DISCLAIMER: DxD doesn't belong to me. All rights to Ishibumi Ichiei and its respective magazines.

'So, that failure left home? Well, who cares about him, anyway? We can finally stop pretending to care about that waste of space. Honestly, I'm glad he decided to leave or else I might've killed him myself.'

'Father, he even wrote a letter. That's hysterical! I can barely read those scribbles, and to think he wonders we would mind his reasoning... It's almost laughable! Grayfia, be a dear and burn this piece of paper, it's tainted with his touch.'

'Now we can focus all of our attention to Rias, who never disappointed us. We should've done that from the start, so he could've left sooner. I'm sorry Rias, to make you share our attention with that scum of a brother.'

'It's okay, mother. Just hearing about that piece of rubbish leaving fills me with delight for the day. Hey, let's burn his belongings and pretend he never existed! I don't think even the commoners would want something from him!'

'Uncle Alice... Was truly pathetic.'

'Indeed. Pfff... Hahahah...!'

'HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH...!'

...

Alice shot his eyes open, his mind jumping off from a bad dream and awakening his body in the meantime. His eyes twitch, and he feels hot moist trails down them, making him reach a hand for them to see he was crying. He was having... A nightmare? No, it was more like a vision of what was truly happening in the Gremory castle. All those people, his family, his servants, they could finally stop pretending and celebrate his departure, as he would no longer tarnish the good name of the Gremory, nor waste their time or effort in a lost cause. A bitter smile draws in his lips.

For that, he was rather content, maybe that was the first time ever that he made his dear family laugh, even if he wasn't there anymore.

The scenario now is completely different from the Underworld. The sky was in a radiant blue with a few clouds decorating that sunny place, the soft rustling of the leaves from the nearby trees against the cold winds would grace his ears with a soothing sound, and the soft grass he was using as a laisure spot would tickle his back and legs as he regains his strengths.

So, that was the human world. The Sun indeed was a bit harsh on his demonic skin, but after a few days since he left home, he grew accostumated with the king aster, so much that the sunlights would tickle and somehow fill him with warmth and energy, although extended exposure would leave him a bit lightheaded from time to time.

He didn't know exactly where he was, but he made sure to be teleported to some European country since not only the eastern side of the human world had a pretty large devil population, his dear sister Rias loved Japan and the Gremory had a big influence over certain areas there, such as Kuoh town. He didn't want to bump into her, even accidentally, so the only course of action was to choose a different place. He wasn't that stupid...

"I wonder how Rias is doing... How much has been since I left home? Two weeks? She's probably started her last year of highschool..." Alice wondered, his eyes getting caught by the small pinhole spots from a nearby tree as he would see the dancing leaves protecting him from the Sun. There he is again, thinking about them. Rias... She started her last year of highschool, and in a few months or so, she would graduate. Alice wished he could be there eventually, to see her get her diploma and start a brand new phase in her wonderful life, but then he imagined that she wouldn't appreciate him being there, in one of the most important moments of her life... She wouldn't appreciate him being anywhere near her at all. "Sister, I wish you the best. It's not much coming from me, but I hope you're happy..."

And drying his last drops of tears, Alice stood up from his spot and picked his sword to restart his training. Holding his sword up, adopting a fighting stance against the nothingness forward, he swings the blade while trying to retain composure. Katta, stances, as his ex-master of the Blade Souji Okita would call them. Before one could use a sword for defense and attack, they must first use them as one would use a member or an organ, so to speak. To not see the sword as a weapon, but as an extension of one's body, as a single unit, only then one could start the way of the sword and develop as a warrior.

Alice could never grasp such concept, and as such, his grip on his blade was always weak, faltering, confusing. A single swing would knock the sword off his hands with such force he would almost snap a finger or two, and as a result, master Okita could never teach him proper techniques. No matter how much he tried, he could never accomplish the basics, always stuck doing kattas and swing exercises instead.

