#bishamon carrying kazuma!! oh!!!!!!!

[h0estar]

i am about to light myself on fire

[yatorihell]

Noragami Reread Volume 18-21

We've finally come back to the original wish, and there's a lot of foreshadowing going on... I wish I had Discord emojis

Vol 18

68

Takemika and Yato still fist fighting in the background as their guides chat

Kiun defending Takemika's actions from Sekiun

This is the first time we've seen Nora get banged up this badly

Nana sees a whole army and is ready to catch hands I love her

Kazuma shows up to stop Bishamon and the whole flashback of him hold her hand

'I will always be by your side' (40 chapters later)

God remember when this chapter dropped and so did Kazuma hhfg

69

The whole flashback of Kazubisha then going to current situation I hate this manga

Who's that beefcake god Yato took the garment from hello

'You will never save anyone' vs recent chapter

Father neck cut tracker: 1

Baby Yato panel and then he just obliterates Heaven

'I'm not letting dad kill another drinking buddy' then he slashes her

Oh I'm so sad Adachitoka you make me so sad that Kazuma is carried away

Oh I'm so sad Adachitoka I'm going to kill myself in front of you that flashback to choki vs the bloody ear I'll never forgive you

70

Oh yes we're back to tying up Yato

I PROMISE I WON'T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOU

Hiyori imagining Yato dying like Ebisu then going to be useful find Bishamon

Yato popping off on heaven

Amaterasu reveal followed by immediate death sentence hshdh

BOXKINE ARRIVES @boxkine I miss you <3

God remember when we got that memory page and dissected the hell out of it, thentheories on what container it was

71

Tenjin coming in clutch with the trial by pledge

Remember the reaction to Tsuyu getting beheaded jsbdbn Tenjin and Yato's faces when it happens

Daikoku volunteering I'm so sad Adachitoka you make me so sad

Yato's reaction to it all I hate this

Yukine memories breaking through nsbdb hell

Yato's dark nature seeping out why couldn't you show it to us king

Oh remember how bad this cliffhanger was with the fact Kofuku is a bad luck charm

Volume 19

72

Oh Hiyori's hand on Yato's face she's so relieved

Small trio panel jsbd

Kofuku’s guilt over not wanting to risk Daikoku but tbf they all acknowledge they wouldn't risk their own guides

Hiyori waiting for Yukine to fall asleep before leaving him

Yukine's bloody nails not a foreshadowing at all

Kuraha scratching the door, poor thinvs stuck in form until Bishamon wakes up in 5 years

Arahabaki faking Nana's death to bring her home

'I abandoned my little girl' there are several daddy issues in this manga

Yukine trauma getting stuck in the dark it gets worseee

Adachitoka sweetening us up with happy trio panel as if they didn't just traumatise Yukine

73

Time for a lughthearted chapter of Ebisu getting kidnapped

Kunimi bargaining for vacation time as if Ebisu's life isn't on the line

Kunimi with no sleep is how I feel

Little Nora is so innocent she won't kill you

Ebisu not cared for and he knows he'll be replaced, but at this point it's child neglect

'Death doesn't mean the end of flesh it's the end of memories' running of the most recent chapter live laugh lobotomy

Hiyori being useful finding Ebisu with scent

Remember the superkunimi photoshop trend we did

Oh Hiyori and Yukine height difference grows I'm so sad

Yukine having a scary dream but it was Yato and he felt better

WILL THEY HAVE TO FACE IT EVENTUALLY

I WANT TO BE HERE WATCHING OVER THEM

Adachitoka is really giving the trio content before separating them for like 5 years

74

Hiyori narcolepsy plot finally returns

SO EVEN AFTER I GROW UP I WANT TO REMEMBER IT

Oh look at all the photos I'm so sad Adachitoka you make me so sad

Hiyori shooting down the flash mob idea and it happens anyway

THOSE COLD DEAD EYES I mean it's accurate

Yato thinking Bishamon can come as if she isn't hanging by a thread

Takemika joining because he thinks it'll teach him how to be like Yato hdhd

Nora fuck off I forgot what you're about to do

Oh they're at the naming place I'm so sad

ALTHOUGH YOU MAY STUMBLE AND LOSE YOUR WAY I'M HERE TO CALL OUT YOUR NAME there is a gun in my mouth

Oh I'm going to end it the blossoms and his real name is spring tree oh I'm so sad Adachitoka you make me so sad

Hiyori's wearing her old uniform and Yato notices she's grown

Nora you fucking slut you ruined the whole chapter (I'm not slut shaming I'm just mad)

75

Oh Yatori are ao happy it's gunna end so soon

Yato forbidding Yukine's romance ahhg

Takemika just bursting through the roof like it's nothing

God another ablution for Yukine you'd think he'd just come out with it after the last time

Kiun is a whore confirmed

Oh this is the last time the three of them are together I'm so sad it was when Yukine runs off and then jdjdbd

'You think Yaboku's going to come for his daddy's head' yes <3

God what is that face Nora I can't tell if she actually likes Yukine

Nora girl bossing gaslighting herself into Takemika's employ

Oh my god as soon as I saw Hiyori with the bike I realised where I was I hate this

'Maybe you don't even realise when you're in love' what if I died

Yato read her diary NO THATS WHY HE'S DOING IT AAAAAAAA

He's following Bishamons plan I'm so sad

'I KNOW THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET ME HIYORI' Oh my god its because he believes he can be reincarnated from Hiyori

'YOU'LL SEE ME AGAIN' YEAH AND YOU'LL BE A CHILD AND HIYORI GETS KILLED

Vol 20

76

Yato really giving it all up about Father he's finally serious about ending it

'I wanted to be together until the very last second' vs recent chapter

'I still have Hiyori' he's thinking of reincarnation he puts so much belief in her

Arahabaki is basically running an orphanage

Nana hunted a bear for dinner jsbdb

'I don't want anyone taken from me ever again' vs recent chapter

Yato clicking Bishamon is unprotected then flashing to Father killing her oh we were so pressed after this chapter

77

Oh that intro had us we thought Bishamon reincarnated

Rip Kuguha you duplicitous bitch

Kazuma hatred for himself and everyone else he's microwave meal ready to be your burial vessel

Yato admitting he admired Bishamon and he was jealous as a war god

'I want you to die Yato' isn't that the bloody mood

Iwami not wanting to change history so he lets it repeat over and over watching this child suffer

Kazuma giving Harry Potter vibes with that unbreakable tracking spell on him and Nora

Nora showing up to Yukine saying she's been abandoned and her names are gone this was sus in the first place but we had a few nice chapters from it

Saying it was a lie liking him but Yukine still seems to like her

Oooo Father you're a mean one you're so slimy die

78

Nora wanted names to fill a void because she's not figured out she wants to live

Yukine wanting to take care of Nora

Yato just name him why do you feel such a way about sharing shinki bsbd

'Sweet innocent girl as a human sacrifice' fucjifbh

Hiyori death forshadowing tracker: 5

'You'll never have Yato' hhdbd probably not

Kazuma projecting his rejection from Bishamon on Hiyori telling her to try confessing to Yato

