A Kiss Under The Moon

The world beneath them had settled into a quiet rhythm as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold. The streets were bathed in a soft, amber glow, and the city seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the night to unfold.

Kikidori stood alone on the rooftop, his wings folding against his back as he gazed out over the city. The cool breeze brushed past him, carrying the faint scent of the night air. His crimson eyes flicked to the sky as the first stars began to twinkle, signaling that it was almost time.

Tonight felt different. It was a feeling he couldn't shake, an unease in his chest that grew with every passing minute. He had been thinking about Ere'ana more than he cared to admit, but he wasn't the type to dwell on anything—least of all feelings.

He pushed the thoughts aside, turning his attention back to the rooftop.

Moments later, he heard the soft sound of wings, followed by the gentle landing of Ere'ana on the edge of the building. Her glow was unmistakable, like a beacon in the dark, and Kikidori couldn't help but feel an odd pull toward her.

"Late again, halo girl," he teased, but there was a softness to his voice that he didn't quite understand.

Ere'ana shot him a playful glare, folding her wings behind her. "I'm not late. You're just impatient."

"Not true," Kikidori replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'm always punctual. It's you who's the problem."

She rolled her eyes, stepping closer to him. The tension between them had been building over the past few weeks, their meetings becoming less about bickering and more about something... else. Something neither of them had fully acknowledged.

"I see you've been standing here by yourself," Ere'ana said, her tone softer now. "What's on your mind?"

Kikidori hesitated, his gaze flicking away. "Nothing important. Just… bored, I guess."

Ere'ana smiled knowingly. "You always say you're bored. But I think you're more than that."

Kikidori felt a pang in his chest at her words, but he refused to acknowledge it. Instead, he focused on the night around them, trying to distract himself from the growing tension.

For a long moment, they stood in silence, their gazes not meeting but somehow still connected. Kikidori felt an unfamiliar flutter in his stomach, the pull toward Ere'ana growing stronger.

Without thinking, he stepped toward her.

Ere'ana froze, her eyes widening slightly as she looked up at him, a flicker of hesitation in her expression. "Kikidori, what—"

Before she could finish, Kikidori cupped her face in his hand, his thumb brushing gently against her skin. Her breath hitched, her heart rate quickening as she realized what he was about to do. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

In that moment, Kikidori closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to hers. It was a soft, hesitant kiss at first, neither of them sure what to make of it. But as the seconds ticked by, Kikidori felt her respond, her lips parting just slightly as she kissed him back.

Ere'ana's mind raced, every instinct telling her to pull away, to stop this before it went any further. She was an angel, after all. She wasn't supposed to feel like this. She wasn't supposed to kiss a demon—someone from the very place she had been taught to avoid at all costs.

But as her heart beat faster and her senses flared to life, Ere'ana found herself caught in the moment, her lips lingering against his for just a heartbeat longer than she should have.

It was madness. It was dangerous.

But it was also... undeniable.

Kikidori pulled back slowly, his breath shallow as he looked down at her. His crimson eyes bore into hers, searching for any sign of rejection.

Ere'ana stood there, frozen, her cheeks flushed a deep red as she stared at him, her lips tingling from the kiss. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Kikidori…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He smirked, that usual cocky confidence returning as he stepped back. "Told you I could get you to kiss me."

But Ere'ana didn't laugh. Instead, she took a deep breath, her halo flickering faintly as she looked up at him, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. "What does this mean?"

Kikidori's smirk faltered for just a moment, his eyes darkening as he looked at her. "I don't know, Ere. But I'm not the one who kissed back."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. "I—"

"Don't worry about it," Kikidori interrupted, his tone surprisingly gentle. "I won't make you explain yourself. I get it. You're an angel. I'm… whatever the hell I am."

Ere'ana stared at him, trying to process the emotions swirling inside her. She had always known there was something different about their connection, something that neither of them could ignore. But she had never expected this.

"We're from different worlds, Kikidori," Ere'ana said quietly, her voice filled with a tinge of sadness. "We can't keep doing this."

"Yeah, I know," Kikidori replied, his voice low. "But that doesn't change what happened."

Ere'ana swallowed, her breath shaky as she took a step back. "I… I need some time to think."

Kikidori nodded, his expression unreadable. "I get it. Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

With that, Ere'ana turned and spread her wings, the soft glow surrounding her body like a halo as she took off into the sky. Kikidori watched her disappear into the night, a mix of frustration and longing filling his chest.

As much as he hated to admit it, the kiss had changed things. They were both walking a dangerous line, and neither of them knew how far they were willing to go.

For now, though, Kikidori would wait. And he'd let her figure it out.

The end of Chapter 11