Author's Note: Double updates since I forgot to update on Monday. Enjoy, and have a great weekend ^_^. I'm really busy now, so I will forget about updating from time to time. 

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It was a place of glory and beauty.

The archives of the heavenly realm. Alas, now, it has gone to ruin.

Pillars that scaled into the sky were destroyed, crumbling down. The pavement had cracks on it, besmirching the intricate patterns that linked with one another. The grand entrance to the archives was completely destroyed as well, the stone doors were blasted through.

Whereas, the statues situated beside the entrance were crumbling. They were crafted to honor the guardian beasts that guarded the archives. Alas, the beasts fell to the demons when war broke out, defending their home to their last breath.

K'xug, Hana and Raz walked behind Silia, not saying a word the entire time. The three of them were observing the glorious heavenly realm they knew, but it has now been utterly ruined.

So this is what has become of the heavenly realm...

K'xug furrowed his eyebrows, horrified at the extent of the damage.

"It's unbelievably tragic, isn't it?" Raz said, a sad expression on his face. He had the same reaction when he first witnessed the tragic sight of the home he once knew.

No matter what, the heavenly realm was still their home, where sad yet happy memories were made.

"War is indiscriminate," K'xug responded. "It only takes and gives you nothing in return."

K'xug closed his eyes, recalling the memories of his past where he saw his brethren dying before him. His anger and rage that he carried, along with the deaths he brought about due to that.

Despite what he experienced on a smaller scale, it was still war.

A war that Xue stepped in to prevent escalating any further.

However, that was the only war he could prevent.

The next war took away his sanity and innocence instead.

"It doesn't matter who or what you are." K'xug added on.

Raz sighed, looking ahead. "I wonder if it'll ever end."

K'xug opened his eyes, shrugging.

On the other hand, Hana was observing her surroundings intently and her steps started to slow down.

K'xug immediately noticed that Hana was lacking behind, and she eventually came to a halt. He stopped at the same time, turning around to look at her.

"Go on ahead, Raz."

"I'll tell Silia to set it up first," Raz nodded, patting K'xug on the shoulder. "I hope everything ends well for you and her."

"Even if it doesn't, I'll stay by her side the entire time."

"That's just like you." Raz chuckled, walking off.

"Hana."

"...mhm?" she hummed in response, snapping out of her daze.

K'xug smiled, walking towards her. "What are you thinking about so deeply?"

Hana lowered her head as she shuffled her feet, not answering immediately. She was wearing the white robes she always wore in the heavenly realm, it contrasted against her bright, wavy red hair that reached down to her waist. She was always one to speak without hesitation and thinking, thus, seeing her like this, K'xug realised that recovering her powers and memories completely changed her.

"Don't worry, Hana," he reassured. "Speak freely, just like you always do."

Hana brought her head up, a touched look on her face. She glanced around once more before opening her mouth to finally speak.

"It's this place."

"What about it?"

"I was tricked by another angel and came here, and Xue saved my life. That's when I first met him," Hana explained, her tone nervous and she looked back at K'xug. "And then you."

She gave him a shy smile, her blue eyes holding a hint of vulnerability.

"I'm glad I met you," K'xug smiled softly, patting her head. "Hana Katae."

Hana faltered, clearly not expecting those words from K'xug. She bit on the inside of her cheek, trying to control her emotions as she nodded her head vehemently.

"Me too, K'xug, I'm happy that I met all of you," she continued smiling, her voice a little hoarse. "So, so happy."

Seeing her in such a flustered and emotional state, K'xug softened his gaze and he moved his hand from her head to her cheek, touching her gently.

Hana blinked her blue eyes at him, the smile still on her face.

"It's not any less for me either." K'xug whispered.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing at all." K'xug smiled.

The first time he laid his eyes on her, she didn't know.

She didn't know he was there.

Her shoes were placed aside as she dangled her legs above the lotus pond, seated on the stone fence of the pavilion. There was a pod of heavenly koi fish swimming around in the pond and they were extremely intelligent, as well as larger in size compared to the koi fish found in the mortal realm.

One of them stuck their heads out, peering curiously at the red-haired angel.

