My Angel Girl

The water poured down in steady streams, the rhythmic sound of it filling the bathroom and drowning out everything else. Ere'ana, standing behind the frosted glass shower curtain, hesitated for a moment before turning to face the door. She had never expected Kikidori to appear in her bathroom, and yet here he was, leaning casually against the small stool as though it were just another normal visit.

A flush of heat rushed to her cheeks as her mind raced. It wasn't that Kikidori had done anything inappropriate—he hadn't. But there was something about his presence here, in this intimate, personal space, that made her uneasy. She wrapped herself in a towel as she tried to process the sudden shift in the situation.

"What are you doing here?" Ere'ana asked, her voice a little sharper than she intended.

Kikidori's eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as he shrugged. "I wanted to see you. Miss me?"

Ere'ana took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She wasn't sure if she was irritated or if she was more caught off guard by how much his presence seemed to affect her. The walls between them—those walls that kept them apart—were getting thinner. She had to be careful.

"Kikidori…" She trailed off, not sure what else to say.

He studied her for a moment, noticing her tension. Then, with a slow grin, he offered, "Hey, I can help. You know, with the shower stuff. I won't peek or anything, promise." His tone was lighthearted, as though he was trying to ease the awkwardness that hung in the air between them.

Ere'ana blinked, surprised by his offer. "What do you mean? Help with the shower?"

Kikidori looked almost amused, his wings rustling behind him in an almost playful manner. "Well, I can help clean your back and stuff, you know, if you want."

Ere'ana hesitated. This felt strange, but there was something in his eyes that made her feel as though it was harmless. Maybe it was the way he was trying to make light of the situation. Or maybe it was just the fact that she trusted him more than she'd like to admit. After all, they'd been through a lot together, and despite his sometimes chaotic ways, she knew there was a certain level of respect between them.

"Okay…" she said, finally giving in, though her voice was soft, uncertain. "But I don't want you to look."

Kikidori raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, I won't look. I promise."

With a smirk, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple black blindfold. He tied it around his eyes, then carefully moved toward the shower. "Okay, I'm ready. No peeking, just helping."

Ere'ana couldn't help but laugh a little at his antics, and she finally relaxed. She turned her back toward him, her wet hair dripping as she moved under the steady stream of water. Kikidori took a deep breath, keeping his hands steady as he gently helped wash her back, carefully massaging the soap into her skin in slow, methodical circles. The action was strange for both of them. The intimacy of it was not lost on Ere'ana, but there was also something innocent in the way Kikidori went about it—no sly remarks, no flirtation—just two souls, tangled up in a complicated world, helping each other.

It was quiet, save for the sound of water, and Ere'ana could feel her heart rate slowly return to a steadier rhythm as Kikidori moved to her legs, carefully washing them as though he was trying his best not to cross any boundaries.

There was a tension in the air, but it wasn't an uncomfortable one. It was as though both of them were learning to navigate a new territory, one neither of them was used to. Ere'ana tried to focus on the water, on the sensation of being clean, but she couldn't help but feel the weight of his presence beside her. Every so often, their hands brushed together, sending a faint electric shock through her that made her breath catch.

After a while, Kikidori finished, stepping back with a sigh. "All done," he said, his tone light as he slowly untied the blindfold from his eyes.

Ere'ana, now finished with her shower, quickly wrapped herself in a fresh towel and stepped out of the shower. She adjusted herself, a bit embarrassed by the closeness of it all, but at the same time, she felt something different—something comforting. They weren't just two celestial beings anymore; they were something more.

"So, uh," Ere'ana began, her voice shaky as she turned to face Kikidori. "Why are you really here? In my house, I mean."

Kikidori leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. He looked at her, his expression suddenly more serious, though a soft smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "I wanted to ask you something," he said, his tone casual, but there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Ere'ana raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Kikidori took a deep breath. "Are we dating?"

The words hung in the air, awkward and unexpected. Ere'ana blinked, caught off guard by the directness of the question. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself. Was it really that simple? Was it something she had already known deep down, or was this the moment that made it real?

"I… I guess," Ere'ana replied, her voice softer than usual. She felt her cheeks flush as she looked away, uncertain about what the next step was. But there was something in Kikidori's eyes, something that made her realize that, despite the chaos around them, this was something she was ready for. Something she had wanted for a while but hadn't been able to admit to herself.

Kikidori's grin widened, a sense of relief flooding through him. "Then can I call you Ere?"

Ere'ana hesitated for a moment before nodding, the smallest of smiles playing at her lips. "Only if I can call you Kiki."

Kikidori chuckled, the sound of it genuine and warm. It was strange—this moment, this softness between them—but it felt right.

Without thinking, Kikidori stepped toward Ere'ana and pulled her into a hug. The motion was sudden, but there was a warmth to it that they both needed. She didn't pull away. Instead, she held onto him, the space between them closing, the complications and the questions fading away, even if only for a moment.

"I'm glad you said yes," Kikidori murmured, his voice low and sincere.

Ere'ana smiled softly, resting her head against his chest. "Me too."

For once, neither of them felt the weight of the world on their shoulders. They just existed together, in this small, quiet moment, a feeling of peace settling between them. No more questions, no more chaos. Just the two of them.

The end of Chapter 13