WARNING! PLEASE READ!

THIS FANFIC CONTAINS BITS OF SPOILERS OF THE LEAKED PROLOGUE.

HOWEVER, I AM NOT USING EVERY DETAIL FROM THE LEAK.

SO YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL WHICH DETAIL IS FROM THE LEAK AND WHICH DETAIL IS JUST SOMETHING I MADE UP FOR THE FANFIC.

NOT UNLESS YOU HAVE ACTUALLY WATCHED THE LEAK ITSELF.

THIS IS JUST MY OWN TAKE ON DEVIL MAY CRY 5 BASED ON THE TRAILERS/INFO RELEASED (with a mix of leaked details) WHILE WE WAIT FOR DMC 5 TO RELEASE.

Devil May Cry 5: Bloodlines

BY: TCOOKIES777

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

"-the staff here says that they haven't seen anything close to the sheer volume of casualties. Severely injured and frightened civilians are pouring into St. Gabriel's hospital at this moment. And we're told that most of the injuries are stab wounds aimed specifically towards the torso. Just a moment ago, we spoke to a doctor that has been on call since this evening when the patients arrived."

The camera cut to an older man wearing a scrub uniform that was once blue but now covered in layers of blood. Scarlet red smeared his hands with a dark coagulation coating the fingertips. The doctor's ebony skin glistened with sweat and blood-shot eyes were wide with shock and fear as he spoke. "There have been many complications. Every patient has suffered a copious loss of blood and we are currently low on O blood, which is the universal donor. Other cities are sending aid and resources as we speak. All of our surgeons have been called in to repair damaged tissues or organs but the wounds have been so severe. We have noticed extreme swelling around the injuries.. It's as if the assailant was.. was attempting to drain the victim's blood. We are.. Still not sure as to what could have caused such damage to any person. We've never seen any animal attack like this."

"Have there been any fatalities?" The reporter spoke into the microphone for a moment before offering it to the doctor.

"I-uh.. Ex-excuse me, please." The doctor gave a shaky smile as he slipped away from the camera view to respond to another urgent call.

"This is terrible.." Murmured a young, beautiful woman with a curtain of copper hair running down her back. She sat on the couch beside a handsome man about her age, letting him wrap an arm around her shoulder in comfort.

The man would have looked like any regular human being save for two defining features. His cropped hair was as pale as snow, matching the chill blue of his eyes. What was most noticeable was the abnormal appendage he had for a right arm, resting casually atop of the armchair. In place of human flesh was a layer of indigo scales that trailed from the man's upper arm down to the tips of his fingers. His palm and the back of his hand were of a thinner layer of translucent flesh that glowed a bright cerulean.

The arm of a demon.

Gentle, caramel eyes turned to the man with worry. "What sort of animal would attack a group of people like that, Nero?"

The young man flexed his demon arm, staring at it solemnly. "Kyrie.. I don't think it was an animal that attacked them."

Nero met Kyrie's concerned gaze and they both arrived to the same conclusion.

Demons.

"In Redgrave City?" Kyrie asked. Her sweet, lilting voice quivered in fear slightly.

She'd experienced her fair share of nightmares with demons several years ago back when they'd lived in Fortuna City. Scarecrows had repeatedly terrorized the isolated town of religious followers for years until a so-called Savior took the lead. It was the truth of Sanctus that had ultimately broke the Order of Sparda, of which Nero and Kyrie had been members of.

Nero himself hadn't been a devout follower like the others, but he sought to protect the town Kyrie cherished. Ever since Dante's arrival and the truth of the Order revealed, demons had been scarce in number and rare in attacks. Eventually, Nero had saved up enough earnings from his own Devil May Cry branch, and used the cash to buy one-way tickets off their home island. To start a fresh life with the one who mattered most to him.. They'd settled in a new house and Nero had been exuberant with Kyrie's reaction to moving.