GODS CANNOT LOVE MORTALS I hate this life

A GOD AND A HUMAN CAN NEVER BE TOGETHER we've just been ignoring the signs <3

I LOVE YATO

Kazuma forcing Yato to name him and kissing his Kazu name I'm unwell

Oh they're both crying same

79

'So I never forget' girl you're about to forget so hard

'A gentler version of myself would suit him better' fuckifnnf Yukine would be such a good big brother

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT SONEONE I LOVE TOO hellscape

Hiyori's diary must show up in the final chapter it is the catalyst

Tenjin knew she liked Yato all this time jdbd

'They spend countless reincarnations waiting and that something becomes cherished' Oh Yato's going to be waiting for her when she's an old lady like grandpa Iki

'God's love isn't only about giving also taking' vs recent chapter

'Whether you live and forget or die and forget you have to give an answer' I hate this manga

Yukinora hanging out and him treating her like she's alive

'If I'm going to forget it'll be like we never met at all' hate hate hate

Volume 21

80

Hiyori ignoring the warning from teacher about falling behind and going to look for Yato girl you may as well die

Rekki practice

Father reincarnated into random bodies which is interesting, and he got the powers of a god after returning from yomi?

Yukine daddy issues have been stirred

'Nora died a terrible death'

Oh no Yukine's thinking about his death

81

Yukine came that close to breaking Daikoku and Kiun

Kofuku knows Yukine's is doomed I hate this, I wonder where they go since they disappear for a while

Yukine starts looking at news articles about people who have died sjd

Nora trying to stop Yukine but it turns out she's not trying she's sowing the seeds for him to seek out Father

'I want to meet my mum and dad' are you sure about that

'I chose to stay on this side, it's fine this way' ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT

'You're smiling and that bothers me' fucking mood

Father's really just a bastard and now Hiyori's cord is damaged

82

Masaomi forgot Yato but not the shadow or ayakashi which is interesting for Hiyori's future links to Yato

Hiyori death foreshadowing tracker: 6

Masaomi remembers Yato and says was good looking but kind of pathetic djdnnd that's how I like my men

Kazuma doesn't realise Bishamon chose Nana so Kaazuma wouldn't die

Bishamon tear oh she heard it all I'm so sad

Yato in the traffic cone using Takemika as target practice kdnc

I'm not gunna get won over by the Sorcerer' ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT

Oh he's taken the protection charm he believes in it (it doesn't really work <3)

Vomiting is this the last time he sees his home (Kofuku’s)

83

Poor Ebisu please learn to dress it's not hard

Takemika's messy hair is a look

Daddy Daikoku making a kite with Yukine

Ajshbd coo phone taking a dump on Takemika

Rip Takemika Kofuku is swearing vengeance

So the og plan is the Gods go hunting with Amaterasu without shinki

Yukine you dumb bitch this manga could've ended like 26 chapters early and with significantly less trauma

I'M NOT YUKINE GET THIS OFF ME

I'LL BE TAKING YUKINE

[skadventuretime]

Golden Hour

Here is my piece for the @noragamibigbang! My artist partner @shinkimiope had such a lovely idea and art to match, so naturally I had to get all sentimental on it. I hope you enjoy!

A midi alarm rang out from a phone on the coffee table. It was perched so delicately on the corner, crowded out as it was by large textbooks and notebook viscera, that it was just a few rings from falling off the table altogether.

Hiyori burst from the bathroom with a toothbrush in one hand and her falling towel in the other. Flecks of toothpaste dotted her lips and her hair was only partly brushed, the half that wasn’t dripping water onto her living room floor. She stuck the toothbrush in her mouth to use that hand to catch her phone as it wobbled off the coffee table.

How is it three already? She turned a frantic eye to the microwave clock as if hoping it would give her a better time, but unfortunately, she was still going to be late.

Helping that study group last night was a bad idea.

Groaning, she hurried to a cabinet placed against the wall in her living room. It was more of a covered shelf, really, made of mismatched driftwood that's been carefully sanded and polished with something that made it glimmer like sunlight on the sea. On the sole high shelf was a shrine, just as carefully made, just as lovingly looked after. Not a speck of dust touched any part of it.

[Read the rest on AO3 or below the cut]

Hiyori clapped her hands together and focused on the shrine's god. Yato, I'm going to be late. Feel free to start setting up without me!

A faint breeze stirred her towel, as if a door had been left open and a summer wind had blown in.

I hear you loud and clear, Yato's voice answered distantly. His scent washed over her, wild and ancient and warm, and she could sense he was smiling through their temporary connection. I can carry things if you've brought too much. 

Hiyori exhales around her toothbrush. That’s okay, I’ll be fine. I just lost track of time.

You don’t need to get dressed up on my account.

Yato’s mental voice was teasing, gentle, but it still raised a blush to her face that made her glad he wasn’t there in person. It’s nothing like that, school work just kept me up. See you in twenty?

The wind brushed the back of her neck. See you then.

His presence faded away and so did the breeze. The air around the shrine seemed charged and clean, the space sanctified in the short time of their conversation. It was a testament to how much Yato's power as a god of fortune had grown and how many more people believed in him. She ran her finger over the familiar corner of the shrine one more time before stepping away to finish getting dressed. 

She put her hair up in a towel and returned her toothbrush to her bathroom cup before going to the closet. There, she grabbed a simple blouse and skirt and put them on. She added a pair of earrings gifted from Yukine, a bracelet from Daikoku (because he didn’t trust Kofuku to gift her something that wouldn’t cause misfortune), and a purse from Bishamon that was too practical to have been selected without Kazuma’s input. They all glittered in a vague, dreamlike way that anything loved by the gods does, at least to Hiyori’s half-ayakashi eyes. They were holy, and by extension, so was she.

“Late, late, late,” she muttered, scooping up the bento boxes she’d made the night before and heading out the door.

///

The sun felt great upon her skin for the approximately three seconds she was able to feel it before Yato slammed a floppy, wide brimmed hat over her head. "Yato," Hiyori spluttered, raising the brim of the hat so she could see again. "What are you doing?"

"You'll get sunburnt if you don't wear sun protection," he fretted, gesturing to a large parasol set up to shade a blanket laid out on the ground next to Suzuha's tree. "Come on, I'll unpack everything when we get there."

Hiyori hid a smile as she took the hat off. After all this time, Yato still liked to fuss over her. She set her basket down on the blanket and took a moment to listen to the wind sighing through the trees. She never knew Suzuha personally, but she liked to think she knew him a little by the way Yukine would smile when he talked about him, or through the way Yukine took such good care of plants in his stead. Hiyori turned to bring Yato into her thoughts when she caught him staring at her, causing the bottom to drop out of her stomach. Even now, his eyes could make her wonder if this is what it was like to be worshipped.

