Time in the afterlife was a curious thing. Days, months, and years didn't quite work the same way they did on Earth. Six years had passed in Heaven and Flame Island since Kikidori and Ere'ana had first admitted their feelings for each other. If they had been on Earth, it would have been only six months—a blink of an eye compared to the eternal timeline they inhabited.
Despite the strange fluidity of time, one thing remained constant: Ere'ana's unwavering love for Kikidori. Over the years, her feelings had only grown stronger, deepening into something she couldn't ignore. She saw something in him that no one else did, not even Kikidori himself. While others saw him as a dangerous and misunderstood figure, she saw the complexity of his soul, the heart he tried so hard to hide, and the potential for redemption he refused to acknowledge.
Kikidori, on the other hand, remained stubborn as ever. He cared for Ere'ana—more than he would ever admit—but the idea of marriage, of binding their lives together in such a way, felt… overwhelming. It wasn't that he didn't love her; he did, in his own gruff, complicated way. But commitment on that level? It was uncharted territory, and Kikidori had never been one to tread lightly into the unknown.
The day started like any other. Kikidori was perched on the throne in his obsidian castle, absently scrolling through his phone while Cerberus napped at his feet. The little Chihuahua snored softly, his tiny chest rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern. The castle was unusually quiet, save for the occasional crackle of fire from the molten rivers outside.
Suddenly, the familiar whoosh of angelic wings echoed through the chamber, and Kikidori didn't even need to look up to know who it was. Ere'ana had arrived.
"Kikidori," her melodic voice called, breaking the silence.
He glanced up from his phone, one eyebrow raised. "Ere'ana. What brings you here this time? Another invitation to Heaven? Because you know how much I love those."
She rolled her eyes, her golden hair catching the light as she floated gracefully toward him. "No, it's not that."
"Good," Kikidori muttered, leaning back in his throne. "Because I'm not in the mood for angelic lectures today."
Ere'ana ignored his sarcasm, her hands clasped in front of her as she stopped a few steps away from the throne. There was something different about her today, a nervous energy that Kikidori couldn't quite place.
"What?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "You look like you're about to say something that's going to annoy me."
Ere'ana hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Kikidori… we've been together for six years now."
He blinked, his wings twitching slightly. "Uh-huh. And?"
"And," she continued, her voice soft but insistent, "I think it's time we… take the next step."
Kikidori's brow furrowed. "What next step? We've already done the whole dating thing. You've met Cerberus. You've dragged me to Heaven more times than I can count. What else is there?"
Ere'ana's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked down at her hands before meeting his gaze. "I want us to get married."
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and for a moment, the room was silent except for the distant rumble of magma outside. Kikidori stared at her, his expression unreadable, before finally shaking his head.
"No."
Ere'ana's wings drooped slightly, but she wasn't deterred. She knew Kikidori better than anyone, and she knew that his first reaction to anything even remotely sentimental was to push it away.
"Why not?" she asked, stepping closer. "Is it because you don't love me?"
Kikidori's eyes widened slightly, and he sat up straighter in his throne. "What? No, that's not it."
"Then what is it?" Ere'ana pressed, her voice a mix of frustration and determination. "Because I've been patient, Kikidori. I've waited for years. And I know you, deep down, want this too."
Kikidori groaned, running a hand through his dark hair. "It's not about what I want. It's about what makes sense. I'm… I'm not the marrying type, Ere'ana. You know that."
"And why not?" she demanded, her golden eyes blazing with emotion. "Because you think you're a monster? Because you think you don't deserve happiness? That's not true, Kikidori. You're not a monster. You're—"
"Don't," he interrupted, his voice low. "Don't try to make me out to be something I'm not."
Ere'ana stared at him, her heart aching at the walls he kept putting up. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, but she wasn't ready to give up. Not on him. Not on them.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "Kikidori, listen to me. Marriage isn't about being perfect. It's not about deserving anything. It's about love. It's about choosing to spend eternity with someone, flaws and all. And I'm choosing you. Don't you think I deserve to have a say in this too?"
Kikidori looked away, his jaw clenched. Her words were hitting him harder than he cared to admit, but he didn't know how to respond.
Ere'ana stepped closer, her voice softening. "I know you're scared, Kikidori. I know this is new for you. But you don't have to go through it alone. I'll be with you every step of the way. I promise."
For a long moment, Kikidori didn't say anything. He stared at the ground, his mind racing. Finally, he let out a long sigh and looked up at her.
"Fine," he muttered. "You win. Let's get married."
Ere'ana's eyes widened in surprise, and then a radiant smile spread across her face. "Really? You mean it?"
"Yeah, yeah," Kikidori said, waving a hand. "But don't make a big deal out of it, alright?"
Ere'ana laughed, her wings spreading wide as she practically glowed with happiness. "Kikidori, this is a big deal! I can't believe you actually said yes!"
Kikidori rolled his eyes, though there was a small, almost imperceptible smile on his lips. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it. I'm still not singing at the ceremony."
Ere'ana laughed again, and for the first time in a long while, Kikidori felt a sense of peace. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something good.
The End of Chapter 48