My Angel Girl

Kikidori had never been more reluctant in his life.

As Ere'ana led him through the gleaming gates of Heaven, he dragged his feet like a stubborn child being pulled to a dreaded appointment. The blinding glow of Heaven's realm irritated his eyes, and the overwhelming aura of purity made his skin itch.

"I don't want to be here," he grumbled, his glowing purple horns dim as he shuffled behind Ere'ana.

"Kiki, it'll be fine," she said softly, glancing back at him. Her radiant halo cast a calming light, but Kikidori wasn't soothed.

"Why does He want to talk to me again?" Kikidori asked, his tone sharp. "I thought we were done with this whole 'let's talk to the demon' routine."

Ere'ana sighed. "I don't know, but it's not like you can ignore Him. He's God, Kiki. Just… try not to make this harder than it has to be."

Kikidori rolled his eyes but followed her into the grand chamber. The room was vast, impossibly so, with walls of light and floors that seemed to shimmer like glass. At the center of it all sat God, His presence both intimidating and comforting.

"Kikidori," God said, His voice resonating like a gentle thunderstorm.

Kikidori didn't respond, his purple eyes narrowing as he reluctantly took the seat God gestured toward. Ere'ana stood to the side, her hands clasped in front of her as she watched silently.

God regarded Kikidori for a moment before speaking again. "There's something you need to know."

"Yeah? What now?" Kikidori asked, crossing his arms.

God's expression was calm, but there was a weight to His words as He continued. "Your family… your parents and your brother… they've passed on."

Kikidori's brow furrowed, and his arms uncrossed slightly. "What?"

"There was a plane crash," God explained gently. "They didn't survive."

For a moment, Kikidori felt a strange, hollow ache in his chest. He wasn't sure what to make of the news. His brother… his parents… gone?

"They got into Heaven," God added, His tone soft and reassuring, as though expecting this to bring Kikidori some form of solace.

Kikidori froze, his glowing horns flickering slightly. "What?"

God repeated, "They got into Heaven."

Ere'ana's gaze darted between Kikidori and God, her expression unreadable.

Kikidori's hands clenched into fists. "You're saying they're in Heaven?"

"Yes," God said, His voice patient. "Your brother, your parents—they've all found peace here."

Kikidori's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding audibly. "Peace?" he spat, his voice rising. "They don't deserve peace!"

God's calm demeanor faltered for just a moment as Kikidori shot to his feet.

"My brother, fine," Kikidori snarled, pacing angrily. "He was a good kid. He didn't deserve what happened to him. But my parents? They were the worst kind of people!"

"Kiki—" Ere'ana started, but he cut her off with a sharp glare.

"No, Ere! They were abusive as hell!" Kikidori's voice cracked with fury. "They didn't care about anyone but themselves! They didn't even care when I—" He stopped abruptly, his breathing heavy as he struggled to contain the storm raging inside him.

"When you what?" Ere'ana asked softly, stepping closer.

"When I drowned," Kikidori growled, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned to glare at God, his eyes blazing with pain and anger. "They were too busy screaming at each other to notice that their own kid was dying in a lake. And now you're telling me they're up here, living it up in Heaven?"

"Kikidori," God said gently, "everyone has the capacity for redemption. They—"

"Save it," Kikidori snapped, cutting Him off. "I don't want to hear your excuses. They don't deserve to be here."

God remained silent for a moment, His gaze steady. "This is not about what you believe they deserve, Kikidori. It is about grace and forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" Kikidori laughed bitterly. "Forgiveness isn't something you just hand out like candy. They never earned it."

"Kiki, maybe—" Ere'ana began again, but Kikidori shook his head.

"No, Ere. I don't want to hear it."

The room was tense, the air heavy with unspoken words. Kikidori's glowing horns dimmed further as he turned away from God, his wings twitching with agitation.

"I'm done here," he muttered, storming toward the exit.

"Kikidori," God called after him, His tone firm but not unkind.

Kikidori paused at the doorway but didn't turn around.

"I know this is hard for you," God said. "But you cannot let anger consume you. It will only hurt you more in the end."

Kikidori didn't respond. He stepped out of the chamber and took off into the skies of Heaven, flying as fast as his wings would carry him.

By the time Kikidori reached Flame Island, his entire body felt heavy with exhaustion. He landed near the edge of the island, where the molten rivers met the obsidian cliffs, and collapsed onto the ground.

The heat of the island didn't bother him, but the weight in his chest was unbearable.

"Why?" he muttered to himself, his voice raw. "Why do they get to be happy when they ruined my life?"

He clenched his fists, his claws digging into the ground as he fought back the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

The Chihuahua from earlier trotted over, its tiny legs carrying it quickly to his side. It barked once before curling up next to him, its small presence oddly comforting.

Kikidori let out a bitter laugh. "You don't care, do you, little guy? You're just here for the company."

The Chihuahua yipped in agreement—or so it seemed—and nuzzled against Kikidori's side.

Kikidori sighed, his glowing horns flickering faintly. "Maybe I should just stop caring too," he muttered. "What's the point?"

But even as he said it, he knew it wasn't true. No matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he cared—about Ere'ana, about his brother, and even, in some twisted way, about his parents.

He just didn't know what to do with that care, with the storm of anger and pain that came with it.

For now, all he could do was sit there, the heat of Flame Island surrounding him, and hope that someday, he'd find a way to make sense of it all.

The end of Chapter 22