity just so he could 

She’s talking to someone who’s willing to bring an end to Humanity just so he could achieve whatever demonic vision he has. Convincing him to stand down and surrender the artifacts is extremely unlikely, but as long as she could get the amulet back… “So, in exchange for not eradicating my blood supply, you want me to call off the attack.” 

“And give me the amulet.” 

He only laughs at her words, saying that she’s too ballsy for someone with a grave disadvantage.

“But if Dante burns, his blood is gone.” With her options running out, Mary hovers her finger over the button. “Forever.” If she can’t make a deal with him, then perhaps she could appeal to his army? Given the experiments she saw in the apartment, there should be at least some dissatisfaction within their ranks. “You put these demons through torture, fucked with their genetic codes, all for your cause.” Even a small discord would do… 

“You should take the deal to keep the hope for the cause alive.”

That’s all she needs to get an opening to strike. 

“Unless you have another agenda they should know about—”

“Do you truly think that’s the case?”

Mary froze.

“Alright then, take it.” 

Much to her surprise, the Rabbit gently took off the necklace, in a manner befitting that of a gentleman, and threw it in her direction. That was too easy, and he looked too calm as she caught the amulet, like this won’t even deter his plans at all. But Mary doesn’t have time to argue with details, she has the amulet, it’s time to scram. “A pleasure, as always.” But as she steps back, she realized that none of the demons moved to make way for her escape. 

“...If I may, Lieutenant…” 

“I fear there’s been some misunderstanding.”

“These demons aren’t that intelligent at all.”

The Chevalier Demon swooped from above, sword in hand, ready to cut Mary down if she didn’t grab Kalina Ann in time. Her case falls empty as the rocket launcher parries the strike, and as the rest of the army charged towards her, she shot at the demonic knight, sending him flying towards the bridge. Using the serrated blade at her weapon’s end, she slashed her way through the crowd; and seeing as she couldn’t shoot another missile, Mary shoved the weapon through a demon’s head, before resorting to her machine gun.

It only blew up a couple of her enemies until it ran out of bullets, but she still hasn't found an escape route. With only her dual pistols left, she had to fight a continuously increasing horde of demons as they closed in on her. She can’t die here, not after everything that had happened. 

One of them snuck behind and managed to nick her shoulder, an injury that shouldn’t have mattered, yet it only took a few seconds for her to collapse. What? 

“A formula I developed based on Echidna’s natural toxin.” The Rabbit’s voice echoes as her vision swims. She can barely make out his silhouette as he approaches… or was she the one that’s getting near? “It won’t kill you, only paralyze you for a while.” He reaches out to her neck and snatches the pendant off, but Mary isn't even sure what’s happening anymore. Her body remained slack as it felt like she was getting dragged by her hair.

“All of my warriors’ blades are doused with it.”

“It’ll give us plenty of time to extract Dante’s blood from him.”

“We just have to land one blow.”

Her surroundings changed again as she was thrown over a demon’s shoulder. With the last of her mind intact, she surmised that she’s going to be carried off somewhere. As a sacrifice, she thinks. At least the ritual won’t be complete so long as Dante’s not here.

Someone stood in front of her, and with what’s left of her sense of touch, Mary could feel the pressure as the Rabbit grabbed her cheeks, forcing her to look at him. “You really thought that I’ll fall for such an obvious bluff? I wasn’t that same gullible kid who blindly believed in your words before. You mean nothing to me now.”

“Le…” But before she could finish her sentence, the Rabbit lets go, making her head fall back as she remains immobile. 

“Don’t worry, Mary. You won’t die here just yet.”

“You’re just as important as Dante.”

As she loses consciousness, she hears something explode as she falls. But instead of the dull pain of concrete hitting her body, a pair of arms caught her before she could hit the floor. Mary opened her eyes and was met by your smile.

“Hi, Lady.”

“We are Hunters, voices strong…” 

Long before the Honmoon was first created, various warriors rose to protect the land from the demons. But even with the most powerful weapons in their arsenal, disasters plagued the country as Gwi-Ma’s reign took the lives of many.

“Slaying demons with our song…”

That is when the Kingdom of Silla created the Wonhwa, a group of skilled female warriors that fights off the darkness with the power of song. Known for their beauty and wisdom, they were hailed as flowers that fought against evil, and were praised as the new protectors of the realm. Their presence inspired hope even to the distant villages, prompting a great number to desire a position within their ranks. 

“Fix the world and make it right…”

Even a peasant like him had foolishly yearned to one day stand alongside the famed warriors, having packed his things and followed them to the city after losing his family. Having been saved from this hopeless world, it was like seeing the light for the first time as you offered your hand of salvation. Fueled by the newfound reason to live, he stood outside the mansion, ready to prove himself worthy to stand by your side. 