"54... 55... 56... Fifty... Fifty-seven... F-Fifty-e-eight...!" And midway his 100-swing warmup, Alice could already feel himself losing strength, his arm muscles twitching and spasming and his breathing starting to lose tempo. Before he could even reach sixty swings, the red-haired lad stopped and lowered his stance to catch his breath, sweat running down his forehead and feeling himself choking on his own saliva, coughing a bit. Using his sword as a clutch, he kept wondering about his own performance, bitterly remembering about how he would fare in his training. "Heheh... Master Okita would be lecturing me by now... Huff, huff... While spanking my behind with his wooden sword(boken)..."

He takes a deep breath, reminiscing his time with his swordsmanship master, another japanese figure his older brother chose as his trustworthy Knight Piece. During training, he was strict, harsh, stern and very professional, but outside of it, he was laidback, kind, forgiving, a nice figure to be around. Alice liked him a lot, and he was the one who kickstarted Rias' obsession with Japan in the first place. He also remembers a fellow student of master Okita, Yuuto Kiba, a young man his sister recruited as her own knight. Unlike Alice, he was a master in the arts of the sword, faster than the eyes can see, and even master Okita admitted that in few years, that blond knight would surpass him in terms of swordsmanship. He was also calm, collected and very kind, even to someone like Alice. While Master Okita would lecture and punish him, his sister's knight would try to cheer him up, encourage him to move forward and share some advices plus some snacks with him. Alice liked him a lot too...

They were probably also pretending to tolerate him. A student that doesn't get anywhere is nothing but a disgrace for a teacher, specially a master swordsman like Okita. And Kiba probably just wanted to be polite.

"Train until you have nothing but calluses in your hands... Train until your knuckles bleed and swinging your blade becomes a second nature... Train until you and your blade become one... Only then, you can call yourself a swordsman..." With his eyes closed, Alice recited that small mantra master Okita would say during their training, a boost of encouragement and discipline. To call oneself a swordsman, the one that follows the path of the blade... Not him, of course. A small nervous chuckle escapes Alice's lips. "Hahah... Even if I train until I have nothing but calluses in my hands and my knuckles bleed, to call myself a swordsman then would be an insult to anyone who ever carried a sword... Hahah..."

After that small reverie through happier moments, Alice resumed his training, determined to finish at least his basic 100-swings warmup, he was halfway through it anyway. Recomposing himself, adopting a better stance, he continued with it, and once he finished the 100th swing, he turns to a nearby tree and swings his blade against it, leaving rather shallow cuts in its body. The tree was sturdy and thick, and his offense against it was superficial at best, still he smiled to himself.

"If it were master Okita, he would've cut this one and half of the forest with that swing." He wonders to himself, a few leaves falling onto his head and shoulders. Truly, his master was an amazing and incredible person, his talents wasted on teaching a failure like him. Perhaps with him not around anymore, Kiba would receive exclusive training from the samurai, that would be nice.

...

'See? Everybody is better off without you. Your family, your servants, your masters, even people you barely know gain with you out of their lives. Maybe if you were smart enough, you could've done this sooner, but alas, a genius thou art not, and it's clear as day since day one.'

"Sigh, you're right..." And Alice lowers his head again, supporting himself on the tree and touching lightly the small scar he left on it. His parents who no longer need to hire new tutors or buy him books and other fancies, his siblings who won't have to tolerate him smudging the Gremory name they tried their best to build and maintain, his masters who were paid to withstand his poor performances and laughable mistakes and who wouldn't even train him otherwise won't have to do so anymore... With him out of the equation, life was better, life was brighter, and only now he realizes that he should've thought of leaving sooner instead of dragging them down with him. He sees himself agreeing more and more with the voice in his head, and every time, he could only bitterly laugh hearing its victorious chuckle in his skull. "But still... I wish them all the best. I hope they're happy."

'With you out of the scene? I bet they are the happiest they've ever been since your birth. Truly, leaving the house was the only thing you did right to them. But again, what else could you have done? Perhaps kill yourself in a training accident, that could've been nice. No one would shed a tear for you, anyway.'