The moment she stepped through the threshold of their new home, her face had brightened inexplicably. Fortuna was their home.. but it had stopped being their home once the Order was revealed to be nothing but a group of hypocrites and liars. Remaining Order fanatics were too scared to touch Nero, but that didn't stop them from going after Kyrie, who was too kind and pure to defend her pride. Everyone in town knew Kyrie was Nero's lover, but the Order fanatics only saw her as the lover of a demon. And so they would spit in her direction and call her promiscuous slurs. "Whore" was the most popular insult. They believed she'd been seduced by the devil prince himself, Nero. While distasteful, Nero also thought it was ironic, considering how Sparda-the god they'd so revered-had loved a human. He doubted those fanatics would have dared to call Sparda's lover a whore.

Kyrie simply smiled it off while Nero would fume at anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way. Sometimes, his anger would get the best of him and Kyrie would grab his demon arm and gently rub the scaled knuckles to calm him down, eliciting that familiar golden glow of his arm.

'They just don't understand.' Kyrie had once said to him. It had taken a while for Nero to see that she was right; that those fanatics were nothing more than a bunch of pitiful souls, blinded by their own arrogance and held back by ignorance at the same time.

Thankfully, Redgrave City was modern and more liberal compared to the strict, conservative Fortuna City where everyone knew everyone's business and shamed those who did not abide. Although they had chosen to live at the Red Grave's borders, away from the bustling heart of the city life, here, they could live peacefully without fear of their neighbor knowing their activities. Here, Kyrie was free to go out without having insults spit her way. She could take a walk to her favorite little coffee shop where Nero and her had their first date together. He could buy anniversary flowers without the shopkeeper ogling his arm. They could breathe without drawing the scrutiny and judgement of anyone. In Redgrave City, people minded their own business and left the young couple to their own devices.

It was a breath of fresh air that the two young lovers deserved..

And now the stench of demons was polluting that fresh air.

"It's got to be demons." Nero said, staring at the news anchor on the T.V. His Devil Bringer hummed faintly, as if in confirmation.

Ever since the defeat of Sanctus and the closure of the Hell Gates, his arm had gradually developed over time. Red scales had deepened into a burgundy until darkening into an inky sapphire. In another time, Nero would have kept that arm bandaged and hidden from sight. Now, all that bothered him was the fact that his arm hadn't glowed since the final fight with Sanctus. Not even the demons that had helped pay off the house's mortgage had been powerful enough to warrant a single throb of the demon appendage. Not that Nero minded much. The easier the job, the quicker he could return home. And that meant more free time to himself together with Kyrie.

"Those poor people…" Kyrie tightened a hand over her chest, the gold band on her ring finger glinting under the lamplight. She turned to Nero, doe brown eyes glittering with a mix of hope and worry. "You're going, aren't you?"

It was more of a statement than a question, what with both of them knowing the answer.

"Somebody has to." Nero looked away, unable to meet her gaze for too long. It made him unhappy to see her in any state but happiness. Worse, when he was the cause. His human hand grabbed the remote, thumb jabbing at the button repeatedly, flipping through news channels to find that cooking show Kyrie was so invested in.

A slender hand grasped his, forcing him to lower the controller back down on his lap. Kyrie cupped his cheek, guiding Nero's face to return to hers. Soft fingers danced across his chiseled jawline, rubbing at the bit of stubble he'd yet to take care of. Slowly, Nero took her hand, pressing the smooth palm against his lips until her pulse relaxed somewhat. "Dante… isn't coming back, Kyrie. Whatever happened to the old man… I'm the only one who can do this."

Shortly after moving into Red Grave City, Nero had tried to contact Dante. It had been mostly Kyrie's idea to invite the seasoned devil hunter for a visit. At least to thank him for the business sign. Several years passed without a single reply, even as Nero's branch boomed with success. Perhaps the son of Sparda had retired. Or-and the idea nagged at the back of Nero's mind for years, even till this day-the devil hunter had left for a mission of which he would never return from.

"Those people need you. I know." Kyrie nodded, relinquishing a smile to the young warrior. She stood up after a quick caress of his cheek. "I'll call Nico then."

"Tell her to bring the equipment." Nero added, following Kyrie into the kitchen to do the dishes as she fixed the place. "We'll finish the work on the car tomorrow. Need to get that alternator checked. We'll leave tomorrow night."