“When darkness finally meets the light…”

“Abby” closes his eyes.

He doesn’t deserve that light anymore. 

It was a surreal feeling to be walking in the streets of the current Republic of Korea. Not only had the country been split into two, the change was uncanny compared to how Silla looked. Granted, it has been more than a millenium. It was… peaceful, and there were little to no cracks in the Honmoon when he checked. This is exactly the era that the Hunters wanted to achieve, what they all dreamed of, and he’s here to tear it all down.

Like a disgusting traitor.

Not that anything matters anymore. 

As the morning sun washed over him, warming his undead body for the first time since being trapped in the demon world, the markings that served as proof of his sins were washed away by the gentle light. What came out was an attractive young man with an athletic build, walking alongside four other boys as they stole the attention of anyone who happened to pass by. Seeing as their interests are easily piqued, Jinu’s scheme might actually work after all.

The demonic entertainer proposed a plan to destroy the Honmoon once and for all, a strategy that requires certain demons to counter the Hunters by fighting them in their own domain, using the power of song. Despite being the best candidate, Abby was disinterested, having renounced his musical talent the moment he became a demon. The memories associated with it were so painful that it still haunts him even after a thousand years, but even his stubbornness could not overpower Gwi-Ma as he was brought over alongside the others to be sent to the human world. 

Now here he is, breathing clean air and basking in the light that he once turned his back to as his group tracks the Hunters down. He really doesn’t want to be here; but if only to settle his score with the Demon King, Abby will fulfill his role despite his personal feelings in the matter. No matter how talented the HUNTR/X are, they’re up against the demons with far more experience in the entertainment industry, they’re up against him. 

But… a small part of him hopes that the girls will win in the end. 

The thought, despite bringing a smile to him, was quickly banished in his mind. This is not the time for that. He has a mission to do. But if he could be granted a few minutes to run around and clear his head… No, this is exactly why he wants to go back and waste away in the demon world, every action he does reminds him of those days. It doesn’t help that his body stopped changing, eternally reminding him of the fruits of his labor. The discipline he acquired from the past still haunts him to this day. 

Cutting himself some slack, he at least stretched his arms as he took a deep breath. The clothes that Jinu gave him were too tight and barely covered anything, adding to his further discomfort. Was this really how humans dress nowadays? He understands that there’s little to no demon threat anymore, but doesn’t this make people too vulnerable to attacks? If it were him, it’s easier to hide weapons in robes, especially for demon hunting—

His movements stuttered upon meeting eyes with a certain person at the end of the alley. Jinu said that they’ll taunt the current generation of hunters here, lead them to their trap and officially debut as a rival group. So, why… 

Why are you here?!

He couldn’t look at your direction as Jinu finished teasing your leader, going on ahead as he couldn’t trust himself to not do anything, to not turn around and grab your arm to get a better look at your face, as your gaze remained on him. If he still has blood, it must be draining off his face. He’s lightheaded and dizzy, merely holding on a thread to keep himself composed as his memories from the Silla Dynasty flashed at the back of his eyes. Is this a sick joke?

Muscle memory kicked in when the music started playing, and he immediately masked his expression as people crowded around them. Soda Pop took everyone by storm, and he expects nothing less from his choreography and Jinu’s song. But despite performing their debut song,  his thoughts kept running inside his head. Who are you? A look-alike? Descendant? Or…

He met your glare from the crowd.

An all too familiar look that’s ingrained deep in his memory. 

Of course… You were a Hunter, so you’ll also reincarnate as one.

Abby scoffs.

What the hell.

Right after the performance, when the Saja Boys retreated to an alleyway just before they were about to go back to the Demon World, Abby grabbed Jinu’s collar. Pushing the man to the wall, he barely restrained himself from mauling his co-conspirator as he demanded an explanation. Why didn’t Jinu tell him that you’re in HUNTR/X?! Given Abby’s past, this is blasphemy. 

But Jinu only dismissed his feelings with a smirk, saying that Abby agreed to eradicate the Hunters for good in the first place; not once did he care for any lives that might get caught up in the process, so why protest now?

“You’re a demon. You’ve always been one, so don’t pretend to be all noble and just.”

Jinu’s words struck something inside Abby, making him let the black-haired man go. He was left with a warning that day. If he won’t cooperate, he’ll be replaced. If he does, then he’s given the exclusive permission to kill you himself.

“Exclusive… permission?” He looked down at his shaking hands, now showing purple patterns, closing them as he chuckled to himself. Livid, he punched the wall, leaving a considerable dent on the concrete. 