"..." This time, Alice didn't agree with the voice inside his head. He really wanted to answer that his family would be sad, that they would mind him dying and grief and cry like any family regarding a deceased relative... But the fear, the doubt in his heart that it was right once again overcame his desire, so silence was his only response. He wished he could be certain of it, but he was not.

Would father and mother cry if I die?

Would big brother Zechs and Rias grief over the news of my passing?

Would my masters, my servants, my acquaintances pay me homages and remember the good times I had with them in my wake?

...

Probably not.

Zeoticus and Venelana would probably be ashamed of having a child so weak they outlived him by thousands of years...

Rias and Sirzechs would be relieved that they didn't end up like their dead brother despite being born in the same circunstances...

And everybody he ever knew would move out from his passing and find new people, eventually forgetting about him as his corpse rots away and becomes one with the dirt.

'That is the first half-intelligence thought you had since you came into this world. Say, this sword of yours is pretty sharp, I bet even a skin like yours would shred like paper if you just cut it right. How about it? You have nothing to lose, a single slash in your throat and you can put an end to this. No one would ever miss you, and truly, everybody wins. Don't you wanna see your family happy? Now you can, for the first time in your pathetic life. C'mon, just one cut in the right spot...'

"..." Alice lifts the blade and looks at his reflection on the silver surface of it.

It was a good sword, firm and sharp, specially tailoured for a warrior that he is not, Zeoticus himself requesting one that it would hardly dent or dull. The design was nothing special, a silver two-edged sword with a golden guard and black grip, but one could call it a rather impressive weapon. The sharpness of the blade could cut through anything... Including a devil's skin, the soft neck would not be the slightest challenge for it.

Just one cut, a cut even a failure like him could do, and it'll be all over. No more disappointment, no more sorrow, only the darkness and the silence.

Just one cut.

...

*TING!*

'A coward to even do the right thing. No wonder everybody thinks you're a lost cause.'

"That's not it." Alice admits, putting the sword back on the shealth on his hip and taking his way out of that silent forest. It was only for a moment, but a small sting hit his heart and he hesitated to go through with... That. The voice in his head belittles and scoffs at him, clearly dissatisfied with that result. "I admit that everyone is better off without me, and nothing would've changed if I was born or not... But a Gremory killing himself would bring great shame to its name even if I were the one to do it. It's not like I can make it seem like an accident, either. So I won't do it, I won't shame the Gremory name any longer, even as a failure."

'Heh, suit yourself. But if you ever change your mind, then you know what to do...'

"Yes, I know." And Alice gripped his sword tighly, and sighed to himself before smiling at the nothing.

Alice Gremory was a failure, a lost cause, a Zero... But he was still Alice Gremory of the House of Gremory. Born and raised as a noble devil, a pure-blooded breed from the strongest pillars in the Underworld. To succumb to despair would bring great dishonour not only to himself, but also his entire bloodline, and despite not considering himself worth of such... He couldn't bring himself to drag his parents and siblings into his own shortcomings, even in death.

No, for once in his life, he won't do it, he won't bring dishonour to the Gremory name, and even as the scum of the Gremory, he will continue to live, if just for a little bit longer, even if not for himself. Everybody eventually dies, anyway. If he doesn't succeed, then he could just... Wait. Death is a patient mistress, and none of them were in a hurry...

The day becomes a little brighter for him after that...

"Welcome back, mister Milliardo. I assume you want your keys back after your evening walk? Tis was a lovely day, after all."

"Hm...? Oh right. Thank you very much." And back at the inn Alice was staying for the time being, the Gremory lad sheepishly scratched his nose, realizing the receptionist with a kind smile was referring to him, or rather, his new moniker: Milliardo Merquize.