With a nod, Kyrie grabbed the landline. Dialed little beeps and the clanking of dishes filled the quiet house for a moment. Finally, a Southern-accented voice answered the phone with a gruff, "Hello?"

Nero scrubbed a stubborn spot on the pot with determination as he listened to Kyrie speak softly into the phone, explaining the situation and how the schedule would have to be moved up in advance.

It seemed the demon attacks were growing each night. The more victims, the stronger the demons became. If the reports were true, then the demons were practically harvesting humans for their blood. An evacuation of the hub city had already commenced with most people fleeing to the borders for shelter. Strike teams were being sent into the heart of the city but any single member had yet to return alive.

"I guess I'll pack food for your trip?" Kyrie finished the call with a sigh. "I was planning to cook meals for the relief effort and visit the orphanages anyway."

"You might have to double the servings. Nico likes to steal some of my share." Smirking, Nero glanced back to find Kyrie smiling wryly in return. "As soon as I find out what's up, I'll give you a call."

Shortly after Nero had set up shop, it had become a thing to call Kyrie every chance he had while out on a mission. Not just to ease Kyrie's worries, but also to give Nero a break and just listen to her voice. So affectionate and tender, like a gentle breeze that whistled in your ear whenever you walked a bit fast. He didn't socialise with many people, especially while out on a mission-unless it was necessary. The most conversation he made while on a mission-besides with Nico-were with demons who had enough intelligence to be able to belch out threats of death and endless torture. Not exactly an ideal conversation starter.

"You don't have to if you're too busy, Nero."

"Nah, you know I want to. Listening to those demons screech about how they're going to drag me to hell always gives me a headache. And the big guys like to run their mouths off! Their egos match their size. They make heavy metal sound like church music. Calling you is my only reprieve from all that cacophony."

"Maybe I should have gotten you some ear plugs rather than that necklace." Kyrie suggested, full mouth tilting up at the corner as she eyed the pendant lying against his sternum.

"Hey, this is my good luck charm!" Nero protested.

He wasn't one to put his faith in objects or people, but the necklace was a gift from Kyrie that Nero cherished more than she knew. Sometimes, a mission would run afoul or extend for weeks rather than days. Yet, the necklace was always there to remind Nero of what he had to come home to-and of whom awaited him.

"I suppose you wouldn't need ear plugs." Kyrie's smile widened. "Not when you love to hear Red Queen purr in your hands."

"Red Queen can't beat the sound of your voice, Kyrie."

The young devil hunter's lover was quiet for a long moment before murmuring, "I just… have a bad feeling about this, Nero."

The demon appendage gripping the pink sponge continued humming in agreement. Nero sighed, "Me too, Kyrie."

.

.

.

.

.

"Told ya Morrison wouldn't be able to meet up." Nico spoke from beneath the belly of the business van, wrench in hand and creeper at her back. "Says he's gotta meet with another client."

"What other client could he have?" Nero stood, leaning over the propped hood of the vehicle, making sure all the parts were good to go. After dinner, they'd be departing for the sites of the demon attacks. Nero had hoped to get in touch with Morrison for more information. The investigator had better networking skills than the devil hunter and could hook Nero up with best kind of reconnaissance. All it took was a wad of cash and a bag of Kyrie's homemade chocolate chip cookies (the kind that melted in your mouth). If not, they might have no choice but to pull some info from the security force (the city's poor attempt to neutralize the building rate of demon attacks).

"Beats me." Nico grunted out of view. "Betcha he's got a date."

"Morrison." Nero paused, resting an elbow on the edge to peer over at his partner. "On a date? While people are getting farmed by demons?"

"Hey," The creeper's wheels squeaked until Nico's freckled face appeared. "You won the girl while your home city was in the middle of its own apocalypse. Enjoyed that victory kiss at the end, did ya?"

Nero returned his attention to the van's engine, knowing Nico was grinning at him. How she'd pried the story out of Kyrie, Nero could easily guess. "Did he give a name?"