Oh, he’ll cooperate alright… 

…Except in this Hot Sauce competition. Seriously, this is how you garner admirers— fans?? The moment he comes back to the human world after a millennia, the first thing that gets inserted in his mouth are gallons of hot sauce?? See, even Jinu can’t handle this much spice! He must seem pathetic right now… If you were here, you would probably yell at him to sit up properly and finish the bottle. Ugh… This is the worst.

“Once more!”

“Abby” was thrown to the ground, dirt clinging and staining his clothes as he struggled to get up; the wooden sword he was provided with was left flying a few feet away upon his failed strike. Before him stood a beautiful woman, eyes sharp as she narrowed her eyes at his struggling form. She’s the one who saved him from a demon attack in his village, the insightful prodigy who rose up to become one of the two leaders of Wonhwa, you.

His request for apprenticeship was immediately rejected due to the fact that Wonhwa members are exclusively women, and are chosen by the King; but that didn’t stop him from loitering around their base, stealing glances whenever they’re training and mimicking their movements. He was eventually caught and falsely accused of being a pervert, if it wasn’t for your sudden intervention, he would surely end up in jail. Upon confessing that he just desires to be just like the warriors, you agreed to take him under your wing.

There wasn’t a time that he wasn’t grateful for you that day, no, he’s always grateful for you. He might not become someone among the Wonhwa, but he gets to train under the person who gave him a new purpose in life. The training was hellish, and he’s pretty sure that you’re doing it on purpose to test his resolve. But no matter how harsh you get when mentoring him, he knows you mean well and genuinely cares about him. Anything can happen when one encounters a demon, and a momentary distraction could lead to your soul getting sucked out of your body. With how you’re honing both his physical and singing abilities, you’re making sure that he has a chance out on the battlefield. Not that he was able to join during official expeditions, but you drag him out on individual missions, making him confront the demons in your stead. 

“To illuminate the darkness…”

He’s learned many songs under your tutelage, with some being featured on ceremonial occasions in the palace or performed during wars for morale.

“We will sing our songs…”

But no matter how many times he’s seen the hunts, with the Wonhwa singing during the clashes against the demons, one voice remained clear out of all the voices.

“With this steadfast sound, we will mend the world.”

Maybe that’s why you were...

...He can’t accept that you reincarnated into this.

You glare up at him after the slide incident, humiliated by his group’s actions. If you were really his master, you would’ve killed him on the spot— no, why would you even choose to become a hunter in the first place? Why work with others? Why protect humans? 

When they only bring misfortune with their selfishness?

His mind remained troubled even after HUNTR/X chased them in the bathhouse. It was a bait for water demons to ambush you while the Honmoon continued to weaken. And while the rest of the Saja Boys fled, Abby slowed down his steps, frowning as the water sloshed under his feet. That’s not you. You don’t even remember him. You’re already dead. He failed to save you.

…He’s not failing now.

There are two things that he started to hate the most after meeting you. One, the Hunters; and two, water. 

Much to your surprise, Abby came rushing back. And because you didn’t know his intentions, you mistook him for an enemy and lunged at his direction, intending to cut him down. The memory of your sparring sessions flashed in his mind, and using your weapon as a leverage, he jumped and sliced the water demons with his claws. Normally, he would’ve cheered and asked for your praise, but that’s not who he is now and that’s not you either. 

He’s grateful that you stayed quiet after looking at him for a few seconds; you must be figuring him out, a trait that he admired you for having, for it made you know your opponents better than any other people. And because you didn’t attack him… you must’ve realized something.

Jinu kept glaring at him when he came back. 

Unfazed at the threat of informing Gwi-Ma and sending him back, Abby shot back that he’s in charge of the Saja Boys’ choreography. Without him, they’re all just pretty boys with pretty voices. There’s no one better at performing and getting people’s attention than a Hunter.

With the animosity between him and the leader, the two sat apart during the fansigning. But with Jinu sitting with Rumi at the end of the table, the only possible seat is by...

You.

His expression wasn't that of Abby when he approached your side of the table, he knows better that you'll see through him eventually. With only a few seconds before the fans approached, he looked back, meeting your eyes for the first time. Words aren't needed, they aren't enough, to convey what the two of you wanted to say to each other.

He's really hoping you don't remember.

"Thanks for coming! So? What are you doing?"

Abby looked to his side upon realizing that you were whispering to him, all while signing and smiling at your fans. He tried to ignore you, thinking that he misheard it, but you glanced disapprovingly. He's not ready to face you just yet. He doesn't even know what to say. Focusing instead on giving away autographs, he let the conversation die as hours passed. 