He couldn't sense any noteworthy demonic presence around, but he didn't want to raise any further attention by using his real name, his bright red hair was already a dead giveaway. As such, he used the first name that came to mind when thinking about his dear older brother, and has been using it ever since. So far, it was working just fine.

"Say, you didn't happen to see any more people with a hair like mine, right? Just asking..." The heir of Gremory asked, seeing the attention of the receptionist gentleman shift from his guest book to his eyes.

"I'm afraid I have not, mister Milliardo. For you see, this inn has so little movement this time of the year, I would know when someone with something as noteworthy as a bright red hair presents him or herself. So far, only you fit that criteria." The older man in the counter responds, and for that, 'Milliardo' sighs, relieved and satisfied. That's good, it means his predictions were right. The discussion died there, but the receptionist waved a hand. "That aside, since it's your last day in this establishment, why don't you enjoy our dinner saloon and tonight's spectacle? Today, we garantee our guest star will make you sink into the sea of delight and love, with a tint of melancholy."

"A dinner show, eh? I guess I can watch it as my last day here. I feel... Nostalgic." Alice shrugs and smiles, reminiscing yet again another memory from the depths of his mind: that time his family would take him to see every spectacle possible in the Underworld, from classics to kids' shows which even Sirzechs would get hyped. He had fun in those, specially since everybody he loves was there... He sniffs.

Picking his keys, he decided to first head to his room to take a quick shower to get rid of the sweat in his clothes and put his sword away, as everyone would stop to look at a red-haired teenager carrying a rather massive sword like it was something of note, and truly, it kinda was. With that done, 'Milliardo' headed to the main floor and into the dining saloon, a spacious hall with several rows of food and drinks which guests could pick anything and delight themselves with such fine assortment. For Alice, those were nothing special compared to the meals he used to have at the Gremory castle, but for what they were, they were delish anyway. In a rather lonely corner, there he sits, completely alone, as every other table was filled with other families or small couples sharing ideas or laughs. Yet he didn't mind much, that's the life he would be living from now on...

Suddenly, the lights in the hall grew darker, snapping Alice from his feeding frenzy and make him follow a luminous trail coming from the ceiling, which pointed to a single spot on a stage not very far from where he sits. A bombastic voice muffled by static announces the following show, and Alice started to get excited himself! The man at the counter did say today was a special night, he wonders what would happen!

'Ladies and gentlemen, I deeply apologize for the wait, but your patience shall reward you all greatly with tonight's special guest! Only for tonight, only here, she shall emerge to grace us all with her dashing good looks and a beautiful, divine voice to match! Give a round of applause to our special guest, the tropical beauty, Lilitifa Vepar!'

"Wait, what...?" And Alice's mouth stretched his words hearing that not-so-unfamiliar name. Truly, after that bombastic introduction, the curtains opened, revealing right under the highlights a beautiful young woman of skin so fair it shines, a timid smile on her rosy lips and rare emerald long hair descending like waterfalls onto her face, her aquamarine eyes shining a shy yet serene aura, wearing a long dress with the colours of the ocean. Alice completely stopped on his tracks seeing the beauty on stage. "Miss Lilitifa...?"

"T-Thank you very much for your warm welcome tonight, everyone. I will do my best to..." And the devil girl stopped once her eyes landed on the bright red spot lonely sitting on a corner, becoming big as saucers; a surprised gasp escapes her lips, completely muting her small speech. It took her pianist to nudge her by the side for her to continue. Lilitifa took a deep breath, and smiled once again to the crowd. "I... I will do my best to offer you the best melodies as you enjoy such delicious meals here at the Inn. Now then, for my first song... I-If you will..."

And so, the so-called tropical beauty started to sing, enchanting everyone that was at least an earful from the hall saloon. Her tunes were shy, low, but sweet and melodious nonetheless. As a syren attracting unaware sailors, her songs would melt even the hardest of hearts, and make any distracted fellow fall in love with them alone. Truly, the entire dining hall grew enamored by her singing, as if hypnotized by her, her charms, her beauty, her voice. Any normal human would think there was something almost supernatural about that lass with such charming lyrics and stance...

