The house was unusually calm for a change. Kikidori lounged on the couch, one leg propped on the armrest as he flipped lazily through channels on the Hellish Network. Ere'ana was in the kitchen, humming a soft tune while preparing dinner, and Kael was babbling in his high chair, smacking a toy hammer against the tray.
Yumi and Akuma were on the other couch, leaning into each other, lost in newlywed bliss. Yumi occasionally glanced at her wedding ring with a shy smile, and Akuma wrapped an arm around her waist, murmuring sweet nothings.
Then Kikidori froze. His ears twitched.
"What the fuck…" he muttered, sitting upright.
Ere'ana looked up from the kitchen. "What's wrong now?"
"I swear I just heard… a bark," Kikidori said, furrowing his brow.
Yumi tilted her head. "A bark? Like a dog?"
"Yeah. But not just any bark," Kikidori said, standing up and glancing around. "It sounded like—"
Before he could finish, there it was again. A faint, high-pitched bark that seemed to echo from somewhere deep within the house.
This time, Yumi shot up from the couch. "Wait… I heard it too."
Ere'ana stopped what she was doing, wiping her hands on a towel. "What are you two going on about?"
Another bark rang out, louder this time, and Ere'ana froze. Her eyes widened. "Oh no…"
Kikidori's head whipped around to her. "What do you mean 'oh no'? You recognize that bark?"
Ere'ana looked at Yumi, who looked back at her with equal parts confusion and disbelief. "It can't be," Yumi whispered.
A final, loud bark echoed through the house, and Kael squealed in delight, clapping his hands. "Doggie!" he babbled.
"Holy shit," Kikidori muttered, pacing toward the front door. "No way. No fucking way."
As if in response, the barks grew more insistent, now accompanied by the unmistakable sound of tiny claws scraping against the door.
Yumi darted forward, her heart racing. She swung the door open.
And there he was.
Cerberus.
The tiny Chihuahua, with his scruffy black fur and bright, beady eyes, stood on the porch, wagging his tail furiously. He looked just as he had before he was crushed under the rubble during the war for the Universal Rift. Except now… he had a faint glow about him. An ethereal, otherworldly shimmer that seemed to pulsate with energy.
Yumi gasped, dropping to her knees. "Cerberus?! How—how are you—"
Cerberus barked happily and leaped into her arms, licking her face.
Kikidori stood frozen, staring at the dog with wide eyes. "Wait a fucking minute. Cerberus is dead. I *specifically* remember being told that when I got back. You're telling me this little shit survived being squished under a fucking building?"
Ere'ana stepped forward, her angelic intuition kicking in. "No… he didn't survive. This isn't him. Not entirely."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kikidori snapped.
Ere'ana crouched beside Yumi, studying Cerberus closely. "There's something… divine about him now. Look at his aura. It's like he's been brought back, but not through natural means."
"Natural means? He's a Chihuahua! How the hell does a dog get resurrected?" Kikidori threw his hands in the air.
"Maybe the same way you came back, Dad," Yumi said, her voice soft as she cradled Cerberus.
Kikidori blinked, the realization hitting him like a brick. "You're telling me some asshole out there decided to revive *him*?"
Cerberus barked again, as if offended.
"Dad, show some respect! Cerberus was part of the family!" Yumi snapped.
"Yeah, and he's the reason we couldn't have nice shit. He chewed up every damn shoe I owned!" Kikidori shot back.
Ere'ana ignored the bickering and gently reached out to touch Cerberus. The moment her hand made contact, a surge of energy pulsed through her, and she gasped. "Oh no…"
"What now?" Kikidori asked, exasperated.
Ere'ana's face grew serious. "He wasn't just brought back randomly. Something—or someone—sent him here for a reason. There's a message."
"A message? From who?" Yumi asked, holding Cerberus tighter.
Cerberus barked and wriggled free, darting into the house. The family followed him as he ran through the halls, stopping in the living room. He barked three times, then sat, wagging his tail and staring at the fireplace.
"What the fuck is he doing?" Kikidori asked, scratching his head.
Cerberus barked again, and the flames in the fireplace flickered… then roared to life, turning a deep crimson.
A voice emanated from the flames, deep and foreboding. "You thought it was over. But it's only just begun."
Everyone froze. Even Kael stopped babbling, staring at the fire with wide eyes.
"What the hell is this?" Kikidori demanded, stepping in front of Ere'ana and Kael protectively.
The voice laughed darkly. "You've faced war. You've faced death. But now… you'll face something far worse. Prepare yourselves."
The flames died down, leaving the room in an eerie silence.
Cerberus barked once more, then curled up on the rug as if nothing had happened.
Ere'ana clutched Kael tightly, her angelic glow dimming with fear. "What… was that?"
Kikidori clenched his fists, his jaw tight. "I don't know. But I'll be damned if I let anything fuck with my family again."
Yumi held Cerberus close, her mind racing. Whatever had brought Cerberus back… it wasn't just an act of kindness. It was a warning.
And they all knew it.
The End of Chapter 30