My Angel Girl

The chamber was enormous, yet it felt suffocating. The air shimmered with a holy light so intense it made Kikidori's skin crawl. Every surface glowed: the walls, the floor, even the high, arched ceiling that seemed to stretch into infinity. It was overwhelming, and Kikidori hated every second of it.

"Fuck this place," he muttered under his breath, pulling his black hood over his head as if to shield himself from the radiance.

Ere'ana glanced back at him, her expression calm but unreadable. "Just don't do anything stupid," she said softly.

"Define stupid," Kikidori shot back, shoving his hands into the pockets of his tattered coat.

They stepped deeper into the chamber, and Kikidori's unease grew with each step. He could feel it—Him. The presence was impossible to ignore. It was everywhere, pressing down on him like a weight he couldn't escape.

And then they reached the center of the room.

A single throne stood before them, carved from pure light. It was simple yet impossibly majestic, and the being who sat upon it radiated a power that defied description. Kikidori refused to look directly at Him. Even through the shadow of his hood, the sight was too much.

God's voice filled the chamber, deep and resonant, carrying both authority and gentleness.

"Kikidori."

The name echoed, and Kikidori flinched slightly. He hadn't heard that voice in… how long had it been? Centuries? Millennia? Too long, and not long enough.

"You called," Kikidori said, his voice sharp as he slouched into the nearest chair. He threw one leg over the armrest, radiating casual defiance even as tension coiled in his muscles.

Ere'ana stood a few steps away, her head bowed in respect. She glanced at Kikidori, clearly annoyed by his posture, but she said nothing.

God didn't seem bothered. If anything, He seemed amused.

"I see you haven't changed much," God said.

"Why would I?" Kikidori snapped. "You made your choice. I made mine. We're done here, right?"

God didn't respond immediately. Instead, He seemed to regard Kikidori with a patience that only eternity could cultivate. Finally, He spoke.

"Why did you spare her?"

The question hit Kikidori like a punch to the gut.

He stiffened, his crimson eyes narrowing beneath his hood. "What are you talking about?"

"You know what I mean," God said, His voice calm. "The angel on the battlefield. You had every reason to kill her, and yet you didn't. Why?"

Ere'ana shifted slightly, her wings rustling as she cast a quick glance at Kikidori. He refused to look at her.

"What does it matter?" Kikidori said, his tone defensive.

"It matters because it was a choice," God replied. "A choice to show mercy. And mercy is not the way of demons."

Kikidori let out a bitter laugh. "Mercy? Don't flatter yourself. It wasn't mercy. I just… I didn't feel like it, okay? It's not that deep."

God's gaze bore into him, and Kikidori felt like every lie he had ever told was being unraveled, every wall he had built being stripped away.

"You're lying," God said simply.

Kikidori's fists clenched. "I'm not—"

"You are."

The room was silent for a long moment. Kikidori's jaw tightened, his shoulders rigid. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and filled with venom.

"Maybe I just didn't want to give you the satisfaction," he said. "Maybe I didn't want to play into your little narrative. The good angels, the evil demons—it's all bullshit. You don't care about us. You never did."

Ere'ana's eyes widened slightly, but she stayed silent, watching the exchange with a mix of curiosity and caution.

God's voice softened. "You still carry so much anger, Kikidori. So much pain. But that anger is not who you are."

Kikidori shot to his feet, his wings flaring slightly. "Don't fucking pretend you know me!" he snarled. "You threw me out, remember? You turned your back on me. So don't stand there and act like you give a shit now."

Ere'ana stepped forward cautiously. "Kikidori…"

He ignored her, his eyes locked on the throne.

"You wanted to talk? Fine. You asked your question. I gave you your answer. Can I go now?"

God didn't respond immediately. The room was heavy with silence, and for a moment, Kikidori thought He might refuse.

But then, God spoke again.

"You may go," He said. "For now."

Kikidori didn't wait for anything else. He turned on his heel, his wings snapping open as he stormed out of the chamber. Ere'ana hesitated, glancing at God before following him.

As they walked back through the golden halls, the angels stared at Kikidori again, their whispers even louder now. He ignored them, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't quite untangle.

When they reached the gates of heaven, Ere'ana stopped him.

"Kikidori," she said softly.

He didn't look at her. "What?"

"You didn't answer His question," she said. "Not really."

He turned to her, his crimson eyes blazing. "Stay out of it, angel."

And with that, he spread his wings and vanished into the shadows, leaving Ere'ana standing alone at the gates.

The end of Chapter 4