When the bouquets were suddenly tossed by the fans after Rumi's cheer, he caught the one that was aimed at your direction mid-air. He knows that flowers won't really hurt you, but it was instinct, an action that would soon cause your names to skyrocket on the internet later. But that's later, right now's the present, and right now... he brings the bouquet close to his face as he turns to you. With his eyes the only thing visible from the arrangements of roses, Abby answered your question with a familiar lullaby.

"We are Hunters, voices strong..."

He handed you the bouquet right after and ran off.

For the remaining days before the month ends, he really tries to keep his distance. Believe him, he tried. And he still found himself in the darkness of corners, watching over HUNTR/X like a shadow.

He still doesn't approve of this generation, deeming it lacking in teamwork and communication. There were already too few Hunters left, and with how your group was acting, it's too easy to break everyone apart. His interventions could only deter demons for so long, and if HUNTR/X won't get their act together, the Honmoon won't last until the Idol Awards.

It doesn’t help that the way the three of you fight over the song that you’ll perform at the event gives him a sense of deja vu. This is exactly how the Wonhwa acted centuries ago.

Created by King Jinheung, hundreds of girls were trained to become demon hunters under the tutelage of two women, You and Junjeong. With your guidance, the Honmoon stood stronger than it was before the organization was formed. Everyone looked up to the both of you with respect and love, and you treated your students with the same regard. He was once introduced to Junjeong, and she was impressed at the prospect of a male hunter. The pride of being known as the symbol of a new era made him strive to work harder, practicing his movements and voice as he fought against demons on his own, and he was soon acknowledged as an unofficial member of the Wonhwa.

Even the royal family recognized his efforts, and he was sent off on missions on his own to the areas where the Honmoon was at its weakest. Slowly, over months, he’s gained a name for himself, and you congratulated him over the letters you exchanged. You wrote that you’ve been hearing about plans to establish a new unit of Hunters called the “Hwarang” due to his accomplishments, and that he’ll make a fine leader with how he’s worked to get to where he’s at. He thought that it was excessive when you wrote that the Wonhwa will prepare a feast of celebration when he gets back to the capital at the end of the month, something about welcoming back their honorary member. It was your letters that kept him going in during his time out in the battlefield, even as the burden of exorcising fell on his hands, even when the demons kept taunting him as he fought against them, he knows that the light that guided him before will always burn brightly when he comes back. 

That’s why he wasted no time when he was finally allowed back. Running through the muddy path of the marketplace, he took shortcuts if only to get back to your residence faster. Filled with relief and excitement, he can’t wait to tell you the words he couldn’t convey through writing, the feelings that he kept hidden until he was worthy of conveying them out loud. He’s sure that he’ll earn a beating should you hear them, though. Still he can’t help but wonder, with everything that has happened…

Is he strong enough that you will acknowledge him now not as a student, but as an equal?

What welcomed him was an empty residence, something that didn’t deter him from his enthusiasm. If you’re not in your shared home, then you must be at the palace or honing your skills with the others. He failed to notice the dust that accumulated over time as dropped his things by the entrance and ran off to the training grounds. 

But by the time he arrived, the area was closed off as guards surrounded the gate. Immediately, he got questioned for his presence, but the moment he confirmed his identity, he was immediately summoned to the royal palace. Confused and still filthy from his journey, he kneeled to the King as he received the dreadful news.

You were murdered. 

There was an impromptu party a few days before, and you were found the next day, drowned to death. Due to your abilities, the officials ruled it out as murder, with the missing Junjeong as the prime suspect. The rest of the Wonhwa were taken into custody and were closely monitored as they performed their duties, but because of the current circumstances, the Honmoon greatly weakened in the capital. “Abby” was then given the permission to act as the current captain of the remaining Hunters, which will now operate under the name “Hwarang”, to hunt the treacherous demon hunter down. 

His promotion didn’t even register in his mind as the sudden news of your death still loops in his head. It was a good thing that he was kneeling down, for his legs would surely give out. You died? You, who was the strongest woman he knew? The most formidable demon hunter? The one who saved him and many others, died from betrayal? 

He didn’t even get the chance to tell you that he’s back.

Holed up in the quarters that were given to him in preparation for the mission, “Abby” listlessly stared at the sunlight from the window, observing as it slowly dimmed as the day ended. He wasn’t given a choice in the first place, and now here he is, the newest captain of Wonhwa— no, Hwarang. What was once a dream, turned into a nightmare as he was tasked to hunt his former senior, someone who was more experienced and deadlier than him. Clutching his head, he curled to himself, having no idea what to do now that you’re gone. Left vulnerable, that’s when he heard that voice.

