Kikidori groaned as he soared toward Heaven, his dark wings cutting through the ethereal light of the skies. He wasn't in the mood for another one of Ere'ana's spontaneous invitations, but her persistence left him with no choice. "I swear, if she starts singing again, I'm turning around," he muttered under his breath.
As he neared Heaven's golden gates, he could already feel the overwhelming purity radiating from within. It made his skin crawl, but he pushed through, folding his wings tightly behind him.
Ere'ana was waiting near the golden lake, her feet submerged in the water as usual. She turned when she heard him land and waved enthusiastically. "Kiki! You came!"
"Yeah, yeah. What's so important that I had to come all the way here?" Kikidori asked, crossing his arms.
Ere'ana hesitated, her expression unreadable. "I… I just wanted to tell you something," she said, her voice softer than usual.
Kikidori raised an eyebrow, already suspicious. "What is it?"
Instead of answering, Ere'ana stepped forward, reaching into a small pouch she had tied to her side. She pulled out something shiny and small, holding it up for Kikidori to see.
It was a gold ring, delicately engraved with intricate patterns.
Kikidori blinked, his wings twitching nervously. "Uh… What's that for?"
Ere'ana took a deep breath, her cheeks turning a faint pink. "I made this for you. I know you hate all the formal Heaven stuff, but… it's a token of how much I care about you."
For a moment, Kikidori was stunned. He wasn't used to this kind of gesture, especially not from someone like Ere'ana. "You… made this for me?"
"Yes." Ere'ana smiled, holding it out to him. "It's enchanted. It'll protect you when you're in danger."
Kikidori stared at the ring, then at Ere'ana. "You do realize I'm a god now, right? I don't need protection."
Ere'ana rolled her eyes. "It's not just for protection, Kiki. It's also a reminder. That no matter what happens, you have someone who's on your side."
Kikidori hesitated, his usual sarcasm faltering. He reached out slowly and took the ring from her hand. The moment it touched his skin, it felt warm, almost comforting.
"Thanks," he muttered, slipping it onto his finger. He avoided meeting her eyes, feeling uncharacteristically awkward.
Ere'ana beamed, her wings fluttering behind her. "See? It looks good on you."
Kikidori sighed, trying to regain his usual aloof demeanor. "Okay, great. Can I leave now?"
"Not yet," Ere'ana said quickly, stepping closer. "There's one more thing."
"What now?" Kikidori groaned, but before he could say anything else, Ere'ana reached up and kissed him.
It wasn't the soft, playful kiss she usually gave him. This one was deeper, more intense, and completely unexpected. For a moment, Kikidori froze, his mind racing.
When Ere'ana finally pulled away, her face was flushed, but she looked at him with determination. "I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me," she said, her voice steady.
Kikidori stared at her, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find the right words. "You… You're insane," he finally said, but his tone lacked its usual bite.
Ere'ana laughed softly. "Maybe. But you're stuck with me, Kiki."
Kikidori sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Whatever. Just stop inviting me to Heaven so much."
"No promises," Ere'ana said with a grin.
As Kikidori turned to leave, he glanced down at the ring on his finger. It still felt warm, and for the first time in a long time, he felt something unfamiliar in his chest—something almost like peace.
The End of Chapter 43