Except for Alice Gremory, who recognized her as the one and only Lilitifa Vepar, from the extinct Vepar clan of devils from the original 72 Pillars. Unlike the Gremory or the Bael, the Vepar didn't withstand the changes and disasters the Great War between the Three Factions and the devil civil conflict brought to their society, both noble or commoner, and as such, they went bankrupt and fell from grace as nobles. As Rias once told him during one of their lectures, some devils sought solace and refuge in the Human World, at the territories of other devil clans, and among them, were the Vepar...

But he didn't expect to see Lilitifa, an old acquaintance of Rias, doing such an odd job in the human world. She was also using some sort of magic to disguise her Vepar heritage, which included a fish tail not unlike a mermaid's and pointy ears, so that he could look more human-like, meaning she has been doing this for a while now. Worst of all, she noticed him, the runaway Gremory, among the crowd, and if she informs his family, it was all over.

Such thoughts were so loud, he couldn't even enjoy her songs, despite admitting how beautiful her voice was, which complemented her own physical appearance. He would always look at her from a distance when she and Rias would gather to discuss some business, but being this close, she indeed earned all the praises she got showered with.

What was an entire spectacle lasted only a few seconds in his mind, and once he blinks, Alice noticed that the show was over, and what was left was Lilitifa bowing to the ovation from the crowd, the entire hall filled with cheers, laughs and applause. Ah man, he was so distracted with his own thoughts, he didn't pay much attention to the show itself! Well, nothing he can do about it now, and honestly, if he stays any longer, his entire plan of leaving his name behind and not tarnish it anymore would turn into a fiasco. With that, picking some cupcakes as dessert and cleaning himself, the Gremory heir stood up and took his way out of the dining hall. He was checking out tomorrow morning anyway, no reason to stay any longer, better rest for the night and depart at early morning...

"Excuse me, are you perhaps... Alice Gremory?"

"Yes, how may I hel-... No, wait! I... Hm~!" With a smile and a laugh, Alice realized only too late that he had blown his cover worst than any power of destruction after that voice called for him. An amused chuckle escaped that hotel employee's mouth as the now-revealed Milliardo Merquize would sulk in his table and lower his head, as if waiting for the sole to open and swallow him whole. Once that episode was over, the man in red handed him a small letter with a wax stamp.

"Taking your response as a reluctant 'yes', miss Vepar requested me to hand you this letter before your departure. She seems to have taken a liking of you." The employee laughs once again, Alice pouting with teary eyes as he picked the letter and bowed to him like a gentleman he was raised to be. Opening the small folded paper and reading its content, words and sentences no normal human would be able to discern, Alice blushed and sighed, lowering his head even more.

She, Lilitifa Vepar, wanted to talk to him...

In particular...

At the beach...

...

Curses. Being an idiot indeed had its consequences.

"Would you like me to inform milord places where you can find condoms for tonight's events?"

"Thank you very much for the offer, but I don't think it'll be necessary..."

Another chuckle from the other man. Someone was feeling adventurous tonight...

"What a surprise. I didn't expect to bump into the one and only heir of the Gremory in here of all places."

"Same goes to you. The heiress of the Vepar doing such odd jobs in the human world... But I'm glad you have found some footing in here. Humans... Are indeed very kind and inviting." And after the exchange, the young heirs laugh a little among themselves.

The hour is now nighttime, and having no way to refuse the invitation from the Vepar lady, Alice packed his stuff and found his best suit to meet her, the location being a coastal rock formation not very far from the inn he was staying, soon encountering the aquatic beauty sitting on the rocks under the pale moonlight, the perfect place for devils to dance. The Gremory lad also notices that she has returned to her original form, the legs from before now taking the shape of a fish tail not unlike a mermaid's and her ears being pointy like knives. Finding a place to sit himself on, both heirs started with small talk, like how the show back at the inn was fantastic and how the moon was beautiful tonight, but then...