“You can’t do anything to avenge your master…”

“You’re not strong enough for it…”

“But I can help you… be strong enough…”

“I can help you… kill her.”

Days later, formally dressed in fine silk and colorful robes, “Abby” led a small group of Hunters for the capture of Junjeong. Devoid of the hope that he once had under your tutelage, the person that now stood in front of your murderer had his eyes glowing gold, a color that you once hoped that the Honmoon would be is now the symbol of the demonic power that flows inside his body. 

“We are Hunters, voice strong…”

Singing the lullaby you taught him, he dragged the nearly dead Junjeong towards the crowd, the onlookers, as well as the rest of the Hunters watched “Abby” announce her crimes for all to hear. With his sword, glowing not from the spiritual power he accumulated, but from the demonic force that he was granted, he cut her head. In contrast to his wailing comrades, “Abby” felt nothing as her blood stained his clothes. There’s nothing else to feel when the light that kept guiding him was forcefully extinguished. 

But the moment the execution was concluded, he refused to slay and exorcise anymore, wasting away in the residence where the two of you once lived. Even as he was summoned by the royal order, he refused to budge. This was later seen as insubordination and he was subjected to the same fate, leading to his soul transforming to that of a demon once he woke up in the demon world. The revelation that he was now doomed to a life of damnation did nothing as he remained motionless, and with the desire to just wither for the rest of eternity, he slept up until the present day. 

“Slaying demons with our song…”

It was only because of Jinu that he was rudely woken up from his slumber, and now he’s forced to masquerade as an “idol” alongside other demons to fight against the current generation of Hunters that he resents so much. All he could think was the eventual ruin that would befall them when he heard about their shaky foundation. He thought that it would be a simple mission given that he was a former Hunter himself, but his resolve to quickly finish the mission wavered when he realized that you reincarnated as one of his enemies.

He tried to convince himself that it’s not you. But the way you look at him says otherwise. No matter how much he denies it, your images are overlapping whenever he meets your eyes. He hopes that you remember nothing, but he also wants you to say his name. His feelings made him rebel and help you in the shadows as a way to ease his guilt of not being there when it mattered the most. As far as he knows, you never noticed him, at least not yet. He intends for it to stay that way, as a demon like him could never be with a Hunter such as you.

Stepping away, he thought to go back now that the sun’s nearly up. As much as he could threaten Jinu and buy time, he’d rather not endanger you by lingering any longer. 

“Fix the world and make it right…”

Fixing the scarf closer to his face, he sang the lullaby that brought him comfort in his dreamless sleep. 

“When darkness finally meets the light.”

Abby stopped his tracks, a voice all too familiar had finished the song behind him. When he turned around, you pointed your weapon at him, expression full of suspicion. But instead of engaging in combat, you dropped it and let it vanish, standing in front of him without any form of defense. 

His breath hitched when your eyes, filled with pain, met his’. That’s the only confirmation he needs as he rushed to your side, covering your mouth before you could utter his name. “Don’t.”

“Please. Don’t.”

Abby doesn’t know when his voice started to crack, or when his body started shaking. All he wanted was to fall in your arms and cry his heart out. But he can’t. He shouldn’t. He’s now a demon, and you’re a hunter. He’s the dregs of the painful past that you share, and he’s not going to keep clinging on you when you now live a different life. A life that he’s not a part of. A life that, hopefully, would be able to live in peace as the demons get sealed in this generation. 

With that, he vanished into a puff of purple smoke, leaving you behind as the sun’s first rays touched your skin. 

The next time he saw you was during the Idol Awards. Both groups maintained professionalism, at least around the staff, but when he sneaked a glance in your direction, he realized that you were looking at him too. Unlike the hostility shown by HUNTR/X, he knows the message behind that look. Don’t go with whatever you’re planning.

But he needs to. For your sake and his’. 

You were able to maintain composure when the plan to bring your group apart was executed, you didn’t get fooled with the fake Bobby trap, and you were only mildly shocked at the revelation of Rumi’s demonic characteristics. As expected, you tried tracking him down when the people started getting hypnotized. But as you pointed your weapon at him, he openly taunts you about your past life, welcoming each strike with open arms.

"That's right. I betrayed our cause."

"I made a deal with Gwi-Ma to get stronger, so that I could command every Hunter in the country."

"I turned my back on everything we fought for, everything we've ever stood for."

"I killed Junjeong!"

The sound of your former teammate's name, spoken in such a way, broke your will. There, he said it, all for the wrong reasons. He doesn’t want to do this. But it must be done. He hopes you’ll forgive him, at least. No, just… forget about him when this is all over. 