The Southern Belle let out a low whistle. "Don't make the missus jealous now. Yeah, the name's Becky. Becky with the real pretty hair-no, 'course he didn't give a name! But I saw a bit o' wrinkled parchment tucked in his front pocket. Think there was a letter V there but I ain't sure."

"V…" Nero muttered. His chest tightened with disappointment but, what had he expected? Even Morrison hadn't been in contact with Dante, reaffirming Nero's suspicions of his former ally's fate. Perhaps the demon hunter had bit off more than he could chew. A shame….

"All right, this baby's ready to mow down some demons tonight." Nico rolled out, rubbing at her nose and smearing more grease across her face. Kyrie would make sure the both of them washed up properly before sitting down at the dinner table.

"Y'know, I'm starting to think that accident last time was no accident, what with the way you drive."

"Business calls," Nico said, "and I answer. If you'd rather I endure the traffic on the way to you, then suit yourself. It ain't my fault Kyrie had to fix you up after that motorcycle stunt you pulled-bet you enjoyed the missus playing doctor with you though."

Before Nero could come up with a retort, Kyrie's voice echoed from the top of the stairs, "Dinner's ready, go ahead and wash up!"

"Coming!" Nero answered instead, mouth watering at the delectable scent of herbs and sauce wafting into the garage.

"I'm gonna go have a dinner date with your wife now." Nico rolled back out with a smirk.

"As I recall," Nero scratched the back of his head, pretending to think, "it's me who comes home to Kyrie after a long day of work."

Chuckling, Nico wiped the inky grease off her hands with a rag before throwing it at the devil hunter who caught it with a claw without looking. "By the way, you might wanna check the spark plug. Needs to be replaced."

"Still doubt Morrison's got a date!" Nero shouted as the craftswoman's worn boots thumped on the staircase.

"Then I wonder how you ever got with Kyrie!" She shouted back.

Shaking his head, Nero drew his focus to the car parts before him. The sun was already going down, casting its dying light into the garage and giving him just enough to study the spark plug Nico had mentioned.

"What?" Nero muttered, hearing Nico's steps subside on her way for a hot, delicious meal of beef stroganoff. Strange, he was sure the spark plug had already been re-ah, damn that Nico. Of course she would try to get a head start for the dinner table. It was easier to sneak in a larger serving that way. Well, didn't matter; Kyrie always cooked a feast. A habit she'd developed during her time aiding orphanages and shelters.

Just as he was about to close the car hood, the hairs on the back of his neck pricked up. Sensing a presence nearby, Nero peered over his shoulder, squinting at the partially open garage door where the setting sunlight peeked through, pouring into the garage space. On the other side of the garage door, a pair of legs blocked a bit of the fiery spray of light, cutting twin paths of darkness against the floor. Nero wasn't sure if the pants were supposed to be black or if they were stained with dirt, but he was sure the stranger wasn't living so comfortably if he or she was dressed in such a poor state.

"You need something?" Using the towel Nico had thrown earlier, Nero wiped his hands and stepped off the stool. "Not a car shop, but I got some tools if you need to borrow?"

The stranger remained silent and still.

Grabbing the toolbox by a wheel, Nero began returning the tools Nico had left out in her hurry to get her share of food. The clink of metal filled the silence as Nero awaited the stranger's answer. Had the person overheard their conversation? Kyrie often attended homeless shelters with supplies of fresh meals. Maybe someone had followed her back? Nero had learned long ago that Kyrie tended to attract many secret admirers of all backgrounds, much to his displeasure. Still, if the stranger was in need of help, it wouldn't be on Nero's good conscience to ignore the person.

"What is it? You hungry?" Nero asked, knowing Kyrie would have instantly invited the stranger in for a meal. He knew their neighbors in the city would never dare to let a stranger in their house. Good thing for Kyrie, she had Nero. And no human would dare to mess with the seasoned devil hunter who bore the power of a renowned bloodline, let alone take advantage of his lover. "My wife cooks the best meals you'll ever have in your life, pal, trust me. Kyrie made beef stroganoff for dinner. You ever tried that?."

Still no response.