She noticed the fish, waving at it.

"Hello pretty fish! I'm Hana Katae, nice to meet you!"

There was a playful glint in its beady eyes and it spun its body, splashing water onto Hana's face. Since its body was huge, the amount it hit Hana with wasn't small.

"...???"

The red-haired angel blinked rapidly, the water dripping down her face as she stared at the koi fish.

K'xug, who was watching from the shadows, was baffled at the whole exchange.

The fish danced around gleefully, pleased by its playful action and the ridiculous expression on Hana's face.

"Hahaha!"

All of a sudden, she burst out laughing.

The sunlight beamed down on her, her white robes were drenched slightly by the water and there was a twinkle of joy in her blue eyes.

She leaned in, tugging her hair behind her ear as she wore a wide smile on her face.

"You are so cute! Do you want to play with me more?"

K'xug was stunned at that sight.

He...had never seen a smile so beautiful.

A smile so beautiful that he couldn't help but smile along too.

It was a treasured memory that only he knew to himself.

"K'xug! Hana! Silia has started to link the waypoints!" Raz hollered. "Mir was there too but I told him to get lost!"

It was a bright sunny day.

A good day to return.

K'xug clasped his hand around hers, pulling her along gently. "Let's go home, Hana."

"...!"

Hana gasped, stumbling along and she started to walk beside K'xug.

"Mhm, le-let's go."

Albeit, after a few steps, Hana's pace began to slow down and K'xug noticed it once again. He paused, spinning around to look at her.

"Are you afraid?"

Hana nodded. "Mhm."

"Don't be," K'xug smiled. "I told you, didn't I? We have been prepared to forgive you, as long as you have forgiven yourself."

"But I..."

"If you can't, and you are still afraid," he leaned in, caressing her face. "I'm always here for you."

"...!"

Hana widened her eyes, pressing her lips together. "Wh-what if it takes forever?"

"Give yourself time, and have more confidence, Hana."

She squeezed his hand, lowering her head.

"...okay."

Her voice was trembling as she uttered that reply.

***

The location of the waypoint was an empty room in the archives, and the only object within the room was a crystal hovering in the air. Below the crystal was a drawn circle surrounded by intricate and indecipherable symbols. It was a device created by the first Supreme God, and it was supposed to link the three realms together.

It was to foster closer relations to the three realms, but alas, the waypoints were used for insidious purposes over time. Afterwards, the waypoints were deactivated one after another, and those that remained activated were kept on a tight watch.

The crystal was overflowing with light magic and it was impossible to destroy it. The power of light magic belonged to the first Supreme God, and no one was capable enough to overcome it. Hence, in order to disable the waypoints completely, they destroyed the devices to activate the waypoints.

"It's perfectly intact after all this time," Raz muttered out in disbelief. "The others I have come across were badly damaged or completely ruined."

The room was enshrouded in a white glow, highlighting the features of the people inside the room.

"I'm sure you know the procedures," Silia stepped aside, gesturing to K'xug and Hana. "Go ahead."

K'xug couldn't sense any traps in the waypoint. He didn't dare let his guard down since this area was under the scrutiny of Mir, even though the man himself was wallowing in misery right now.

"I'll be remaining here temporarily, there are still some matters I have to solve and questions I need answered" Raz stated, crossing his arms across his chest. "You can leave Mir to me."

"Don't let that bastard anywhere near Xue again." K'xug growled.

"Definitely."

"K'xug." Silia called out.

He turned to look at her.

"...is the Supreme God..." she hesitated, placing her hand on her chest. "Is the Supreme God doing fine?"

"Fine..." K'xug trailed off, thinking of his reunion with Xue and the journey they shared in the mortal realm.

He let out a short laugh.

"He has become more grumpy, but other than that, at least right now I can confidently say..." K'xug grinned. "He is doing more than fine."

"Xue has Cecil by his side," Hana added, smiling proudly. "She's a great person, and very pretty too!"

Silia inhaled shakily, her eyes brimming with tears and she bowed her head. The burden that she had been holding in her heart started to ease a little.

"I pray for the days ahead, for all of you, to be one of peace and happiness."