"You thought you found yourself a family?"

"You don’t deserve one."

"You never have."

He had to let you fall so that you’ll finally be free.

At the Namsan Tower, you stood alongside the hypnotized humans, as you made your way close to the center of the stage. The Saja Boys performed Your Idol, with the intention of feeding everyone’s soul to the Demon King. But Abby knows better. He’ll pay for his sins, and end this once and for all. 

“Don’t you know I’m here to save you!”

He wasn’t the only one fraternizing with the Hunters. He knows a demon when he sees one, and it seems like Jinu was enamored with Rumi all along. And when the aforementioned leader appeared, resolve having been reinforced at the intention to remake the Honmoon, Abby knows that his plan worked. 

With her song waking your fellow hunters up, Gwi-Ma commanded for the Saja Boys to stop her at all costs. Various demons were summoned, and he jumped into the fray.

There is only one thing he hates the most in the world: his own powerlessness to protect the people he loves the most.

But with this, he could finally save you.

Turning his heel, he summons his weapon, the one you bestowed to him after recognizing his efforts to become a hunter, and fought alongside you. Much to the confusion of both sides, he also attacked you. And due to his earlier taunts, you were focused only on him.

The two of you eliminated the demons that got in the way of your duel as both spiritual and demonic energy clashed with your weapons. Despite the disadvantage of his affinity, he's trying his best to deflect and strike you back. If only the setting was different, it looks just like your sparring sessions from all those centuries ago. A smile formed on his lips when the two of you instinctively ran to aid Rumi, killing every single demon along the way, with your earlier battle turning into a combined teamwork as you switched weapons and sang together.

But your efforts alone won't be enough to stop Gwi-Ma. He's already consumed a lot of souls, and three Hunters won't be enough to seal him back. Unless...

Well, this has been his plan from the very start.

As you were overpowered, he used all his strength to clear the path. But before you could run to help your teammates, he held the end of your weapon towards his chest, eyes meeting yours which now show fear. This was always meant to happen. He's a demon, and you're a hunter. At least, with this, he could finally be of help to you.

"We are Hunters, voices strong..."

You can't just idle by. The fate of the world rests on this battle, and you both know it. But still, you wish there could've been another way.

"...Slaying demons with our song..."

Despite tightening your grip on the weapon, your voice still shakes as you sang back, trying to bargain with whatever force there was so that you wouldn't have to kill him.

"Fix the world and make it right."

But this is the only way. He steadies the weapon and closes his eyes.

"When darkness finally meets the light."

With a cry, you stabbed Abby; and his arms weakly wrapped around your shoulders as he dissolved into a blue light, with your weapon glowing brighter than before. Fueled with rage and sadness, you rush back to the battlefield. And together with the rest of HUNTR/X, you created a brand new Honmoon, liberating the people from Gwi-Ma's control and sealing back the demons in the underworld.

...

As you come down to the ground, with your group happy to finally be open to one another, you stare at the colorful Honmoon. This is what everyone was hoping for, what the two of you dreamed of, to hear the cheers of people who are united by song. Clutching your weapon, you close your eyes as his final words echo in your head.

Am I finally strong enough to be your equal?

You reply with a lullaby. One that everyone knows. Hoping that somewhere, somehow, someone will sing back,

"We are Hunters, voices strong..."

Saja Boys x Reincarnated!Hunter!Reader

The Rabbit has to stop himself from scowling, eyes glowing orange as it lands on the elder of Sparda’s spawns. With the Force Edge and Perfect Amulet in his possession, The Rabbit broke into his signature smile and bravado as Vergil’s eyes landed on him. “As meeting places go, this spot suits you.” 

“Compared to your brother’s boisterous personality, you look like you belonged surrounded by these rows of books.”

The older twin merely closed his book, not sparing any more of his gaze towards the Rabbit before him. “You have it.” Despite his irritation over the young man’s dismissive acknowledgement, he swallowed his tongue and continued to play his part, holding out the legendary Demon Knight’s sword in the air as it reflected the soft, golden rays of the afternoon sunlight. “Your information was right. Dante’s necklace fits very nicely with the one you gave me.” But before Vergil could get his hands on it, the White Rabbit pulled the demonic weapon away, prompting the former to point Yamato just a short distance from the Rabbit’s neck. “What is the meaning of this foolishness?”

“Patience, dear Vergil. You’ll get the end of your bargain once we raise the Gates of Hell.” The White Rabbit tuts, but the man in front of him doesn’t seem convinced. Insisting that they have every component needed for the plan to work, Vergil’s blade proceeded to slowly cut through the string keeping the Perfect Amulet together, intending to cut it off alongside the Rabbit’s head as well should he not provide a good excuse otherwise. 