"So, Alice, what are you doing here, in the human world?" Lilitifa asked, her pointy ears twitching a little and a blush decorating her cheeks. Alice knew she just wants to be considerate, but such question was the worst she could ask at the moment. "Certainly, of all places to start your quest for a peerage or something, I would think you would go with Japan. After all, lady Rias is very knowledgeable about that place, and most of the Gremory territory is there. What gives?"

"A-Ahahah... Miss Lilitifa sure is observant. I'm jealous." Laughed Alice, turning his gaze to the full moon above them and feeling the cool seaside breeze. He truly didn't want to answer her, with an unpleasant answer above all else, so he gathered all of his mental strength and decided to play with his words a little. "Well, to be honest, I'm not here to gather a peerage or anything like that."

"So, what it is?" She asks once more, shifting her embarrassed stare elsewhere when Alice blinked a gaze at her. "I-If you don't want to answer, that's fine. I shouldn't mind into other people's business."

"Hm... I guess you can say... I'm trying to find myself of a sorts." He sighs, looking at the splashing water from the ocean and seeing it form some foam at his feet. Lilitifa draws a question mark. "You see, miss Lilitifa, as the heir of the Gremory, people expect me to be one of the greatest, one of the smartest and one of the most powerful. Brother Zechs is like that, Rias is like that, even my nephew Millicas is like that... Then, why am I not? I'm... Dumb, slow, weak and pointless, and no matter how much I try, I just can't... Reach my siblings' standards. I can even reach normal standards for a noble devil such as myself, not to mention they treatment to me... Makes me feel so out of place..."

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that." Lilitifa covers her mouth in shock and pity. "But... The Gremory look and act so kind even to their servants. Tell me, were they... Abusing you or something? Making you feel inferior to them or talk little of you behind your back? Again, if that makes you feel uncomfortable..."

"Abusing me? I wish..." Alice draws a bitter smile. Yes, maybe it'd have been better if, instead of loving him, they would abuse and neglect him completely, call him names, deprive him of basic needs, turn all of their attention to the most successful twin. That way, perhaps he could shift the blame of his shortcomings on someone else instead of his pathetic, weak self; even make him a bit more independant out of pure spite like some edgy teenager. Picking a rock, he makes it skip into the ocean. "They love me so much, they care for me so much... Yet, I bring nothing but disappointment and sorrow to them. How can they put up with someone like me? I know that... They might secretly hate me, and to make them act like that for my sake... I couldn't bear it... So I left, leaving my old self behind and, perhaps, someday, return as someone of worth, someone who can have 'Gremory' as a surname."

"I see." Lilitifa lowers her own head, thoughtful. They passed a few seconds in pure silence, and after a few breaths, she resumed. "So you're in a quest for self-enlightment, to find your own worth, and then perhaps think yourself as worthy of your blessings. Indeed, that's a noble goal, specially starting it on your own."

"Hahah, miss Lilitifa makes it sound a lot more romantic than really is. I'm a bit embarrassed." Laughed Alice to her little description, which wasn't too much off the mark, but by her beautiful voice and right choice of words, made it look like the start of an epic. Something that his quest was far from it. "I abandoned my ways so that I could run away from the sorrow and sadness of my previous life. To escape this growing weight in my chest, instead of face it head on. There is no nobility for a person who acts like that, miss Lilitifa. The truth is... I'm just a coward."

"Then... What does that make me? Or the Vepar, for that matter?" Alice snaps back to Lilitifa, and notices that she, too, started to share some tears, her aquamarine eyes focused on the dark horizon where the heavens kisses the sea, as she recoils to look down her navel, a small twitch from her tail. "To escape the shame, to escape the scorn. One of the original 72 pillars reduced to having to search refuge in the human world, doing odd jobs to stay afloat and find some solace in our pitiful display of weakness. At least you got to make your own decisions. I'm here, stuck in the limbo caused by my own clan..."

