Chiyo sat with her knees folded under herself. She was dressed in pure white and her hair floated around her, as if she was underwater, but she wasn’t. All around her people dressed in white with beautiful wings flew past her as if none of them noticed her. She reached back to touch her own back and gasped when she felt a pair of wings on her own back.
“….They must be angels…” she thought.
“I must be dead…” she sighed.
“Only for now…” a sweet and kind voice said.
Chiyo looked around until her eyes settled on a woman dressed in white with brown curly hair. She stood out from the rest of the people, for she seemed to notice Chiyo and lacked the wings that everyone else had. Chiyo recognized her instantly.
“Mom!” she cried, running to her.
Clara embraced her daughter. She kissed the top of her head.
“Chiyo…You’ve grown up to be a beautiful young woman. I’m so proud of you. And I am glad I have been granted this small time with you.”
Chiyo looked up at her mother.
“But what do you mean…only for now?” Chiyo asked.
“My dear…When Erik shot you…he only killed half of you.”
“The vampire half….” Chiyo said.
Clara nodded.
The pair started to walk together.
“So, what will happen? If the vampire half is gone…what is left?” Chiyo asked.
Clara smiled and looked at the angels that passed them by.
“Angel?!” Chiyo questioned.
Clara nodded.
“It will be scary at first, but you will become an angel…Then you must make a choice.”
“A choice?”
“If you want to live…you must accept your true nature as an angel…and as an angel you will have great power and get to live in heaven, protecting people from afar…and you would get to be with me…You will also be immortal,” she said.
“That’s great! I’d finally be with you!” Chiyo said.
And…since she would be immortal…like Ikuto…she could…
“But if you wish to live with your sisters and father….and that boy…You must give up your wings and immortality. You will be a normal human…”
Chiyo’s wings fluttered at the mention of being given up.
“Will it hurt?” Chiyo asked.
Clara nodded.
“More than you can ever imagine…The pain will haunt you for the rest of your life…” she said, touching the scars hidden under her dress.
“Was it worth it?”
Clara smiled brightly.
“Of course,” she said.
Chiyo closed her eyes.
“I…I’ve decided.”
Clara nodded, pain in her eyes. She pulled her daughter into a hug.
“We will meet again, my daughter…”
“Thank you, mom…” Chiyo said.
Everyone watched in awe as Chiyo’s body glowed with a pure white light and rose into the air. A pair of pure white wings sprouted from her back. She hovered there for a long time.
“Chiyo?” Ikuto questioned, not wanting to get his hope up.
Chiyo’s eyes snapped open. They were a bright, glowing blue. The looked down at Ikuto. Suddenly her head bent back and her mouth formed a silent scream which very quickly turned into a real scream. Her eyes stopped glowing and her wings tore off, sending a flurry of feathers around the room. She started to fall to the ground. Ikuto was there in a flash to catch her. As soon as she hit his arms, the screaming stopped. He noticed two raw scars on her back where the wings once were.
Chiyo opened her eyes and then gasped for air, only to start coughing. Ikuto stared at her in disbelief. He took a hand and carefully touched her cheek. She was real.
Chiyo looked up at Ikuto with love in her eyes.
“Ikuto…”she said.
Ikuto held her tightly and kissed her forehead.
“Chiyo…You’re safe?”
Chiyo nodded and smiled at him.
“I’m alright…”
“But how?” he asked.
“I’m half angel. I gave up my wings to be with you…” she said softly.
“So you’re?”
“Completely and utterly a boring human.”
Ikuto chuckled softly. He set her down, only for her to be tackled to the floor by her sisters. Amira thwacked her.
“DON’T YOU EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!” she shouted.
Chiyo laughed and hugged her sisters tightly.
“I’m sorry.”
Ikuto glanced over at Erik, who looked relieved, yet upset.
“This is not the end…You’re still a vampire…and Chiyo is still my betrothed…” Erik said, taking his leave.
Sousuke walked over and mussed Chiyo’s hair.
“Ne, sis…you ok?” he asked.
“Sis?” Chiyo questioned, “I’m fine…”
Her back ached, but Chiyo expected that.
“Good…I would not want my sister in law to be harmed…” he said smirking at Ikuto.
Ikuto’s cheeks turned red as he cleared his throat.
“Well…it’s time we returned the three of you home…” Ikuto said.