He spoke first. "Do you want anything to drink?" He pointed to a cooler beaded with condensation. "There's also tea, for later."

"I'm set for now." At his drooping shoulders, she amended, "Fine, I’ll have some tea."

He perked up immediately. "I have it steeping in Tamagahara, I'll be right back!" He blinked out of sight and back within the span of a breath. "Easier to keep hot there," he explained as he gently laid the tray on the blanket.

Fragrant green tea steamed in the cool air. Yato set out small, round mugs and poured her a cup. It was a delicate porcelain, something that sparkled with that same otherworldliness as her other gifts from gods.

Their fingers brushed as he passed it to her, and her heart stuttered. Yato didn’t seem to notice.

“So what’s new with you, Hiyori?” His eyes shone with excitement and curiosity, but there was something else there, too, an over-brightness like when you stub your toe and don’t want your friends to know how much something so small really hurt you. 

She took a small sip of tea to gather her thoughts. The last time she’d seen Yato in person was a little over a year and a half ago, although she’d spoken to him more frequently than that. When he’d first talked to her through the shrine, Hiyori had nearly punched a hole in the wall out of surprise, but it did allow them to speak every now and then. 

“I already told you about the apartment,” she began, grimacing at the memory of how long it took to convince her family and friends she’d be fine living without a roommate. 

“Yeah, it looks great!”

She froze. “You haven’t been in it yet.”

He looked a little abashed. “Well, you see, when we talk through the shrine, I can sort of, you know.” He waved his hand in a nervous flutter. “See through you, a little. Not actual sight, but more like impressions.” He closed his eyes, and his voice got quieter like he was recalling a special memory. “You get good sunlight there, and the air is clean, and you feel safe, right?”

Hiyori took a larger and no less scalding sip of tea. So that divine presence she felt every time she prayed was really..?

“Right, okay, yes. It’s a lovely apartment, Ame helped me move in and Yukine came to set up the furniture.” She smiled at the memory, at how stubbornly Yukine had insisted he could figure out the instructions on his own and how he tried to hide his excitement when she gave him a cheering chibi sticker for his trouble. 

“And school’s been going well?” 

“As well as it could be. If it isn’t exams I’m studying for, it’s practicals, and I’ve been up late most nights to make time for it all.” 

Yato raised a hand as though he wanted to touch her face and then thought better of it. “You have dark circles under your eyes.”

“Staying top of the class won’t happen by getting enough sleep,” Hiyori replied, mostly in jest.

Yato caught her smile and leaned a little closer, close enough that the smell of him wrapped around her like a familiar jacket. “You know what might help? Praying to me for good grades.” His eyes were sparkling with mischief.

“You haven’t told me you’re trying to put Tenjin out of work,” Hiyori laughed. 

“Oh yes, I’m cornering his market now.” Yato stood up and did something to his tracksuit to make it flourish like a cape. “Soon even Ebisu will be having to contend with my horde of worshippers.” 

An image of Yato in the middle of a swarming crowd of adoring businessmen was enough to make her snort the sip of tea she was sipping right out of her nose, which of course set Yato off, and before she knew it she was wheezing into her empty cup, eyes streaming and hand dripping from the tea that had splashed out. 

“All right, so I’m not the best with school or studies,” Yato said when he finally caught his breath. “I have learned something over the last few years, though.”

“Oh?” 

“How to help stubborn humans relax.”

Hiyori rolled her eyes. “Does it involve a trip to Capypa Land? Because as much fun as it is to watch you whimper over Capypas, I really need to—“

“No Capypa Land this time,” Yato cut in hastily. “Even though it would be a happypa trip for the whole family,” he muttered. “Yukine made ice cream and demanded that I share some with you. I also have a patented relaxation technique that will have you feeling better in no time!”

“Is that so,” Hiyori said, a smile melting over her lips. “Do I get a refund if it’s not to my liking?”

Yato had begun rummaging through a small cooler during this exchange and looked up to say, grinning, “I’ve never had an unsatisfied customer.”

It was all so easy, the banter, the laughter, the aching muscles in her face. No matter how often Hiyori got to see Yato, each visit felt like coming home.

“So what flavor did Yukine make?” she asked, peering over Yato’s shoulder as he opened up a few containers.

“Salted dark chocolate with optional caramel drizzle.” He put two scoops into a bowl and held up the caramel. “Would you like some?”

“Please,” Hiyori said, delighted. “I didn’t know Yukine took up cooking now, too!”

Yato smiled fondly. “One of Bishamon’s shinki offered to teach him after he was skulking around the kitchens one day. Picked up on it pretty fast, too.” He placed a spoon in the bowl and handed it to her, then put a few scoops in a bowl for himself with a judicious ladle of caramel sauce.

“Ready?” he asked Hiyori, holding up a spoonful of ice cream doused in sauce.

“Ready.” Her own spoon was carefully loaded with just a touch of caramel so she could enjoy the ice cream’s original flavor.

Yato touched their spoons together in a toast before taking his bite, and Hiyori paused to watch his reaction. It had been so long since she had gotten to experience anything new with him; part of her ached to witness every moment.

“It’s good?” she asked, watching his lips curve up around the spoon.

“That kid really goes all the way when he learns something new,” Yato said appreciatively. “Who knew tree care would turn into fixing electronics and now cooking.”

“He applies himself well.”

“You helped him get started,” Yato said around another mouthful of ice cream. “He still talks about how great it was when you tutored him.”

Hiyori hummed. “It was great to teach him. He’s a wonderful soul, he just needed a place to focus his mind.”

Yato popped a spoonful of pure caramel into his mouth. “That reminds me, how was that other wonderful soul of yours doing?”

Hiyori stiffened. “We haven’t seen each other in months. He was so...so...distasteful!” 

A dangerous gleam appeared in Yato’s eyes. “How distasteful?”

“Ami just needs to stop setting me up with people she meets at house parties,” Hiyori said. “She means well, but doesn’t have the best taste in men.”

“You’re very lucky I’m here, then, with my patented relaxation technique,” Yato said, putting down his empty bowl and scooting closer. 

“Relaxation technique?” she repeated, eyes narrowed. “Wasn’t the ice cream the relaxation?”

“Just sit back and relax! Tell me more about what happened with the worthless scum.” He knelt behind her and swept her hair off her shoulder. Goosebumps peppered her skin where he brushed it.

“So, you were saying?” he prompted, hands resting on her shoulders. The weight of them was reassuring.

“It was nothing,” she began, breath catching when he began to knead the muscles around her neck. “He brought me to a dive bar and tried to make me do shots with him, and then when it was pouring rain when I finally convinced him to leave, he told me to run with him five blocks so the rideshare would be cheaper.”

Yato’s hands paused. “Any chance I can get his name?”