"..."

"If you're a coward, Alice... Then I'm even worse than that, I'm even worse than useless."

"That's not true at all!"

"...?!"Alice shouts standing up and screaming at her with all of the strength his lungs could give him, making the Vepar heiress almost jump into the waters.

"Miss Lilitifa is wrong! The Vepar clan was just as important as any clan in the Underworld, even to the Bael or the Gremory! it's just... The Great War caused so much damage to us, my own clan was lucky to get out unscathed thanks to big brother Zechs." Alice continues, gathering as much information as he could in his small brain about what happened to the former Satans, the 72 pillars and the new order in the Underworld. "B-But that doesn't mean the extinct clans were weak or anything! Besides, even if they had to rely on running away, miss Lilitifa is far from being a coward or useless because of that! I am the useless and cowardly one for having no talent or power. Miss Lilitifa is beautiful, and talented, and wise, and has a wonderful singing voice, something that I lack and more! So, please... Don't call yourself those ugly words. Your current state is not your fault, unlike me, so don't blame yourself."

"..."

"...!"

"You... You think I'm beautiful?"

"Very!" Utterly shameless. Not noticing the light pink hue her ears would adopt, Alice complimented her even more. Sure, she wasn't as beautiful as Grayfia, Rias or dear mother Venelana, but he would be blind if he didn't think Lilitifa as attractive. Once calming down, Alice sighed and sat back besides her, supporting his arms on his knees and adopting again a rather troubled position. "That, plus your other qualities... You can bring the honour back to the Vepar, even if not now... Unlike me, who can only bring shame to my name, the house who treated me so well."

"..."

"..."

"Alice..."

"Hm...?"

*PECK!*

"Thank you... For your kind words." And in an instant, without even him noticing, Lilitifa came closer and lightly peck him on the cheek. A small kiss, nothing but a small lip touch, as a form of gratitude. She always imagined herself and her clan a lost cause, losing their status as nobility and having to escape to the human world, to one of their allied house's territory, just to have a chance to again rise, getting by doing some odd jobs for a living, a chance that it was taking too long for her. The scorn, the shame other clans would give them, it was painful and tiring. His words, on the other hand, were kind and clean. She couldn't help but to smile, wanting to fulfill his expectations. It was nice. "They... Make me feel a bit more motivated. So thank you, Alice."

"N-No problem." Alice winced a little, touching lightly the affected area and feeling a small gloss of lipstick there. He is used of getting kisses, but coming so suddenly made him lose a bit of composure. A moment of silence yet again, just hearing the waves from the sea and the light breeze from the skies, and soon he looked down on his watch to see the time, standing up in the process. "Miss Lilitifa, it's unfortunate, but I have to go now. My stay at the inn is just until next morning, so... Uh... It was nice seeing you again, and I hope... I can see you one day once again, perhaps a little bit stronger. Ah, and please, if you ever see Rias, don't tell her about me, although I doubt she'll ask anyway..."

"Uh... Alice, would you... Would you take a small request from me? Just one, before you depart?" But before he could turn around and leave, Lilitifa spoke and requested, hiding her blush behind her rare green locks.

Alice turned a confused look at her, and stopped to think for a while, but then nodded and silently accepted her request. Even if he was a zero and a useless devil, he was still a gentleman and a noble, and he'll try everything in his power to fulfill a dame's request. The shine in her eyes seemed to go brighter, and as such, she asked him to follow her as she jumped into the waters and signed a path deeper into the rocks. Apparently, he didn't have to jump with her, so he followed her directions...

A few jumps, a few loose rocks, a few slips, then he realizing he could just use his bat-like devil wings to reach for where she wanted, Alice found himself in a neatly constructed cave hidden from the beach, the water there shallow so that he was only ankles-deep underwater, his shoes and socks hanging from his fingers; and the moist walls glittering from the light of the moon. However, what took his attention the most was the piano that was resting in the middle of it, a rather large instrument that seemed brand new despite the moisture and temperature of the cave. Sitting on the player's chair, he put his shoes down next to him and hovered his hands above the keys, white as pearls and black as the night. He pressed one, and a melodious sound came from the strings. It didn't just look, it sounded brand new...