But the White Rabbit remained composed, smiling as he pressed a finger against Yamato, pushing it away as blood trickled down his pristine gloves. “Your arrogance knows no bounds, just like your brother. You think your blood alone is enough to activate the ritual.” Regardless of the imminent threat, he openly mocked the older twin as he approached him. “Poor little Vergil, blinded by his desire to be strong like daddy that he can’t see the whole picture.” 

“You can kill me if you want, but you’re destroying the only way to acquire what you wanted.” Pulling away, the Rabbit slowly stepped around the table and onto the broken windows. “You’re not the only spawn of the devil. It takes both brothers to destroy the barrier. We need Dante’s blood, whether you want it or not.” Snapping at Vergil, the White Rabbit’s eyes glowed even brighter from the fading sunset. Realizing that he wasn’t being… polite to his collaborator, the Rabbit smiles. “We can’t make mistakes, not when we’re this far.” Reattaching the Force Edge at his back, he started walking away, past the fuming older twin. “We’ll get your brother to the rendezvous point, spill a bit of his’ and yours’ blood, open the gate, and voila. You’ll be the King of Hell should you want to.”

“I could take care of my brother much faster than you and your lackeys could ever do."

“...Be a good boy and stay put until we call for you.”

With that, the Rabbit opens his portal and departs, leaving an annoyed Vergil in his wake. What awaits the former on the other side is a crowd of demons waiting for his orders. A certain demonic Chevalier rounded the rowdy mob as they lined up for the White Rabbit. Fueled by his desire for vengeance, the Rabbit’s voice bellowed across his army. “Prepare yourselves!”

As the three individuals whom he baited into coming to him crossed his mind, a manic smile appeared on his face. “Our guests will be arriving soon.”

-

Back at the apartment complex, just after the Rabbit detonated the bombs and Dante hauled his companions out the window, Mary was the first to wake up within the three. Realizing that she’s encased in someone’s arms, seemingly having protected her from the fall, she pushed herself up and was about to smack them out of instinct should you not have cried in pain. Immediately, she was off you and back to her feet, watching how you rise and end on Dante's lap as he also woke up.

Watching the two of you, she can't help but be reminded of what she saw back then at the building. Despite your battered forms, the two of you were wielding demonic weapons and possessed supernatural capabilities respectively, yet when she looks at the both of you, she can't help but wonder if you're really as bad as she taught you were.

Especially back then, when she woke up in your arms and saw your face up close...

No! You told her that demons are capable of appealing to human emotions. You might be human and can still be saved, but she shouldn't feel any empathy for the half-breed with you. Once she's dealt with the Rabbit, she'll rescue you from whatever hypnosis the hellblood had you under. Reinforcements came earlier, she needs to call for back-up to apprehend Dante. Hopefully the others survived the explosion, or had the common sense to disobey her earlier—

But what met her was not the DARKCOM forces as she turns her heel. Piles of corpses scattered around the area as the building had caved in, with some of the soldiers being skewered by the metal rods or crushed to death inside their vehicles. But with the way limbs were thrown around, she suspects that they were brutalized before the explosion. The armored trucks barely survived, with their drivers dead from being stabbed and mutilated before they could even react. There was no one left to even give her a status report.

"Arkham..." Mary can hear you straining from behind her, voice filled with sympathy. She didn't respond immediately, worrying you and Dante, but the way her tone was uncharacteristically solemn. "He'll stack as many corpses as he needs to prop the door to Hell open."

Wordlessly, Mary took the surviving weapons from the corpses and loaded more ammo in her storage, ignoring the way two pairs of eyes bore into her in worry. Your arm is draped over Dante's shoulder, with him helping you move after the strain from earlier left you too weak to even walk on your own, as you watch her rummage through the debris and grab a large case. Both you and your partner are getting a bad feeling over Mary's actions, so Dante calls at her, "Where are you going?"

"To stop the Rabbit and beat little pellets of shit down his leg."

Dante frowns and walks up to her, eventually dragging you with him, before passing you to her...?? "No. I'm going alone. Take care of them." Mildly offended, you looked back at your partner as Mary held you by your waist, having dropped her luggage to keep you steady. She also dons a scowl, for a different reason, as she listens to Dante's explanation, holding you close as she grabs your hand and brings your arm over her shoulder for support.

"Before today, maybe I tried not to think about it." He looks at her, then you, then looks away in guilt. "Because if I had the idea of having anything in common with a demon..." His voice was laced with venom and disappointment as he struggled to form the next words. "When it was their kind who..."

