Ere'ana hadn't been to Heaven in sixteen years. Sixteen long years spent in Hell, raising Yumi with Kikidori and dealing with all the chaos their lives brought. Heaven had always been home to her, a place of serenity and warmth, but now, standing at the threshold with Yumi beside her, Ere'ana felt a twinge of unease.
Yumi, on the other hand, looked unimpressed. She stood there in her signature black outfit—ripped fishnet sleeves, a studded choker, and eyeliner so thick it could probably block out the sun. Her hair, dyed jet black, swayed in the slight breeze. She crossed her arms and stared at the pearly gates of Heaven as if she were about to walk into the lamest concert ever.
"So, this is it?" Yumi said, raising an eyebrow. "This is Heaven? It's... bright."
Ere'ana chuckled nervously, though Yumi's words cut deeper than she let on. She had always wanted Yumi to see this part of her, the part that came from a world of peace and light. But now, standing here, she realized how far removed her daughter was from Heaven's purity.
A moment later, the gates creaked open, revealing a shimmering city of gold and light. Angels with glowing wings and radiant auras flitted about, singing hymns that seemed to make the very air sparkle.
"Welcome home, Ere'ana," a familiar voice called out.
Ere'ana turned to see an angel she hadn't seen in years. Gabriel, the Archangel, stood before them, his towering figure and piercing blue eyes exuding authority. But as his gaze shifted to Yumi, his expression faltered.
"And... who is this?" Gabriel asked, his tone polite but wary.
"This is my daughter, Yumi," Ere'ana said proudly, placing a hand on Yumi's shoulder.
Yumi, however, shrugged her mother's hand off and muttered, "Yeah, hi, whatever." She glanced around, clearly unimpressed by the grandeur of Heaven.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Your daughter? With *him*?"
Ere'ana stiffened. She had expected this reaction but hoped it wouldn't come so soon. "Yes," she said firmly. "With Kikidori."
Gabriel's face hardened. "You brought the child of a fallen angel into Heaven?"
Yumi rolled her eyes. "Oh, here we go," she muttered under her breath.
"Excuse me?" Gabriel said, clearly hearing her.
Yumi looked up at him, her eyes defiant. "I said, here we go. You're gonna lecture us about how my dad's some big bad demon and how I don't belong here, right? Go ahead, get it over with."
"Yumi!" Ere'ana hissed, mortified.
But Gabriel didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he sighed and said, "Follow me. I'll take you to the Council."
As they walked through Heaven, Yumi couldn't help but notice how many angels stopped what they were doing to stare at her. She felt their eyes on her black clothing, her heavy makeup, and the faint aura of Hellfire that clung to her. Whispers followed her every step.
"Is that her?"
"The daughter of the Prince of Hell?"
"Why would Ere'ana bring her here?"
Yumi's fists clenched at her sides, but she kept walking, her chin held high. She wasn't about to let these holier-than-thou jerks get to her.
When they finally reached the Council Chamber, Yumi found herself standing before a group of the most powerful angels in Heaven. Their glowing forms radiated an almost blinding light, and their eyes seemed to pierce right through her.
"Ere'ana," one of the angels said, their voice echoing like a thousand bells. "Why have you brought this... child here?"
"This child," Ere'ana said, her voice steady, "is my daughter. She deserves to see where I come from."
"But she is not one of us," another angel said. "Her very presence here disrupts the harmony of Heaven."
"Gee, thanks," Yumi muttered sarcastically, earning a sharp look from Ere'ana.
Gabriel stepped forward. "She is her father's child," he said. "A child of Hell. She has no place here."
"Hey!" Yumi snapped, finally losing her patience. "I didn't ask to come here, okay? My mom dragged me along because she thought it'd be a fun little family trip or something. So, if you all hate me so much, just say the word, and I'll leave."
The Council fell silent, clearly taken aback by Yumi's outburst.
Ere'ana stepped forward, her wings flaring slightly. "That's enough!" she said, her voice ringing with authority. "She is my daughter, and I will not have her disrespected like this. If you have a problem with her, then you have a problem with me."
The angels exchanged uneasy glances. Ere'ana had always been one of their most beloved members, and her words carried weight.
Finally, one of the angels sighed and said, "Very well. She may stay... for now. But if she disrupts the peace of Heaven, she will be sent back to Hell immediately."
"Whatever," Yumi said, crossing her arms.
Ere'ana shot her a warning look but said nothing.
---
As they left the Council Chamber, Yumi muttered, "Well, that was fun."
Ere'ana sighed. "Yumi, please. Could you try to behave just a little?"
"Mom, they hate me," Yumi said flatly. "They were probably planning how to kick me out the second they saw me."
"They just don't understand," Ere'ana said softly.
"Yeah, well, I don't understand them either," Yumi replied. "So, I guess we're even."
As they walked back toward the gates, Yumi suddenly stopped and turned to her mother. "Why did you even bring me here?"
Ere'ana hesitated. "Because I wanted you to see that there's more to life than Hell," she said. "I wanted you to see where I come from and maybe... understand me a little better."
Yumi looked at her for a long moment before shrugging. "Well, thanks, I guess. But next time, maybe don't drag me into a place where everyone hates me."
Ere'ana smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Yumi. I just thought it would be good for you."
Yumi sighed. "It's fine. Let's just go home."
As they walked through the gates of Heaven and back into the fiery depths of Hell, Yumi couldn't help but feel a strange sense of relief. Heaven might have been her mother's home, but it would never be hers.
The End of Chapter 25