“Yato, no,” Hiyori chided as he continued her massage. “You’ve been so good about not terrorizing people who’ve been minor inconveniences to me, I’d hate to see you ruin your record.” She was distracted; he was working away knots she hadn’t known she’d had. Maybe she really should look into moving her study sessions earlier so she’d stop falling asleep on her desk...

“It sounds like this one would be worth it,” he muttered, digging into her shoulders a little too roughly. 

“What about you? How has it been, being a god of fortune?” Hiyori asked after a few minutes of letting him drain the tension from her neck and shoulders.

His hands slipped away. “It’s been different,” he said, standing up and offering her a hand. “I think I’ve been so used to being on my own that being part of a group is strange.”

“Have there been problems with your neighbors again?” Hiyori asked. The last she’d heard, there had been a minor incident involving Takemikazuchi and an entire square kilometer of Tamagahara that had been leveled in his anger.

Yato started walking towards the cherry blossom tree. “No, I think that was his way of welcoming me. I thought that once I got what I wanted, everything would feel right.”

“And it doesn’t?” It had been so long since Yato opened up to her like this, showed up on a windowsill late at night and talked about what was on his mind. A warm feeling crept through her chest.

“No,” he said plainly, passing the wide trunk that showed the marks of Yukine’s care over the years. “Something is missing.”

She joined him under the boughs and inhaled. Fresh, clean, something a little like hope.

“I thought having more worshippers would make me happy,” he began, fingers trailing through some low hanging blossoms. “And they do, but it’s not what I thought it’d be.” 

“Oh?” 

“It’s lonelier than I imagined. Busier too; you have no idea how many people want to see me just to talk or vent. I always thought— well.” 

Yato paused by a string of cherry blossoms, running his fingers through the petals as if they were a lover’s hair. “I always thought it’d be like having more people like you around. People who understood me.” He pinched off a strand and held it close to his chest, hesitant, before offering it to her. “But deep down I knew you were one-of-a-kind.”

Hiyori marveled at the soft translucence of the petals in his hand, the faint otherworldly shine they seemed to have in his divine presence. It was like an ayakashi miasma in reverse, a bubble of light and goodness, and she watched it travel up her arm and float her hair up on an invisible wind when she accepted the flowers.

“How long have you had this effect?” Hiyori said, turning her hand from side to side and admiring the richer colors and heady scent.

“Effect?” Yato murmured, eyes on the blossoms in her hand.

“The way everything sort of glows around you.”

He blinked at this and looked at the ground. “It’s sort of complicated.”

This sharpened her interest. “Complicated how? Did you have to perform some ritual? Does it only happen to gods with hafuri? Is it because you’re more popular these days?”

Yato’s face had sunk lower and lower into his scarf as she spoke. He mumbled something into it, still not looking at her.

Since Hiyori was well-versed in his moods, she simply crouched so that she was directly in his field of view. “Come again?”

“It’s because you’re my most devout believer,” he said, a light blush coloring his cheeks. “It’s like the opposite of a miasma. It can only happen when extreme faith persists.” He finally meets her eyes. “It means our ties are strong.”

Hiyori glimpsed an arc of woven sunlight twisting like infinity around them at his words, like something seen from the corner of your eyes.

“It’s my greatest treasure,” he confessed.

The world spun taffy thick. “So even though others believe in you now, I’m somehow..?”

“None of them are even close to this,” he said. “The shrine in your apartment is more home to me than any of the ones built in major cities.”

It was a lot to take in. Hiyori was used to being the backbone in her friendships, used to providing a solid, trustworthy space in which others could gain their footing. But being exalted to a god?

“I still think about what would’ve happened if I’d listened to Tenjin,” Yato continued, brushing a hand through the ties’ afterimage. “I am who I am because you’ve helped me become it. If our ties had been cut…” His hand fell to his side. “I might not be here right now, or I’d be some monster doing Father’s bidding.”

“I wouldn’t have made it out of plenty of situations without you, either,” Hiyori said slowly. “Isn’t that the nature of knowing someone? Being changed by them?”

Yato thought about this for a moment, the wind soft and gentle as it ruffled his hair. “Ever since I was small, Father had always told me that I was always in the right, always the one in control. That I could do whatever I wanted and others would adjust. I think it was supposed to make me feel powerful, but I didn’t want power. I wanted to belong.” Something like surrender was in his eyes when he said, “You were the first person to make me feel like I belonged in a very long time.”

It was too much. All of her pent up feelings — the fear, the hope, the confusion — from her high school days welled up at once, shattered from the amber in which she’d crystallized it once Yato defeated father and brought Yukine home.

“I’m glad,” she finally said when she was sure her voice wouldn’t shake. “Because you do belong, you and Yukine and Kofuku and Daikoku and —“

“With you?” Yato’s voice was so quiet it was like he hadn’t meant to say that aloud.

“Of course with me,” Hiyori said, feeling brave. “The same way I belong with you. That’s how this works. We’re already tied, right? Let’s just be tied. For however long that lasts.”

“For however long that lasts,” Yato murmured. It sounded like a vow.

The afternoon sun had taken on that tired golden edge that meant it was closer to sunset than noon. Hiyori’s heart was still beating a little too fast, her mind dizzy with implications that felt too raw to look at now.

“Thank you for coming today,” Yato said at last. “I missed you.”

“Now that I know I have the most important shrine in my apartment, I’m sure we can figure out ways to talk more,” Hiyori said, and was rewarded with another blush.

“May I take you home? There are a lot of leftovers to carry and Kofuku threatened to murder me if I came back with any.”

Hiyori laughed and started back towards their blanket. “Of course.”

[thedeliverygod]

Yatori Week 2020: Day 2

this is hot off the press because I like to punish myself like that. 

Reunion

“Yato, you’re stupid.” Hiyori had his head cradled in her lap, his body weak and bloodied as she cried over him, “So stupid.”

“I know.” He answered with as much of a grin as he could manage.

They both looked up as they heard footsteps come closer to them. Bishamon looked down at him disdainfully, “Agreed. I can’t believe you would defile Kazuma with any name of yours.”

Yato only managed an eye roll before he burst into a fit of coughing, unable to defend himself.

“It was my fault, Viina.” Kazuma called over from where he leaned against a wall, looking to the side as he admitted, “I was actually the one who forced him into it.”

Her eyes widened and her lips parted in shock, “O-oh…”

“...Anyway, Rekki…” Yato lifted his hand, hovering just above his chest and a kanji appeared before Kazuma, “I hereby release you.”

Everyone watched in awe as the name vanished into a bright display of blue light. Kazuma, stunned, opened the top of his shirt to confirm that the name had been removed from his body.

Collapsing his head back onto Hiyori’s lap, Yato mumbled, “There, it’s like it never happened.”

“Easy for you to say.” Yukine sniffled from the other side of Hiyori.