Mary bit her lip, remembering her father at his statement. She, too, was related to a demon. Her father turned into one after falling into a deep obsession with it, and her life was destroyed because of it. She vowed to eradicate all of demonkind, even at the cost of her own life, if it means that no more children would have to lose their homes, if it means that no more deaths will have to occur because of those hellish creatures. Her grip on you tightens as her gaze falls on your face, having remembered the file you had on DARKCOM's database.

"But Sparda, he was different." Your eyes were focused on your partner, however. "Him being my father, I thought the demon inside me would be different too..." Dante looked at his hands and clenched them as the memory of the past hours' events rushed in his mind. The traffic incident, the plane crash, the fear and despair of losing you... It was all too much. Knowing that he was the son of a devil was already ridiculously taxing, but the thought of having to live a life without you was the one that set him off the edge. He already lost family, he can't lose you too. He doesn't know what he'll become if he does.

Seeing Dante like this made your head hang low. You never saw true demon form, but you know what you saw back in the plane. He is a demon. He is Sparda’s son. He’s the exact kind of existence that you kill for a living; the kind that you vowed to never forgive, not after what they did to you. You had your suspicions, but now that the truth was laid out in front of you, you can’t help but feel betrayed.

But if Sparda was capable of love… if Dante was genuine from the very beginning… Were you wrong about some things? …No!

“Then it came out. Turning into a demon showed me what my power really was like. It forced me to feel the rage and hatred that I desperately tried to bury deep inside.”

You remember the shapeshifter demon in the warehouse. The way the other demons tried befriending you. You remember how it was all a ruse. You remember the way that one-eyed demon took your form and killed your family—

“But my dad must’ve felt the same thing. And he found a way to fight it, to turn his power against the darkness it came from. Hell, he married mom and had us!”

—But then you remember Dante. That stupidly obnoxious, extroverted demon hunter who was attached to your hip. The boy you found in the alley, the boy you grew up with, the one who you worked with, that Dante who saved you countless times whom you also rescued from danger. If a demon is capable of human emotions… If Sparda was capable of love… 

Mary and kept arguing with Dante, with the former insisting that he should be the one to fight off the Rabbit due to his connection to his father, while the lieutenant shoots back that he’s just playing along the Rabbit’s plan. “My dad created the wall, and it was his amulet that mom gave me to keep safe! It’s my responsibility to stop the Rabbit from tearing it all to pieces and let all of Hell walk through!” 

Your earlier epiphany was cut short when their argument ended up with your body being moved around like a ragdoll. Lieutenant Arkham was gracious enough to keep you steady with how her hand remained on your hip, but she passed you back to Dante as their conversation dragged on. Before he could hand you back to stop her from leaving, you cut in the conversation. “Wait— you two could just not go!” 

They immediately snapped back, “No!” but you pull away from Dante’s arms before he could add any more. “He needs your blood.” You point at him, “And he needs to sacrifice you!” Swiveling at Mary, you meet her troubled expression. “What’s some lesser demons coming out of the portal? We’re demon hunters!” 

“Yeah, fuck that.” 

Realizing that something was wrong, your body instinctively moved towards her, scimitars barely materializing before Mary’s hands shot out and grabbed your wrists, pulling you behind her as she shot Dante on his knee. “Dante!” You cry out, body too exhausted to even break free from the lieutenant's grip. Before you knew it, she cuffed you and swept you off your feet, carrying you over her shoulder despite you struggling for her to stop, and got dropped inside a truck. 

“You shot my leg!” Mary did come back for your partner, who’s left flabbergasted at her actions. Due to the bullet being an anti-demon variant, adding to his earlier injuries, he wasn’t able to heal as fast as before. “Why would you shoot my leg?”

“As a courtesy.” Shooting his other leg, Lieutenant Arkham grabbed the back of his coat as she dragged him towards the same truck where you were laid down. “Otherwise, it would've been between your eyes.” But compared to her gentler methods with you, she looked for a momentum to throw Dante inside, sending him crashing to the wall.

“This isn’t about your dad, or playing safe.” Glaring at the two individuals she’s locking up, Mary’s expression turned into one of frustration and regret. “It’s about keeping all of humanity safe against all demons.” She shuts the door the moment Dante recovers, locking it up on his face. Despite her resolve, Mary found her hand lingering on the cool metal, feeling the faint vibrations of Dante trying to break it down. “The Rabbit has a vendetta against DARKCOM.”

“Which means it’s my fight.”

Pulling away, Mary glanced one last time at the truck keeping the two of you safe, before running out of the compound. 

“I’m going by myself.”