My Angel Girl

Ere'ana stood on a glowing balcony of her heavenly abode, the soft light of Heaven cascading down her golden hair. The night sky above Heaven was serene, with stars shimmering like the eyes of the divine. Yet her heart was far from tranquil.

It had been days since she last saw Kikidori. She couldn't stop wondering if he was okay, if he was safe, and if his heart was burdened by the weight of his new responsibilities. Flame Island was an uncharted territory for her; she could not simply fly there like she could to Earth.

Her lips quivered as the ache in her chest grew, and once again, she turned to the only outlet she had: music. Ere'ana closed her eyes, her voice softly breaking the silence of the night.

*"Across the stars, across the sea,

My thoughts drift endlessly.

Kiki, oh Kiki, where do you stand?

Do flames still burn in your weary hands?

This heart of mine aches for your name,

Through Heaven's light, through Hell's flame.

Can you hear me, through the divide?

Can you feel my love where you reside?"*

Her voice was sweet yet heavy with longing, carried by the winds of Heaven. Angels walking below paused, some smiling at her pure devotion, while others exchanged concerned glances. Ere'ana's love for Kikidori was becoming harder to hide.

Little did she know, her song reached further than Heaven itself. Across realms, across dimensions, her voice resonated faintly in the air of Flame Island.

Kikidori sat at the edge of his growing empire, his eyes fixed on the glowing rivers of molten rock. Flame Island had started to fill with souls, both human and demon, a place that was neither Heaven nor Hell—a middle ground for those who didn't fit the rules of either. He watched as the sinners, castaways, and rebels forged a chaotic yet strangely harmonious society.

Yet, amid the noise of the new city rising around him, he heard it.

A melody, soft and haunting, like a whisper on the wind. He stood abruptly, his sharp purple eyes narrowing. It was Ere'ana. He could feel it.

"Damn angel," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Why does she always find a way to mess with me?"

But despite his grumbling, Kikidori couldn't ignore the pull in his chest. Something about the song made him feel... connected. Almost instinctively, he opened his mouth and sang.

*"Ere, oh Ere, why do you sing?

The sound of your voice—it still clings.

Through the flames, through the haze,

Your light cuts through my darker days.

I stand alone in a fiery land,

But your melody pulls me by the hand.

Can you hear me, through the divide?

Can you feel my voice by your side?"*

The moment he began, Ere'ana gasped back in Heaven. She stumbled, clutching her chest, her glowing halo flickering for a brief second. She heard it—his voice. Her eyes widened as realization struck.

"Kiki?" she whispered.

The melody continued, their voices harmonizing despite being worlds apart. The same tune, the same rhythm, almost as if an invisible force had linked their hearts together.

"Across the stars, across the sea,

We're bound together eternally.

Kiki, oh Kiki, my love is true,

In Heaven's light, I'll wait for you."

"Ere, oh Ere, don't waste your time,

My broken soul's not worth your rhyme.

But if you wait, if you dare,

I'll meet you someday, I swear."

As the song ended, Kikidori fell silent, his chest heaving. "What the hell was that?" he muttered, pacing along the edge of the molten cliff.

In Heaven, Ere'ana pressed a hand to her lips, her cheeks flushed. "Kiki, you heard me…" she whispered. She had no idea how it was possible, but her heart swelled with a mixture of joy and sadness.

While their hearts sang to one another, a new threat brewed in the fiery pits of Hell.

Lucifer had returned.

The demons of Hell, furious at Kikidori for killing their king, had performed an ancient sacrificial ritual to resurrect their master. Deep within the blackest chasm of Hell, the ground split open, and a fiery form emerged.

Lucifer stood taller than before, his wings jagged and blackened, his eyes glowing with infernal rage.

"They think they can kill me," he growled, his voice like thunder. "Kikidori thought he could kill me."

The demons gathered around him, chanting his name. Lucifer raised a clawed hand, silencing them.

"Where is he?" he demanded. "Where is the traitor?"

One of the demons stepped forward, trembling. "He… he's no longer in Hell, my lord. He's on Flame Island, a place he created."

Lucifer's lips twisted into a wicked grin. "Flame Island, you say? Then that little traitor thinks he's a god now." He let out a cruel laugh, the sound shaking the walls of the cavern.

"He won't be for long," Lucifer sneered. "Prepare the armies. We're taking Flame Island."

Back on Flame Island, Kikidori felt a chill run down his spine. He couldn't explain it, but something told him his time of peace was about to end.

He turned his gaze to the stars above. Somewhere, Ere'ana was looking up at the same sky. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to smile.

"Guess I better get ready," he muttered to himself.

Because if Lucifer was coming, Kikidori knew he'd need every ounce of strength—and maybe, just maybe, a little help from the angel who had always believed in him.

The end of Chapter 19.