“I didn’t mean it like—” He quickly tried to sit before he gave a sharp inhale, overwhelmed by pain and fell back onto Hiyori.

“Yato, you can’t move like that right now! You’re too badly wounded.” She immediately scorned him, though brushed her fingers through the top of his hair as a way to keep him in place.

Bishamon turned around, the heels of her shoes scraping against the dirt. “Kazuma, I think it’s best if we head home now. I think we all have a lot to talk about.”

Kazuma looked over to Hiyori who gave a small nod and an appreciative smile. Shakily, he held onto the wall and pulled himself up, answering, “Alright.” He took a step forward and immediately felt his knees give under the pressure of his weight, but felt something catch him before he fell to the ground.

“I’ve got you.” Bishamon wrapped an arm around him to support his weight. Eyeing him carefully, she warned, “And don’t you dare lie to me about how injured you are.”

He sighed but gave a soft smile as they continued forward, “I won’t.”

Yato smirked as he watched Kazuma being rushed off by the war god, “I’m sure that’s practically a dream come true for him, being carried off by the psycho bitch like that.”

“Yato, focus.” Hiyori nodded towards Yukine, who now had his knees pulled up to his chest as he cried silently.

He let out a deep sigh before calling out, “Yukine.”

The younger boy popped his head up, “What?”

Yato let out a small laugh and commented, “I’m so relieved to see your blonde hair again.”

Yukine’s mouth opened in surprise before he buried his face again, “Stop being stupid.”

“I don’t think that’s something I can stop, at least from how you two describe me.”

“Yato.” Hiyori looked down at him, gripping his shoulders a bit tighter in annoyance.

Yukine lifted his head and clarified loudly, “Fine, stop saying stupid stuff and say what you mean. Do you get it now?” With that, he hid his face again.

“When I said everything about leaving you behind to protect you, it wasn’t just because you’re my shinki or hafuri. That stuff is important usually, but it’s not why I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want anything to happen to you because you mean everything to me, Yukine. We could all switch roles; like Hiyori can be the god or we can all three be humans, whatever. The outcome would be the same no matter what.”

Yukine looked up, tears silently flowing down from his eyes but an intent stare on Yato.

The god reached out his hand and the boy took it gently, “I never meant to make you feel you only had a purpose as sekki or that your only role outside of a weapon is being my guidepost. Yukine, I know you can’t… physically grow, and I’m so sorry. I would give anything to change that. But mentally, emotionally; I’ve seen you grow so much over the past year. And I wanted nothing more but to give you the chance to continue doing that.”

“I never wanted you to know what happened to you. I can’t stand to think about it, so I can only imagine how you feel.” Yato wiped at his eyes with his free hand and saw Hiyori doing the same, “I am stupid. And I do things without thinking through all of the consequences. But I swear, I will work my hardest so show you every day how much you are loved in this life. And not just by me, but Hiyori, Daikoku, Kofuku... everybody.”

Yukine grasped his hand harder, smiling as he answered, “Look, you aren’t actually stupid. You just do stupid things.”

“Good to know.” Yato cracked a smile and Hiyori laughed alongside him.

“And I know… how much you guys care about me.” He wiped at his eyes again, sniffling, “I just got so caught up in all of my fears and doubts that it didn’t matter. So I’m sorry, for the way I treated you.” He looked up, “You too, Hiyori. I’m sorry.”

She shook her head and draped an arm over his shoulder, bringing him into a loose hug, “You two are safe and we’re all going home, that’s all that matters to me.”

“Home does sound nice…” Yato mulled out loud.

Sighing, Hiyori admitted, “Unfortunately, I have to take the long way home since I’m in my body.”

“What?” Yato answered automatically while Yukine peeked behind her.

“Oh yeah, no tail.”

“Long story short, it was your father’s wolves, Yato. I kind of got injured while in my half-ayakashi form and kind of haven’t been able to leave my body ever since…” She explained in a rush as she gently got up from underneath Yato, standing up.

His lips parted in disbelief, he eventually answered, “You, we’ll talk later. Be safe. Yukine, let’s go home.”

Once they had vanished into a blinding light, Hiyori called out, “You can come out now.”

The sound of water filled the air before Nora appeared from a nearby pond, muttering, “Thanks. I didn’t really want to be a part of that happy reunion stuff.”

“I figured as much. I still think you should come back with us, though.” Hiyori started walking towards where she had left her bike.

“Why’s that?”

“Because I think I know just the perfect god for you.”

“I really hope Nora is okay down there by herself…” Hiyori looked at the door in the far corner of the room, wondering how it was going with Kofuku and Daikoku. It was relatively quiet which she was thankful for, since Yukine had drifted off to sleep. But because of the lack of noise, she couldn’t tell what was happening.

Yato gave a quiet laugh, “She can take care of herself, you should know that.”

She hummed, “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Speaking of holding one’s own in a fight… Hiyori, why did you get tangled up with my dad again?” He slid closer to her, frowning and locking his eyes on hers.

“It’s not like I went looking for him!” She answered back in an annoyed tone before realizing she needed to keep down her volume, “I was walking home from school and I saw him. He was kind of smirking so I got a really bad feeling and I went after him. And he was just… relishing in how he was hurting you and Yukine and I couldn’t take it.”

“He always had a knack for getting under people’s skin,” He reached out to hold on to both of her wrists, “But why would you do something so stupid?”

Hiyori couldn’t help but laugh, “Look who’s talking.”

“Hey, I didn’t try to beat him with just MMA moves and no weapon.” His blue eyes flickered up to hers.

She took a breath and looked at her side, huffing, “Okay, I guess that’s fair.”

“But seriously… why would you be that reckless?” His thumb brushed over her wrist, “Your life is such a precious thing.”

“It’s like what you said to Yukine before. I’ve watched you work so hard to change and be the god of fortune that you’ve always wanted to be. And the fact that your father just… continued to try to tear down everything that you’ve ever built and took so much pleasure in it… I can’t even describe how angry it made me. I’m still angry, even though I know he’s gone.” She clenched her fists and Yato took that as a signal to let go of her.

“Those are my problems, though.” He tried to soothe her, “As amazing of a sight as it would have been for a high school girl to be the one to take out my dad, I never expected you to defend me or anything.”

She shook her head, “I know, and often getting involved just made it worse for you, too. But Yato, you deserve so much better than that. I just wish I could do more.”

He let out a small laugh in disbelief, tilting his head. “Hiyori, you made me my first shrine. You called me your god of fortune. You’ve also saved my ass repeatedly, although I don’t necessarily like that you put yourself in danger when you do that. What else could you possibly do for me?”

“I don’t know…” She gave a sigh in frustration.

Yato reached out to run a hand through her hair, “Don’t worry about it too much.”

Before she realized what she was doing, she leaned into his touch.

Realizing this, he yanked his hand back into his lap sheepishly, “S-sorry, I don’t know what I was doing.”

