"I… I don't know." Haruto mumbled out as his left thumb gently stroked the aged painting in his hand. He blinked back the tears that welled in his eyes and placed the painting back in its protective casing made of papyrus. "I cannot begin to explain."
Sirzechs continued to stare at him as if he were looking past his physical body and into the crystalline depths of his soul. Those sea foam green eyes pierced the silver veil, and Haruto could see the sadness lurking behind those conflicted eyes.
"Well… I am sorry for bothering you with this." The Devil eventually relented and sighed deeply, the tension in his shoulders seemingly melting, along with his anger. In its place was a sort of dejected feeling, a melancholy that felt as if it had been lurking there all along.
Haruto did not know what to say, so he said nothing. The two stood there in silence for quite a while, listening to the cheerful banter and beautiful music that wafted gently through the night air. The night sky was more beautiful than on the surface, Haruto noticed, but maybe it was that majestic shade of deep, deep purple that stained his opinion.
"You know more than you let on." Haruto idly noticed, tilting his head to stare at the crimson Satan with heavy eyes, "What am I missing?"
A knowing look was sent his way before Sirzechs tapped his jacket where the envelope was tucked away.
"You may not remember the World you left behind, but the World remembers you… Thanatos."
Tears spilled from blue eyes as a small figure with blond hair pulled back into two drill-like tails on either side of her head stared downwards at her brother, bathed in false moonlight. She shuddered as she studied the pale figure resting fitfully under sheets of white, heavy sweat pouring from his face as if his internal temperatures were too much for him to take. The tears would fall onto the figure before hissing and steaming away, just as his body fluids were beginning to.
His flesh was blackened in places and beginning to rot in others. The doctors that had tended to him stated there was nothing they could do, as the energy from the Pawns attack was eating away at his own, preventing its ability to regenerate from the wounds.
She continued to cry as she placed her hands in a praying position before kneeling over the sleeping figure, and she bowed her head. She prayed to any God, Goddess or Divinity to hear her prayers, but nobody came.
A few moments after kneeling, she rose with a devastated expression on her face. A small tap on the door barring entrance to the room rang out, causing her to wipe her tears and brush her hands across her dress.
"You may enter." Came her voice, in flux from the emotions she felt roaring through her. The door opened slowly, and a figure that looked strikingly similar to the man in the bed stepped through.
"You are missing the party entirely…" The concern in the figure's voice was nearly palpable, "Come… He has been spotted in attendance."
She nodded her head and a blank visage quickly settled over her face, hiding away the pain, sorrow and fear she was feeling.
A single flash of reddish orange light later, and she departed from the wounded figure. She did not see him twitch his hand in their direction as they disappeared.
Haruto walked back to the celebration side by side with Sirzechs, both with conflicted looks on their faces as they drew closer and closer. He schooled his face into its usual apathetic mask and stuffed his hands in his pants pocket before scanning the room once more upon his reentry.
He spotted Sitri Sona and her group of Student Council members in the crowd within the first few seconds due to being familiar with their faces and energy, though he could not admit to recognizing any other person. It was to be expected, he supposed, but it was still discomforting to be in such a crowded room with Supernatural beings, knowing that any one of them could turn their ire on him at any moment.
The warning he received from Sirzechs was much appreciated, as it let him know to stay on his guard. He was going to make his way to Bennia and Asia to warn them to also remain vigilant before he was cut off by Rias Gremory, the very person the nights festivities were thrown for.
"There you are! I was worried my brother was going to keep you all night, Haruto!" She called out, causing him to pause in his forward path to his "Servants" as they called themselves. He shrugged his shoulders and turned to face her fully, doing his best to forget his troubled thoughts to at least pretend to enjoy the rest of the night.
"Hello, Rias. Congratulations on your victory, by the way." Haruto greeted back, taking notice of the black dress she wore with pride. She was beautiful, he had to admit, but spoiled. Very spoiled. He could tell that the dress was probably worth its weight in silver, and the jewels she wore could buy a city. It suited her.
"Thank you, very much!" Rias smiled, her face threatening to split in two when she reached out. "Will you share a dance with me? Please?"
He nodded shallowly before allowing the redhead to guide him towards the middle of the room, and the watching eyes followed their every movement. It was almost embarrassing, but he pushed passed it and hoped that he could remember how to not make a fool of himself.
It was to be expected, he supposed, for the "guest of honor" and the star of the party to be watched so scrupulously. Any nervousness disappeared when the song changed to a classical piece he vividly recognized.
"You know, many people are talking about you, Haruto." Rias admitted as the two embraced one another not unlike lovers, Haruto's hand wrapped around her waist and his hand placed in hers. She held lightly to his shoulder and took the lead of the first dance.
"Let them talk. They know nothing about me." He murmured back, his voice easily carrying over the music despite its low tone. It held a chilling effect, like the sound of crystalline snow falling from the branches of dormant trees. He was not a member of "High Society", whether Human or Devil. Haruto knew that he was being spoken about frequently by those present in the halls, he could hear them very well and he knew that his face would become well known soon enough.
"They think you look great." He could also tell she was inferring that she, too, thought he looked great. The second pair of sea foam green eyes stared into red that night, though hers reflected happiness more so than somberness. He could see the confusion and the pain she hid skillfully. He had a feeling it was related in some fashion to her Pawn and something he did, though whether it was related to his perversions or not was a toss up.
"I thank them for their compliments."
The two enjoyed a relaxed silence between the two as they twirled in between the other couples, each lost in their own thoughts. He could tell the redhead was conflicted, but it was not his place to voice his thoughts and they both knew it. Instead, he distracted her with his skill in the waltz, taught to him by another gorgeous redhead he left behind.
He considered it a moment of mourning as he thought of her.