Angels May Cry

Training

***Warning***

Chapter may contain graphic violence, depictions of explicit sexual scenes, nudity, and vulgar language. Please be advised.

Chapter 12: Training

5 April 2015

Dante

A deep chuckle rumble from my chest from where I lay on the ground, shirtless in the afternoon spring sunshine. Nero and Vergil had just finished sparring, the young hunter barely breaking a sweat as he kicked his fathers ass yet again. Vergil just glowered, sitting down next to Yamato and throwing a bottle of water at my head.

"And just what is so funny?" My twin asked.

"The fact that you drag your kid on his training, and he still beats you seven times out of ten." I laughed.

"You forget he made you need a break ten minutes in." Vergil countered.

"You both are just getting old." A feminine voice called, making us all look towards the back door of the shop.

Lady stood in the doorway, tilting her head in that playful manner she always had. Her bi-colored eyes watched us as we all basked in the sun. I sat up, cocking my head to the side.

"I assume the girls are with you or at home with Trish." I said.

"They're here. Well... Two of them are. Sage was headed to India for a mission. Azrael picked her up before we left." Lady confirmed. "I'm heading home for a bit so they're here with you three."

I nodded and looked to Nero. "Guess you're gonna be a grouch for a few days."

"Shut up old man." Nero grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

I chuckled again as Lady stepped aside and Noelle and Alexis stepped out. Vergil tensed and I rolled my eyes at him. He had been avoiding the blonde again, making her moody and intolerable. I hadn't been much better, avoiding being alone with Noelle as much as possible. But the warmer weather and melted snow meant we had to start training the angels. Things had been too quiet lately and the threat of the Fallen had hung like a dark cloud over the girls. Alexis had been itching to get out of the house more now that Noelle was healing.

"Ladies." I said in acknowledgment.

"Noelle is cleared to start working again. So it's time to start training her. I worked with Raphael all morning so I'm resting the rest of the day." The blonde said, clearly not here to work judging by the book in her hand and the sundress she wore.

Noelle sighed as she watched her friend and Lady go back inside. Vergil shook his head, earning a wry look from the brunette. Nero was the first to walk over to Noelle, giving her a fist bump in greeting.

"So... All cleared to train again. Must feel nice."

"Yeah. I still have a lot of work to do with my wings. But I can hold them up again and my balance is getting better." She said.

"Small improvements are still improvement." Nero said. "I guess we gotta start training then."

Noelle nodded as Nero grabbed his black t-shirt and put it on, the tight fabric stretching thin over his upper body. "You probably should just start sparring to get a feel for fighting one at a time before we toss you in with the old man and my dad."

"I agree," I chimed in, "Sparring with Nero will also help me see what you can and can't do against someone like us. See what needs improvement most."

I glanced over as Vergil stood, putting his own shirt on before heading inside. I frowned at him but refocused on the brunette who was now holding her katana. Noelle tied her hair back as her wings formed. They hovered a foot or so off the ground, unlike her sisters who still could hold their wings up against their backs. Noelle seemed to struggle to hold them up any higher, but her pride would not let them touch the ground.