The fires of Hell burned dimly today, casting the landscape in an eerie, orange glow. Rivers of molten lava bubbled in the distance, and jagged, black rocks jutted up from the scorched earth like the remains of some ancient, apocalyptic forest. It was quiet—too quiet, really. The kind of quiet that made you notice your own footsteps echoing against the rocks, your breathing louder than it should be. But Yumi didn't care about the silence. She had her headphones on, blasting music, and her boots stomped against the ground with more attitude than purpose.
It had been weeks since the war ended, but Hell hadn't recovered. The scars of battle were everywhere: shattered fortresses, crumbled statues, and the blood of demons, angels, and gods alike stained the ground. The Universal Rift was secure now, hidden deep within Heaven's vaults, but the cost had been immense.
Yumi tugged at the edge of her black hoodie, keeping her hands stuffed in her pockets as she hummed along to the music in her head. She was alone, as usual, wandering through the desolate expanse of Hell, trying to clear her mind.
Eventually, the hum turned into words, and before she realized it, she was singing.
"Tears ain't my thing, don't got the time,
While the world falls apart, I just say, 'I'm fine.'
I've been through Hell, quite literally,
But crying? Nah, that's not for me."
Her voice carried across the barren landscape, the kind of melody that made the air feel heavy, like it was holding its breath to listen. She kicked a rock out of her path, watching it tumble down a nearby slope as she continued.
"Lost my dog, lost my girl, lost it all,
But you won't catch me curled up in a ball.
Yeah, I scream, yeah, I fight,
But I won't cry myself to sleep tonight."
A demon slithered past her, its serpentine body weaving between the rocks. It glanced at her briefly, unimpressed, before disappearing into the shadows. Yumi didn't care. She was in her own world now.
She climbed up a hill, the jagged rocks scraping at her boots, and when she reached the top, she spread her arms out wide, her voice growing louder.
"Pain's a bitch, and yeah, it burns,
But I'll be damned if I don't take my turn.
I'm a demon's kid, with angel's grace,
And I'll keep going, no matter the case."
Her voice cracked a little at the last line, but she didn't stop. She let the emotion bleed into her words, her tone softer now, almost vulnerable.
"Yeah, I've lost more than I can say,
But crying's a game I don't wanna play.
I'll stand tall, I'll stand strong,
Even when everything goes wrong."
The wind picked up, blowing her hair into her face, but she didn't brush it away. She just stood there, staring out at the ruined expanse of Hell, her voice trailing off into the silence.
For a moment, she just stood there, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling as if the song had taken something out of her. Then she sighed, wiping at her face with her sleeve.
"Stupid wind," she muttered to herself, pretending the tears weren't there.
She stuffed her hands back into her pockets and started walking again, her footsteps echoing in the empty landscape.
Behind her, a figure watched from the shadows, his wings folded against his back. Kikidori had been following her for a while, keeping his distance. He didn't want to interrupt. He'd heard every word of her song, and it hit him harder than he expected.
"Damn, kid," he muttered under his breath. "You're stronger than I ever gave you credit for."
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her to her thoughts.
The End of Chapter 4