ɴɪɴᴛʜ.

The queen groaned softly when she stirred from her sleep. She blinked her eyes a few times and realized that she is no longer at the kingdom. She sat up from the bed and looked at herself. Her gown changed into white lace gown with gold flower embroideries. She remembered the black creature earlier and she touched her neck. It is already treated and covered with bandages.

She looked around. She is in a white room with no windows and doors. She has no chance to escape unless she will use the powers Riku gave to her and destroy the walls. Her breathing is a little unsteady since she is still wondering where she is. She almost screamed when the black creature appeared in front of her.

It is a man. He removed his mask and she can't deny that he is good-looking. She studied his figure. He is more petite than Riku but his body built looks firm and strong. She was so busy examining him that she didn't notice he was already staring at her. He held her chin and brushed their lips together. Her eyes went wide and she pushed him away.

"I'm Itsuki, my queen. I learned that you don't like the king. Would you like to be my queen instead?" He knelt in front of her and reached for her hand to kiss it.

"If you will bring me back to the human world, I will consider your offer." She has no time to play around, so she told him what she wants.

"Only that? What about your daughter and grandson? You will leave them behind?" She didn't hesitate to nod. Knowing that her daughter is already turning into a demon, she knows she has her own way to get out of the underworld.

The queen is just a mere human but the king tainted her pure soul and gave her powers. She is already a demon but she doesn't want to accept that fact. Itsuki snapped his fingers lightly and a door appeared. She got up from the bed and he gestured to open it. Her hand was trembling when she reached for the knob and turned it.

The light is blinding her. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a small rose garden. She stretched her arm and her body started to glow. Her clothes changed into a simple shirt and pants. She looked at Itsuki and saw him wearing the same clothes as hers but black ones. She turned around and the white room earlier became a fully-furnished living room.

"Welcome back to the human world, my queen. Does this mean you're already mine?" He asked. She swallowed and went out to the garden instead.

Is she really back to the human world? She walked around, barefooted, and realized that she was back in Tokyo. She can clearly see the Tokyo Tower from afar. Is this what she really wants? Does this mean she will live in this world with this stranger? She is not dealing with the devil, right?

"Am I really back to the human world?" She asked and he nodded. He took something from his pocket and gave it to her. It is an identification card.

"Fujiwara Gia." She mumbled while staring at it. She saw her status and it says, 'married.' She looked at him again and felt her eyes teary.

"You're my wife here and we can make babies. I'm not playing you. You're really back here in the human world. You're back as a twenty-five year old married woman." He explained. She doesn't know for how long she stayed in the underworld.

"What year is it already?" She asked and they went back inside the house to show her the current calendar. It's already 2039.

"I stayed in the underworld for eighteen human years." She whispered. He leaned his face closer to hers and kissed her lips gently.

It is her first time to feel this kind of freedom. She felt so light and happy. She is no longer suffering. It is her first time to be selfish and she felt that her decision was just right. She kissed him back and wrapped her arms around him. Everything feels surreal but as much as she has time to stay here, she will enjoy it.

Days, weeks, months had passed. She fell in love with her captor. She stared at the gold ring on her finger. Until now, she is worried. She knows that everyone at the kingdom is looking for her. She rested her head on his arm and stared at his sleeping face. They just finished making love. She wants to surprise him. She is already three months pregnant.

She visited the doctor last week and confirmed that she is carrying his child. She learned that he is an angel who got the mission of rescuing a human like her from the underworld. He saved her in exchange for marrying her. This is basically against the rules of the underworld. The queen must be for the king but she chose to marry an angel and carry his child.

Her heart started to shake. She doesn't want to lose her husband and their child. She reached for his cheek and gently caressed it. She is still a demon and knowing that their child is healthy inside her belly gives her relief. She felt his arm around her waist and she smiled softly.

"Anata, I'm pregnant." She mumbled and Itsuki slowly opened his eyes when he heard this. He smiled gently and kissed her lips.

"I'm happy. We will have our little one soon." He kissed her forehead this time. Itsuki is the gentlest man she has ever met and she is not regretting that she married him. She is just wishing that she will be able to spend more time with him.

Few more months passed and they had a small private wedding. The guests are their friends from work. She doesn't know where her parents are already but she wished them happiness even though they didn't attend her wedding with Itsuki. It will be her due soon. Their friends congratulated them for their wedding and little one. It is her first time to have a wedding. She never got married to Riku after all. She just became his queen until then.

She gave birth a month after their private wedding. It is a boy. Her heart is filled with happiness, knowing that he looks like his father. A little Itsuki, that's it. They were so happy until the judgement day came. In front of her very own eyes, two guardians from heaven got their child.

"You are the sacrifice, Itsuki. We wish for your eternal peace." One of the guardians said before vanishing with their child.

Her tears fell as Riku appeared in front of her. He got her black wings spread widely with his red eyes. Her clothes turned back into a red and gold sequin gown and his servants captured Itsuki. She thought she would be happy with Itsuki forever but she was wrong. Her time is up and he found her. The gold rings they are wearing turned into ashes.

"Okaa-san!" She turned around when she heard Fuyu calling for her. They are back to the underworld. The younger hugged her tightly.

"Bring him to the prison. I'll go there in a bit." Riku ordered the servants and they dragged Itsuki out of the kingdom's hall.

"Itsuki! No! Itsuki!" She ran after them but Riku held her arm tight and stopped her. She pushed him away but he is stronger than her.

"They sacrificed him to me. He is destined to die in my hands or you want to kill him for me instead?" He said in a firm and cold voice and more tears fell from her eyes.