My Angel Girl

Kikidori stood by the entrance of the church in Heaven, leaning against a marble column with his arms crossed. The atmosphere inside was heavy with reverence as angels continued to celebrate Christmas. The warmth and glow were practically suffocating him. He glanced sideways at Ere'ana, who was still chatting happily with a group of cherubim.

"So," Kikidori interrupted, his voice edged with impatience, "can I leave now?"

Ere'ana turned to him with an amused smile, tilting her head slightly. "Are you really that desperate to get out of here? It's Christmas, Kiki. You could at least try to enjoy it."

"I've been trying," he deadpanned. "And failing. Look, I get it—big celebration, holy vibes, everyone's happy—but this isn't exactly my scene. Can I go?"

Ere'ana sighed, though her smile didn't falter. "Fine. Go ahead. But try not to complain about it later, okay?"

"Deal." Kikidori stretched his black wings, which contrasted starkly against the radiant glow of Heaven. He took a step forward, preparing to launch into the air.

The ceiling of the church, however, wasn't quite as high as he thought.

CRACK!

Kikidori's head collided with the low-hanging archway above the door, the sound reverberating through the sacred space. He stumbled backward, clutching his forehead as stars danced in his vision.

A cherub nearby gasped, covering their mouth with tiny hands. The Archangels, watching from across the room, exchanged glances, some suppressing chuckles.

Ere'ana, struggling to keep a straight face, rushed to his side. "Kiki! Are you okay?"

Kikidori blinked, still dazed. "I…meant to do that," he muttered, shaking his head as if to clear the fog.

Ere'ana couldn't hold back her laughter anymore. She covered her mouth to muffle the sound, but it was no use. "Sure you did," she teased, patting his shoulder.

"Don't start," he grumbled, flexing his wings again. This time, he took a careful step forward before launching himself into the air, successfully escaping the church and the embarrassment it held for him.

As Kikidori soared through the skies of Heaven, the golden glow faded behind him, replaced by the familiar dark hues of the void leading to Flame Island. He exhaled deeply, glad to be back in his element.

When he landed in the courtyard of his obsidian castle, Cerberus ran up to greet him, barking happily. Kikidori crouched down, scratching the Chihuahua's ears. "You wouldn't believe the day I've had," he muttered to the tiny dog, who wagged its tail in response.

Inside the castle, the air felt different. Flame Island, once chaotic and untamed, was beginning to show signs of order. The demons that had pledged themselves to Kikidori had started to organize their society. Small markets had popped up, and structures beyond the castle were being built with a mix of obsidian and brimstone. The once-rowdy Flame Island was starting to resemble something…structured.

Kikidori slumped into his obsidian throne, rubbing his temples. "Great. Now I have a functioning society to manage," he muttered sarcastically.

Cerberus barked twice, as if agreeing with him.

"Don't get used to it," Kikidori told the little dog. "This place isn't supposed to be civilized. It's supposed to be a haven for sinners who don't want to rot in Hell."

Speaking of Hell, Flame Island's relationship with its fiery neighbor was also shifting. Lucifer, or as Kikidori loved to call him, Morningstar, had been reaching out more frequently. At first, it was to demand Kikidori's submission, but lately, there had been a strange change in tone.

Lucifer's messages had gone from hostile to diplomatic, almost as if he was…forgiving Kikidori for the events that led to Hell's king being sliced in half. The reincarnated Lucifer seemed to be trying to reconcile.

A demon servant entered the throne room, bowing low. "Lord Kikidori, a messenger from Hell has arrived."

"Of course they have," Kikidori said, rolling his eyes. "Bring them in."

The doors creaked open, and a tall demon with crimson skin and curling horns stepped inside. He carried a parchment sealed with Lucifer's insignia. The messenger bowed before handing the letter to Kikidori.

"What does Morningstar want now?" Kikidori muttered, breaking the seal and scanning the letter.

The message was surprisingly cordial. Lucifer acknowledged the ongoing tension between Hell and Flame Island but proposed a summit to discuss a potential alliance. The letter even included a thinly veiled apology for past hostilities.

Kikidori leaned back in his throne, tapping the armrest with his fingers. "An alliance, huh? What do you think, Cerberus?"

The Chihuahua barked once, tilting its head.

"Yeah, me neither," Kikidori said with a smirk. "But it might be fun to see what Morningstar's really up to."

As he mulled over the proposal, his thoughts drifted to Ere'ana. She would probably insist he approach the situation diplomatically. He could already hear her voice in his head, urging him to "try to be reasonable."

"Reasonable," he scoffed, standing up. "That's not really my style."

Still, something about the letter intrigued him. If Lucifer was genuinely extending an olive branch, it could mean a significant shift in the balance of power between Hell and Flame Island. And if he played his cards right, Kikidori might be able to secure Flame Island's independence once and for all.

For now, though, he shoved the letter into his coat pocket and decided to put off the decision until later. After all, he had just survived Christmas in Heaven—negotiating with Hell could wait.

The End of Chapter 38