Did the guy not smell the glorious aroma filling the house? No sane person with an appetite could resist that.

"Can't guarantee dessert though. The strawberry sundae ice cream is Kyrie's." Nero knelt down to lock the toolbox, figuring the stranger would have spoken up earlier if he did need the stuff. "She's been craving ice cream a lot lately, so try not to take it to heart if she doesn't offer any. We're on the last tub too, so we gotta re.. stock.. soon…."

Nero trailed off when a shadow rose across the toolbox, stretching ahead of him from behind. A strong shiver of discomfort ran down his back and he instantly stood up, pivoting to face the hooded figure now just within an arm's reach.

Suddenly, the Devil Bringer throbbed sharply, like a heartbeat pounding back to life, and he flicked his eyes to his arm, sucking in a sharp breath at the jarring sensation. It'd been years since he'd last felt like this, but Nero could never forget the warning that each burning throb carried. And as soon as the cerulean skin of his Devil Bringer lit up like a flare, Nero flicked his attention back to the man covered in rags.

This man….

"You're a demon." Nero breathed, narrowing his eyes.

A powerful demon at that. Nero had been so relaxed in the space of his own home that he hadn't sensed the tension rolling off the man in question until now. Just the faintest whiff of sulfur invaded the homely smell of food. Instinctively, his body tensed up, every nerve alight with fire, hands beginning to ball into fists for a fight-

"Nero," Kyrie's sweet, teasing voice came from the doorway behind him, "Nico is going to start stealing off your plate if you don't co-"

"KYRIE," Nero shouted, turning to his lover and holding a hand up to stop her from coming any closer, "GET BACK INSIDE, NOW!"

He saw her amber eyes widen just as a hand wrapped tightly around his scaly arm. The room swirled a dizzying 360 degrees as Nero felt his body be lift from the ground by the bone of his arm. Canisters and storage boxes were crushed by his weight once he slammed against a metal shelf, forcing a loud grunt from him. His right arm felt a bit lighter when Nero fell face first onto the smooth coating of the garage floor, supplies tumbling around him.

His arm was throbbing again, more insistently like a painful itch he couldn't scratch. Peering up, Nero squinted once more at the figure, trying to get a look at the face beneath the hood. Before he could identify the attacker, something bright blue glowed at the corner of his eye and Nero turned his focus to the demon appendage the man now held. His mind blanked with shock at the recognition. Somewhere between his throat and chest, his breath remained stuck as Nero turned his head inch by agonizing inch to find his right arm only partially there, and the entire Devil Bringer gone.

The wrongful sight of his arm missing seemed to finally wake him up and suddenly burning needles of pain stabbed at the gorey stump of his limb, ripping out a distressed cry from Nero's lips as he gripped what remained of his arm. It was like a fire poker had been used to prod and grind where his arm had been ripped off, stoking spikes of excruciating pain. Hot blood spurted out from the severed arteries, staining the white shards of ivory bone peeking out between shredded flesh and muscle. The red arced away from his body, spilling onto the grey, polished floor of the garage to form a ruby pool that glistened beneath the last few rays of sun.

"This belongs to me." A raspy voice croaked out, mixing in with Nero's screams. The cloaked figure turned his back on the man still writhing in a pool of his own blood.

Nero could barely see through the glare of the light and dark haze of pain, watching as his own Devil Bringer transformed into Yamato in a wink of light.

"The hell.. My arm belongs to you…" Nero gritted, sweeping his human hand across the hot, sticky blood to drag himself towards the thief. "Give.. that… back!"

"I need this power." The man mumbled more quietly this time, unsheathing the sword to reveal the polished long blade kept within. There was a high-pitched whine of the blade slicing through the air before a large 'woosh!' followed. A dark space had ripped open in the middle of the garage.

A portal.

His tunnel vision darkening, Nero could do nothing but watch as the stranger stepped forward to disappear into the void he'd conjured with a few flicks of Yamato.

"Son of a.. bi…. sshhh..."

It's kind of difficult to write Nico when you've hardly witnessed any characterization and barely know her. Hope you enjoyed this intro to the story!