My Angel Girl

Kikidori sat on his obsidian throne, staring at the tiny Chihuahua that had decided Flame Island was its eternal home. The little creature was curled up in a ball, snoring softly. Despite its size, it had somehow taken up permanent residence in the grand hall, much to Kikidori's initial annoyance.

"What am I even doing with you?" Kikidori muttered, leaning down to poke the Chihuahua's side.

The dog stirred, opening its eyes to look at him with what could only be described as a mix of curiosity and indignation. It let out a sharp bark, wagging its tail furiously.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You own the place now," Kikidori said with a sigh. He leaned back in his throne, running a hand through his dark hair. "You're lucky I haven't thrown you into the lava yet."

The Chihuahua barked again, almost as if challenging him.

Kikidori smirked. "Feisty little thing, aren't you?"

After a moment of silence, Kikidori tapped his finger on the armrest of the throne, deep in thought. "You need a name. I can't keep calling you 'dog' or 'Chihuahua.' That's beneath me."

The dog tilted its head, as if it understood him.

Kikidori rubbed his chin. "Let's see... You're small, loud, annoying... and somehow, you act like you own the place." He paused, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I've got it. Cerberus."

The Chihuahua barked loudly, wagging its tail even more.

"Yeah, you like that, huh?" Kikidori said, chuckling. He reached down and picked up the tiny dog, holding it at arm's length. "Cerberus, the fearsome guardian of Flame Island."

Cerberus yipped in response, clearly enjoying the attention.

Kikidori shook his head, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "You're the least intimidating thing I've ever seen, but sure, let's go with it."

As the days went by, Cerberus quickly became a fixture of Flame Island. The tiny dog would follow Kikidori everywhere, its little paws clicking against the obsidian floors of the castle. It even seemed to take on a kind of authority among the wandering souls and demons, barking at anyone who got too close to Kikidori.

One day, as Kikidori was sitting outside the castle, watching the fiery rivers flow, Cerberus trotted up and sat beside him.

"You really don't belong here, you know," Kikidori said, glancing down at the Chihuahua.

Cerberus barked once, as if disagreeing.

Kikidori sighed. "Of all the creatures that could've ended up here, it had to be you. A Chihuahua. The universe has a twisted sense of humor."

Cerberus barked again, wagging its tail.

"You don't even know how lucky you are," Kikidori continued, leaning back on his hands. "Most beings here are either dead souls or demons. You're the only one who's... normal. Well, as normal as a dog in a realm of fire and despair can be."

The dog tilted its head, its tiny tongue sticking out.

Kikidori shook his head, chuckling softly. "You're ridiculous."

News of the Chihuahua's name spread quickly across Flame Island. The demons, who initially mocked Kikidori for keeping such a small, harmless creature, soon learned to respect Cerberus. The dog had a knack for scaring off even the most troublesome demons with its incessant barking.

One demon, a lanky creature with horns that curled like ram's, approached Kikidori in the throne room.

"My lord," the demon said, bowing deeply.

"What?" Kikidori asked, not bothering to look up from the flaming orb he was examining.

"It's about... the creature," the demon said hesitantly, glancing at Cerberus, who was sitting on Kikidori's lap.

"What about him?" Kikidori asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, it seems the other demons are... afraid of it," the demon admitted, looking embarrassed.

Kikidori smirked. "Afraid of Cerberus? The tiny Chihuahua?"

"Yes, my lord," the demon said, shifting uncomfortably. "Its bark is... unnerving."

Kikidori burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the grand hall. "You're all terrified of this?" He held Cerberus up, and the dog barked in response.

The demon nodded, his expression sheepish.

"Well, I guess that makes Cerberus the most effective guardian I've got," Kikidori said, setting the dog back on his lap. "You'd better get used to him."

The demon bowed again and scurried off, leaving Kikidori alone with Cerberus.

"You hear that?" Kikidori said, scratching behind the dog's ears. "You're scarier than half the demons on this island."

Cerberus barked proudly, puffing out its chest.

Later that night, Ere'ana appeared on Flame Island. She landed softly in front of the castle, her glowing halo illuminating the dark terrain.

As she walked through the castle, Cerberus came running up to her, barking excitedly.

"Well, hello there," Ere'ana said, kneeling down to pet the Chihuahua. "You must be Cerberus."

The dog licked her hand, its tail wagging furiously.

Kikidori appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. "What are you doing here, Ere'ana?"

"I wanted to see you," she said, standing up.

Kikidori raised an eyebrow. "And you brought treats for Cerberus, I assume?"

Ere'ana laughed softly. "Maybe."

Cerberus barked, circling around her feet.

"You've spoiled him," Kikidori said, walking over.

"I think he's just happy to have someone who's nice to him," Ere'ana replied, smiling.

Kikidori rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at his lips.

The three of them—fallen angel, archangel, and Chihuahua—sat outside the castle that night, watching the fiery rivers flow. Cerberus curled up between them, snoring softly.

For a brief moment, Flame Island didn't feel so lonely.

The End of Chapter 24