K'xug and Hana did not say a word, looking at one another with a small smile on their face. Silia lifted her head up and she bowed once more.

"I'll take my leave now, please have a safe journey down." Silia straightened herself and smiled at them, spinning around to leave the room.

At least for now, she could leave with her head held high.

"Take good care of yourselves," Raz nodded at them. "If any of you were to ever return, I will gladly offer my assistance once again."

"Even if it costs your life?" K'xug raised his eyebrows.

"That wouldn't be a problem at all." Raz chuckled before leaving the room as well.

Now, it was just K'xug and Hana. The two of them gazed at each other, their hands still entwined together.

"Are you ready, Hana?"

Hana opened her mouth but she couldn't utter the words to agree with K'xug. She closed her mouth and repeated the process again.

Alas, she still couldn't find it in her to agree.

"Like I said, don't be afraid."

"..."

"Now, let's go."

K'xug pulled her along gently, his smile encouraging. Hana stumbled behind him, unable to say a word and her expression one of conflict.

When they were a step away from the waypoint, it was as if something snapped within Hana. She panicked, extricating her hand from K'xug and she staggered back.

"...?"

"I-I can't do it, K'xug."

K'xug paused, looking at her.

"I did so many horrible things, so many stupid things. I can't go back, I can't forgive myself for everything. What I did to Xue, to Cecil and to you..." Hana rambled on, shaking her head vehemently. "I can't do it, I-I really can't do it!"

"Hana–"

"I'm so dumb, I believe people too easily. I do things without thinking and I'm not careful like Cecil or Xue. What if I did it again? What if I hurt you all again? Th-that's how I am, that's how Hana Katae is. I'm no different from Mir!"

Unbeknownst to him, the whole exchange between them and Mir made her anxious once again.

She was no different from him.

There was no guarantee she would end up the same way.

"That's ridiculous, Hana! You are not Mir! People change, and you can change too! Besides, even if that were to happen again, we would still forgive you–"

"It shouldn't happen again! Because if it does, all of you will abandon me someday!" Hana exclaimed.

K'xug froze.

"That's what everyone did, since it happened again and again! I understand that, and I understand why they abandoned me!"

How could they not?

She could see how much of a burden she was now.

"..."

"No matter how kind all of you are, no matter how much you pity me or want to help me...eventually, just like everyone else..."

Hana clenched her fists.

"All of you will throw me away someday!"

At this point, Hana couldn't hold back her tears anymore and she started crying. Upon realising that she was crying, Hana quickly wiped away her tears but it wasn't enough.

It was flowing out profusely, just like her most inner thoughts.

It was happening again.

Unable to hold back her thoughts once again, she began to wail like a young child.

"Th-that's why I didn't want any of you to save me! That's why I wanted to leave! I didn't want to be thrown away again, I-I didn't want to be left alone again! It'll happen again, I know it will!"

"That's why mother and father were always so protective of me! That's why people disliked me! I-I tried, I tried to change but it's–it's not enough! I am never good enough!"

She wiped her tears until her skin started to redden.

"Your pity and your kindness. Someday–someday, it'll run out! And all that's left...is me...and only me..."

Hana continued wailing, shaking her head vigorously.

"I don't want th-that. I-I don't want that, I don't want–"

"Just what do you take me for?"

Hana felt both of her arms being restricted and she blinked, sniffling as she looked up at K'xug. She was momentarily startled by their close distance.

"Do you think I'm doing this out of pity and kindness?"

"Yo-you aren't?"

"What kind of bullshit–" K'xug flared up before he paused, sighing in realisation. "It's my fault, I am the real idiot here."

There were still stray tears rolling down her face, she was confused by K'xug's actions and words.

"But why–"

K'xug leaned in, cutting off her words with his own lips.

Hana stiffened, her eyes growing wide in disbelief.

The kiss was gentle but fleeting, since K'xug separated almost immediately. He gazed into her blue eyes with his different-coloured eyes. His wings sprouted out from his back, one white and the other black.

"I love you, Hana Katae," K'xug admitted in a low voice, clear and fervent. He brought her limp arms down to her side, his hands sliding up from her arms to her shoulder. "I have loved you for two hundred years, and I will continue doing so."

