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The devil made his way to him at last, long, red hair draped regally over his shoulders.
"Walk with me."
It was not a command. It was a request. An invitation between equals.
Just had he sensed his power, so had he in return.
He nodded. From the way Rias sent worried glances at him as the two of them left, he guessed that the man's presence was not entirely expected.
The door closed behind them with a muted click, and they were in the empty hallway, absent of all life except for them. The devil's long legs carried him at a faster gait, and he had to speed up his own pace to keep up.
"Rias has told me about you," Sirzechs began conversationally, "She has written many letters to me regarding you and your ability to summon… what were they called again? Personas?"
He frowned. The man seemed to know what he was thinking and smiled.
"I can assure you Rias has told no one else. She was even hesitant in telling me, but I have my ways of prying. And that is the issue, isn't it? Manifestations of mythological figures. An Evil Dragon. And now this."
Sirzechs gestured at him, but the motion was neither accusing nor recriminatory.
"I do not believe I know which devil's power is residing within you," the man tilted his head to regard him, "and I do not believe you would tell me if I asked."
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and did not reply. His companion took his silence in stride, and did not press.
"It is strange," Sirzechs finally said, "for when my sister sent me her letters, they were filled with details about how you continued to refuse her offers of peerage. And yet, on the eve of her Rating Game, here you stand. Why the sudden change?"
He smiled. The purpose of the walk became clear. Not an interrogation as he first suspected. Just an elder brother concerned for his younger sibling.
Devils, not demons. The presence within him sneered further.
"My sister mentioned that she looked like someone you cared for. Is that the reason?"
She was not Mitsuru. She would never be Mitsuru. The resemblance had always only been passing.
He shook his head. Sirzechs nodded.
"I am sorry, by the way," the man's words and gaze were sincere, "No one should have to lose a loved one at your age."
His lips twitched. A few months ago, if someone had told him he would one day have the sympathy of a devil, he would have thought him mad. But then again, he never expected he would sympathize with one either.
"Was it her plight that moved you?" Sirzechs asked, "This whole marriage business was not my idea, you know. I do not wish to impose anything on Rias that she does not wish for herself. The head of the Phenex house asked my father for this favor, and he agreed," a small frown creased the devil's handsome features, "You will not find a more gentler, kinder, and caring man than my father, but even he can be a bit old-fashioned at times."
Her plight had influenced him, but it was not the main reason.
"What was it then?"
Annoyance flickered, fueled by a presence not his own. He turned to face him, and realized just how tall the man was when compared to him.
"You ask many questions."
Sirzechs chuckled.
"Forgive an older brother for asking the human who turned into a devil without the use of rituals or being resurrected what his intentions are to his sister."
He did have a point there.
"Rias," he sighed, "She is not a bad person."
Her brother glanced at him. There was approval tinged in his gaze.
"No," the man smiled, "she is not," and then he paused thoughtfully, "Her Knight. Kiba. She found him dying in the snow. So many of our kind would have left the boy there to his fate. Rias resurrected him and brought him back to our manor. I still remember my father being particularly aggrieved by that. We were all puzzled by her actions. We didn't know Kiba would eventually be the wielder of Sword Birth at the time, and to us, he was just a normal human boy and unworthy of the piece that Rias gifted him. And then he manifested the ability to use demon swords, and all our complaints became rather empty, as you can imagine. I do not believe Rias has ever let us live that one down."
If those words were meant to change his opinion of her, they failed. They merely reinforced that he had made the right choice.
"No," the devil said again, "she is not a bad person. They are all not bad people. Not even Riser."
He raised an eyebrow.
"While I do not know which devil lingers within you," Sirzechs explained, "I do sense it is rather vengeful. Do try and not to hurt him too badly. Riser is not a bad person at heart, even if he is a bit arrogant, a bit cocky, a bit lecherous, and a bit conceited."
"Those are not exactly good traits," he pointed out.
"Indeed," the man nodded, "Which is why I will not mind at all if said person loses his chance to take my sister's hand in marriage. Just don't make him lose too badly. The pride of a devil is sometimes more important than his greed," Sirzechs tilted his head and smiled at him, "Sometimes."
They walked in silence for a while, and he discovered he rather enjoyed the tranquility that had settled between the two of them.
"I have the impression that my sister is fond of you," and just like that the tranquility vanished. A perturbed expression found its way onto his face. His companion noticed, and chuckled, "Yes. The last few letters she sent me were rather specific, and while they didn't contain anything about that particular subject per say, I have a feeling that she is glad to have you in her peerage not only because of your strength but also for a different reason entirely," Sirzechs tapped a finger lightly against the side of his head, "Call it a brother's intuition."
He really had no idea what to say to that.
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