“I-it’s okay.” She answered back quietly, but he couldn’t help but notice that she looked disappointed.

“Hiyori…” He swallowed, not sure if what he was about to say was a good idea or not.

She perked back up, “Yes?”

“There… maybe is something else, but. I don’t want you to feel pressured to do anything about it. It’s more like… I just want to get this off my chest and be honest with you.”

A flash of worry moved through her eyes but she nodded, “Okay.”

“I… kinda, maybe… might be in love with you?” He squeaked out, wincing once he was finished.

At first, she was quiet, but then asked, “So being in love with you is the other thing I could do, then.”

“Yes, but only if you already—” His words died on his lips as she leaned in closer to him.

“I have for a while now.”

He kissed her eagerly, holding on to her as tightly as he could and repeated her name with every breath he could manage.

Yato’s affections almost too much, she giggled into their kisses. It only came to a stop after she tried to readjust herself and ended up holding on too tightly to Yato’s shoulder which caused him to let out a loud groan.

“Owww…” He whined, letting go of her to rub his shoulder.

“I’m so sorry.” She apologized frantically before deciding to lean forward and kiss his shoulder as well.

Grinning, he commented, “Now it’ll definitely heal faster. We’ve still got several more spots to go, though…”

“I am not doing that.” Hiyori crossed her arms into an x shape.

Yato pouted, “Why not?”

“For one, Yukine-kun is sleeping right over there.” She nodded towards him.

“If that’s the only thing stopping you, we can go to another room.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Awww, come on!”

[oneofyatosfollowers]

One of a Kind- Chapter 7

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20191861/chapters/51333751#workskin

Fanfiction: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13360973/1/One-of-a-Kind

Yato hasn't felt panic in a long time. It made him feel like a child, like his Father was still angrily standing over him. Like he was still strapped to the operation table having iron and wires melted into his body. But now, it wasn't him on the bed being taken apart. Yato kicked at the light-wall, shaking when it felt like cement. The Emishi next to him was yelling something, startling Yato's other neighbor awake. From his right, a woman put a hand on his shoulder, to the left the Wall-H gripped his shirt and tried to pull him back.

"What are you doing?"

"Sweetheart, are you alright?" Yato threw them both off and put his hands in his hair and tugged.

"Arg! I don't have time for this!" Yato pointed his finger at the wall shooting the light's base with his laser. The wall flickered but didn't budge, Yato leaned over and tried the control panel. At some point the bear-man had gripped one of his pockets and fumbled his iPod. A happy song from the Capybara Movie blasted from Yato's speaker, making his head spin.

"Hey! This cutie's letting us out!" His female neighbor squealed in joy, gathering the attention of others who've been ignoring the newcomer's panic.

"If we don't get fixed, we don't have to work!" A voice cheered.

"I don't want to get torn apart!" Another agreed.

The panel short-circuited and the wall to his bed glitched out. Yato tumbled out into the hall and scrambled to his feet. He dashed down the hall, happy jingles bouncing off the walls, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

Hiyori still sat without a hand when Yato burst through the glass wall. The human doctors shrieked and one of the nurses dropped the handgun he was holding.

"Yato? What are you doing!" Hiyori shouted over his music. She reached out with her other hand, the other one un-gloved and pistol less. Completely fine. One of the doctors lunged for him and Yato swerved out of reach and scooped the gun off the floor. His whole body was trembling, but stilled when his hands were secured around a weapon.

"Yato, don't! Masaomi, grab it!" Hiyori commanded to a young doctor next to her. Masaomi inched closer to the cyborg with awe, asking a bunch of questions along with the ruckus. The Wall-E was too distracted by the giant whirling mechanism that hung from the ceiling. It looked like a mechanical spider with each of of it's arms equipped with some sharp metal tool.

Yato leaped out of his skin when the doctor wrapped his hand around the gun. The two men wrestled for a second when the gun fired, it's blast going through the Yato-shaped hole in the glass. Everyone's eyes followed the blue ball of fire as it flew down the hall and hit a small black square on the entrance wall.

The control panel glitched and all was quiet for a moment. Then, one by one the blue walls holding the patients fell out of existence. Yato looked back at the doctor who huffed out an unironic laugh, then at Hiyori who face spelled murder. The gun was dropped and Yato put his hands up and backed way slowly.

"N-Now Hiyori. We talked about this. It was an accident." Yato tried to passify the Eve as she stepped off the table and slipped her glove back on. Her eyes narrowed as she tugged it down tight. Masaomi looked back at Yato with the same color eyes. Yato noticed his lab coat had the name 'Iki' stitched on the front pocket.

"You better start running, pal." Masaomi Iki said. But that was unnecessary. At some point, Yato's neighbor had come to the back along with a handful of others.

"Hey buddy! You did it! The walls are down, let's get out!" The Wall-H cheered. Yato wasn't given time to formulate a response before the mob of freed cyborgs swept him off his feet.

"Yato!" Hiyori shouted. Yato shrugged with a sheepish smile as he was carried off. Hiyori's voice was drowned out as the Wall-E was paraded down the hall and out of the medical center. Yato fumbled his iPod to turn off the peppy music while Hiyori ran after him. Yukine, who was dozing off on the transport, leaped to his feet in surprise.

"What the-? You idiot! What did you get yourself into?" Yukine said, stepping out of the way of the mob. Yato couldn't help but laugh at how absurd this was, that is until someone triggered the alarm.

"Grab him!" Yato pointed at the Mo as he was carried by. Yukine tried to escape but Yato's neighbor got to him first, scooping up the tiny teen with ease.

"Yukine! Yato!" Hiyori was close behind as the pack of wild cyborgs made its way down the hall. All of traffic was disrupted as cyborgs workers threw themselves out of the way and off of transports as the escapees charged down the hall.

"Hiyori! Please save me!" Yukine tried to roll out of the crowd's hands. But suddenly, the crowd stopped short and was silent. Yato was suddenly tossed off the pack of cyborgs, in front.

"Oof! Hey what's the big idea, guys?" Yato trailed off when he saw the scared and cautious looks of the escapees. The Wall-E looked up and saw a wall of black and red. Hiyori slowed when she caught up, slightly out of breath. Yukine now stood on his tip-toes, trying to see over the crowd

"Yukine, what's happening?" Hiyori asked. Yukine glanced at her, then continued trying to see over shoulders.

"I don't know, they just stopped and threw Yato towards the front. Maybe they finally got tired of being covered in dust."

"Halt. Everyone here is under arrest for questioning and or containment." An authoritative voice spoke crystal clear. The man wore the same uniform as the rest of the Secur-T. He seemed to have become a cyborg around Yato's age. He had dark clean cut brown hair with  green eyes behind glasses. When those eyes met Yato's he quirked a brow, his glasses had streams of light dance across them, giving him whatever information he asked for.

"You're- You're a-" his brows shot up to his hair line as he read the tiny words on the glass one more time.