"I heard a small tale that a fisherman and a mermaid fell in love and would sing together in this cave to escape the scorn and hatred from both sides, which hated each other. Maybe it was a simple tale, or maybe an urban legend to attract tourists, but I've found this piano not long while swimming around here." Emerging from the waters and crawling herself closer, Lilitifa sat right next to the piano and smiled at Alice, who could only gaze mesmerized at such beautiful piece... And the piano was also very nice-looing, too. "So... Before we part ways, I think I can do an exclusive show for you as a token of my gratitude. But... I'm a bit nervous that I'm not as good without a backup musician, so... Why don't we play a duet?"

"Hm... You... Want to play it... With me?" Alice asks, a bit too nervous, his hands still hesitant to touch any key there and just hovering above the keyboard.

"Yes, Alice." She smiles and nods. "You do know how to play the piano, right? I heard lord Sirzechs and Rias are terrific musicians. You might have learnt a bit too, no?"

"Y-Yeah, I did..." Alice pouted, remembering that he, too, had some piano lessons with his sister as they were growing up, and, well, she shown herself to be quite good at any instrument, while he... Let's just say that the only sound that would leave the music room was an instructor's screams of protest and heavy angry steps. He touched the small key again, and sighed. "... But... I'm not as good as Rias or brother Zechs. Sorry, but I can't..."

"Alice, I'm sure that any song that might come from here, from you, will be beautiful. No need to hurry either, I just want to give you a good departing gift." Lilitifa insisted. The pout in Alice's mouth grow tighter, but again, his gentlemanly spirit couldn't let such maiden in the wait, and even if he was a zero, a loser... For her request, he could try. With a sigh, he landed his fingers on the keyboard. "For the traveler with doubt and sorrow in his heart, a love song for his departure..."

"I'll do my best, even if it's not the best..." He sighed, and then, under the moonlight, the two devils began their duet.

Melancholic lyrics, timid strings and melodies filled that night of full moon. Lilitifa with her sweet, soothing, beautiful voice and Alice with his clumsy, slow but steadily energetic and cheerful plays; the duet echoed their hearts into the darkness and sea. Little by little, Alice who was hesitant in playing the piano and even more after starting, could feel a strange surge of energy inside of him. He soon realized what it was: that song, that same song... Was the song his brother would play for him and Rias before bed. The soothing strings, the calm melodies, he always felt safe with Sirzechs playing it, and he wished he could play it as good as him... Soon discovering that he also had no talent for that, and those same dreams of playing for his dear brother and sister dying like many, many others...

But tonight, accompanied by only the gorgeous Lilitifa Vepar, another poor soul adrift the sea of unfortunate circunstances, he felt... At ease, he felt happy, and like Sirzechs', his fingers danced across the black and white keys, missing a few ones but still keeping a steady rhythm, which combined with her melodious, enchanting voice, would make bypassing walkers stop and wonder where that was coming from, some even running away thinking it was instead the mystical melodies of sirens nearby...

As for Alice and Lilitifa, in that small moment, they could forget for a moment their unfortunate predictaments and enjoy even for a few hours each other in that duet made in hell. Smiles and laughs didn't leave their lips for a moment, and there was no voices, nor cruel words anymore, nor scorn or hatred, all they wanted was to enjoy the songs they would make in that isolated cave filled with melodies and romance, but above all else... Hope.

Little did they know, those songs were actually a requiem for their past selves after that night, when devils sing under the pale moonlight...

A little on the melodramatic side, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Alice got a bit brighter, and mayhap he found himself a friend in misery... Perhaps, I'm not so sure, what do you guys think? Remember to R&R, stay safe and have a nice day. Hellhound on the run!