He leaned in, his hands going around her neck.

Hana felt something soft and ticklish around her neck, making her glance down.

K'xug withdrew a moment later, revealing the object around her neck.

It was a necklace of two distinct feathers. One belonging to an angel and one belonging to a demon. The life force flowing from it was obviously from the man standing before Hana, and she looked up at him, completely stunned.

"It's a piece of myself, a token of my promise to you. To remain by your side as I love you till the end of time."

"K'xug..."

"Now, do you still think I'm doing this out of pity and kindness?" K'xug asked, an indecipherable emotion swirling within his eyes.

"Yo-you love me?"

"Always."

"Yo-you won't abandon me?"

"I won't. I'd rather die."

Hana sobbed, pouncing onto K'xug as the tears flowed out again.

"You love me..."

"I always have, so why are you crying again?" K'xug embraced her back, slightly flustered.

"You love me."

"Yes."

"You love me and you won't abandon me."

"Yes, yes."

K'xug reached down her body and lifted her up into the air, making her gasp. She looked down at him, trying to stop her tears from spilling anymore.

She didn't want to cry anymore.

Hana didn't want her tears to fall onto his face either.

"Mhmm, mhmm," she nodded, squishing his cheeks together as she smiled with a choked laugh. "I love you too, I always have! I want to stay by your side forever!"

K'xug laughed quietly as she moved her hands away, smiling back at her. "I get it, stay by my side all you want. So, don't cry anymore and continue smiling."

Your smile is the most beautiful sight in this world.

"Kiss me!"

"Gladly."

He lowered her body, putting her down on the ground before placing his lips upon hers.

This time, the kiss wasn't fleeting and neither was it gentle. It was intense, passionate and enough to take one's breath away. The white glow from the waypoint bathed the loving couple in a warm light, and the two embraced each other for a long while.

Not separating even when Hana found herself pinned against the wall.

"...K'xug..."

"Mm."

"We...have to...go?"

"Mmm."

K'xug enshrouded her with his wings, one arm on the wall while the other was around her waist. He withdrew slightly, allowing them to breath before he leaned in with a smirk.

"Just a bit more, Hana."

Once again, he sealed her lips.

***

It was yet another deal from him.

The cobalt blue-haired devil.

"So, how about it? For your precious Cecil Lan."

This time, the ash blonde-haired man knew better than to trust this devil that enjoyed his pranks and lies.

The outstretched hand from Veau was smacked away by Xue.

"I don't need it."

His expression was extremely dark as he growled out those words. His white wings flapped as he soared into the air, leaving Veau behind.

"He has almost fully recovered his powers and soul," Veau muttered to himself. "What a pity."

He scoured around the Sacred Forest, his demonic red eyes that were glowing could see the traces of life forces scattered around. Just then, he spotted a familiar life force that was similar to Xue.

"Brother."

Veau paused.

The feather hidden within his robes was trembling, resonating with dark magic.

It belonged to Zeau.

He retrieved it, holding the black feather in his palm.

"Zeau?"

"It's Master."

"What?"

Zeau's voice in his mind sounded weak.

"Master...he's back. He's out of seclusion."

Veau took a while to comprehend those words, making the link between them. He clutched the feather in his hand.

"So Master has finally decided to take a stance in this war."

"He certainly did."

Veau smiled lazily to himself, a cold glint in his eyes. "An angel is still an angel after all."

That's right.

All except her.

He went to the necklace around his neck with his free hand, caressing the feathers in a gentle manner.

"...you need to hurry."

"Don't worry. I have news of my own to share as well."

Veau glared in the direction of the particular lifeforce he spotted in the Sacred Forest before looking at the black feather in his hand. He sighed, summoning out a portal and he hesitated before stepping through it.

"Just wait a little longer, Eona."

The next time, he would snatch that mirror back no matter what.

Even if it meant killing Cecil Lan and Xue.

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

You really don't know.

You don't know how glad I am to have met you.

That's alright.

I'll let you know...slowly.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

I don't need it.

I can find her myself.

I always have.

This time, I won't lose her anymore.

...I don't want to lose her again.

《 stop 》