"What is it? What's the hold up, Kazuma?" Another voice made itself known. Strong, commanding, smooth, and feminine. The Secur-Ts parted to make way for a tall woman wearing the same uniform with a matching trench coat and military beret. Her name was written in a blaring white labeling the blonde woman, Bishamon. She made her way to the very front and stopped with her shined boots itches from Yato's fingers. Her light eyes gazed down at the Wall-E with fierce appalling.

"Kazuma? What am I looking at?" Bishamon asked without looking away from the man on the floor. The bifocaled Secur-T rushed to the woman's side and frantically whispered in her ear, her eyes widening at whatever he said. Behind Yato, the escaped cyborgs also parted to let a pushy Hiyori through followed by Yukine.

"Lieutenant General Bishamon!" Hiyori gasped. Yukine sucked air between his teeth while Yato used one of his learned curse words. Bishamon look at the three, then at the rest of the group.

"You will all be apprehended. Do not resist." Bishamon spoke with authority. Hiyori stepped forward and held up her hands, one still in the gun.

"Please, Lieutenant General, I am an Eve that has returned positive-"

"I am sorry Eve, but I am under strict orders to apprehend you and this," she gestured with a wrinkled nose to Yato, "thing. Come quietly."

"Orders?" Yukine echoed. Yato couldn't agree more. He narrowed his eyes at the towering Secur-T, knowing exactly who's orders she was following. This woman was their enemy. Yato jumped to his feet with an equally fiery expression.

"Oh no you don't!" Yato put a hand on his compactor, pausing only to glance at Yukine in surprise when the kid came to stand next to him with his roller. The woman narrowed her eyes and set her feet shoulder with the part.

"If you don't come quietly, we will make you. All units, ready your borders! Kazuma, send out a warning." Bishamon moved her coat out of the way to reveal a cane sword, getting into a battle stance. The other Secur-Ts let out a collective 'yes ma'am' folded their arms behind their backs. The gold buttons on their red shoulder marks clipped open and a red dot started to glow. Kazuma faced the three of them and touched the side of his glasses. A shutter sound was heard.

"Caution: Rouge Workers," was announced though the speakers by a robotic voice. The very ship seemed to vibrate with the message as it repeated five times. Bishamon and her Secur-Ts started to advance in a line.

"Yukine, hang on!" Hiyori shouted. Yukine could just barley grab her arm as her flight boots activated and she shot forward. Before Yato could even blink, he was flying through the air bridal style, Yukine waving around Hiyori like a cape. Behind them, shouts were heard as some of the cyborgs were captured while others fought through the line of police force.  

The trio flew overhead, Hiyori seemed to know which turns to make as more Secur-Ts appeared out of nowhere. Glowing hallow graphic signs were red with caution as they showed the picture Kazuma took of the three of them. Their faces stared back at them every couple feet, surrounding the four-way Hiyori dropped them in. She landed heavily beside them, huffing that she couldn't carry so much weight. Transports stopped as cyborgs gasped and whispered among each other each other, looking between the warning and the group in the center. Hiyori spun around with a distressed look before whipping around to yell at the Wall-E.

"Yato! There was no reason to freak out like that!" She threw her arms open and the boys shrunk back. Not even Yukine tried to correct her, choosing simply to hide behind Yato. Hiyori heaved in quick breaths, but she didn't look tired. No, she looked upset, her eyes were starting to get wet with pink around the sides. The Wall-E stood straighter, face morphing into one more stern. He reached back and grabbed Yukine's wrist then wrapped his fingers around the Eve's hand dragging them behind as he took them down the hall.

"In there!" Yukine took the lead and pulled the two to a door labeled 'Cleaner's Closet'. They stopped only for Yukine to put his hand on a black glass panel. His hand was outlined in green and scanned, then the door opened. The Mo shoved them inside, pushing the button for the door to slid shut behind them. They listened for the organized boots of the Secur-T to run by, followed by the trampling of the escaped cyborgs.

The two cyborgs had their backs against the wall, Yukine sliding down the door with his eyes closed. Yato stood off to the right, his hand was still occupied with a slender white-gloved one. Hiyori panted against him, her forehead resting lightly against his collarbone. When she looked up, she saw Yato's intense eyes, dark with several emotions. Hiyori's lips parted to let out one last puff, the rest of her not moving. This confused Yato, who quirked an eyebrow and squeezed their hands trapped between them.

"Oh! Uh," Hiyori stepped back and Yato let her hand slip away, "Sorry." They didn't turn away from each other, but they couldn't look each other either. Yukine, who opened his eyes and sat up at the sound of the awkward coughing and burning faces, looked between them.

"Can we stop the awkward tension and figure a way out of here? All that first sergeant has to do is ask his glasses to show the security cam." Yukine informed. Hiyori made a noise and began to pace, her hand coming to her chin. Yukine stood up next to Yato, who was glancing around the room, his sensors useless on foreign ground. Thier attention was stolen back by the Eve, who perked up and ran to the window. Her head turned left and right then she spotted something below.

"There." her finger touched the glass. She moved so the two cyborgs to see where she was pointing.

"The individual ships?" Yukine looked back at Hiyori in question.

"How will that help us find the plant?" Yato asked. Hiyori didn't answer for a moment, her head down.

"It won't. I just, have and idea."

"But-"

"-Let's go. We need to hurry." Hiyori didn't wait to hear the Wall-E's protests. She spun on her toes and made her way to the door, back straight, head held high. Yukine followed after her, looked back at Yato for an explanation. The older cleaner didn't have one, instead he pressed his lips in a tight line and followed after them. He put his back to the wall again, Yukine next to him. He nodded to Hiyori on the other side. She nodded back and opened the door.

The hall had an occasional transport, but was otherwise Secur-T free. The young woman stepped out first, no one sparing the Eve a glance, before she gestured for the two to follow. Hiyori lead them to down the hall, to the left, then to a public service elevator. They were quiet once they were inside, Hiyori especially so. Yukine crept forward and touched her arm.

"Hiyori?" He let go quickly when she looked at him, "Are you alright?"

"Hmm?" Hiyori looked behind him at Yato, who gave her a comforting smile, "Uh, yeah." Her eyes fluttered to the floor, then back to the door. The awkward silence was sharply interrupted by the sound of magnetic decelerator slowing down the elevator.

"Wha-What's happening?" Yukine shouted in alarm when the lights flickered. The elevator came to a halt and the lights dimmed. Above the door, a hallow-screen turned on with the picture taken by the Secur-T. The picture glitched out to show the red eyes of the Auto Pilot.

"Please forgive the interruption, passengers. Thanks to our capable Secur-T you have been shown an image of disobedient cyborgs. I regret to inform you these rouge workers are still on the run, but fear not! Our very own Lieutenant General Bishamon is on the case." Kouto threw his arms open with a pleasant, charming smile. He then leaned back on clean table with hands folded together.

"I have a word of caution for our passengers and workers. Among these rebels, there is an alien cyborg, a Wall-E, one of the Earth cleaners. We have reason to believe this cyborg is dangerous and can pose a threat to the safety of everyone on board." The polite smile never left his face as his voice held no note of worry.

"Yato? What?" Hiyori turned to look at Yato, her face as if these words were coming out of his mouth, rather than the intercom. Yato, on the other hand, stared at the screen with a dark expression.

"Unfortunately, there was a problem with the Wall-Es back on Earth. A virus that messed with the connection between what was man and what was machine. This coding error was seen to cause fits of homicidal rage, and as a result most of the Wall-Es shut down each other permanently." A pause. The air in the elevator went still and heavy.

"If this Wall-E is seen, we ask that you report his whereabouts immediately," Kouto leaned in, the reds of his eyes aglow, "This is a matter of great importance concerning our Heaven."

"It's not true," Hiyori took a careful step towards Yato, her outstretched hand and voice shaking, "Tell me that's not true, Yato."

"But please! Don't worry too much! This matter will be resolved without a single issue and we will go on in luxury as normal," The auto pilot leaned back and kicked his feet up on the dash, "That will be all ladies and gentlemen, have a happy, carefree day here on Heaven's Sun!" The screen cut out and the elevator started up again after a couple moments. Yato remained rooted in place but kept his mouth firmly shut.

"Yato?" Yukine asked, "What is he talking about? Fits of rage?" Hiyori couldn't believe it. She didn't want too. She had spent a little over two months with this cyborg tailing her. Looking back, Hiyori had said hurtful things, gave him the cold shoulder without even thinking as to why there weren't any others. Her training had discussed the virus before she went to Earth, but she was told they were all dead and the danger was wiped out. And besides, Yato was nothing but kind and goofy. His smile just as genuine and carefree as Heaven's passengers.

"He's just trying to get Yato captured," Yukine insisted, "I'm sure-"

"It's true." Yato interrupted. Voice clipped and toneless. The two  looked at him, faces stuck in disbelief and terror. The elevator doors opened to an empty hall way, Yato brushed past them and stepped out, looking back at them with a blank face.

"Are you coming? You got a plan, right?" Yato asked, tilting his head. Hiyori took a moment to steel herself then nodded and followed him out. Yukine did too, eyes to the floor.

"We should hurry, the security cams might recognize our faces if we don't move fast." Hiyori said, picking up the pace. The boys nodded and took off running after her. The halls empty for the most part, only their footfalls and heaving breaths echoed off the pristine walls. After a moment, Yukine spoke from Yato's left.

"It doesn't matter anyway." He declared almost to himself. Yato looked at the kid with a shocked look.

"It was a long time ago." Hiyori tacked on after a couple breaths. Yato looked ahead at her too, his inhale sputtered and he let out a sharp exhale, but said nothing.

Hiyori turned right down a hall and slowed down. This hall was more grey and black like the dock of the Eve Transport, however the doors were much smaller. Their circular entrances would really only let one or two people in at a time. Hiyori clicked a button next to the first door, causeing it to slide open, then walked in first. Yato followed her, then Yukine who shut the door and flicked on the lights. Most of the back wall was the individual shuttle, a fishbowl looking thing with one window in the front and back. Lining the side walls were what looked to be astronaut gear and tanks. A little right to the center, sat a control pad with glowing buttons big and small. Hiyori walked up to it and started typing.

"So," Yukine held out the 'o' as he nervously jammed his hands in his pockets, "what is the plan?" He then ran over to help Yato pull off the space helmet.

"Yeah, Hiyori," Yato's voice echoed inside, "what's the plan?" The Wall-E sounded much happier, even as the Mo cursed and tried to figure out what button he pressed. Hiyori looked at Yato, her expression difficult to place.

"Just, give me a moment." Hiyori glanced up at the screen as it tried processing whatever she was typing. The space shuttle turned on, it's interior lighting up and the room started whirling. A deep pop echoed as the helmet was yanked off Yato's head thanks to both the cyborgs' efforts. When they walked over, Hiyori opened the shuttle's door.

"Path of destination confirmed: Earth." The dash informed the room. Yato and Yukine stood next to Hiyori and looked up at the screen. A large cartoonish picture of a green and blue Earth showed next to some stats and travel guides.

"Earth?" Yukine seemed to perk up, "We're going to Earth?" He sounded almost excited. Yato perked up a bit too. He wasn't in a rush to get back home, but it would surely be more fun having these too around.

"That's a great idea! We could find another plant to replace the lost one! Oh Yukine, you're gonna love it there! I'll show you around, introduce you to Nora." Yato threw his arm around the kid and walked to the tiny spaceship. Yukine stepped in first, pretending he wasn't carefully listening to the Wall-E's Earth ramblings. Once Yato ensured Yukine was safely buckled in, he turned to do the same to Hiyori. His talking trailed off when he noticed Hiyori stayed rooted in place with a pained expression.

"Hiyori?" Yato tried, tilting his head. Yukine leaned forward in his seat to try to catch her expression.

"What's wrong? You're coming right?" Yukine asked. The Eve took a deep breath and looked Yato squarely in the eye. Her voice, holding the same superior authority it did when she kept everything classified.

"You're going to Earth. I'm staying here to find the plant."

[sj4iy]

Translation: “Noragami” Chapter 79 Spoilers Pt 2!

So here is another translation from the pictures released from this month’s chapter of “Noragami”. Again, since these are not my pictures I will not be posting them here. Spoilers ahead!

Page 02:

Chapter 79: [That Love, This Love] (*1)

Yato: “Kazune”

Yato: “Kazune?”

Yato: “Kazu-kuuuuuun…”

Yato: “KAZUMA!”

Kazuma: “…what”

Yato: “Don’t ignore me!”

Page 03:

Yato: “Hey, I knew this would complicate things!”

Yato: “Since I betrayed Yukine, too!”

Girl: “It’s not like we can’t be friends again!”

Boy: “No no, you know I’ve got a wife, don’cha?” (*2)

Yato and Kazuma: “…”

Kazuma: “Even though you gave me the sound “kazuma” especially…no, “Kazune”…”

Yato: “Ahh, you are Kazuma after all!”

Yato: “Just come when I call the vessel, alright!?”

Page 04:

Kazuma: “…what about that Rekki? Are you interested in it?”

Yato: “Hm? Y-yeah”

Yato: “It’s the first time I’ve ever had divine robes-“

[Track Suit] [Fluffly-ish garment]

Yato: “You’re amazing! I didn’t even lose my identity”

Yato: “It’s possible to attack not only up close but also from a distance…”

Page 05:

Kazuma: “Suitable for a god of calamity”

Father: “Cull the herd”

Yato: “Ah…no doubt”

Page 06:

Kazuma: “You’ll be able to cut anything for me, end it for me”

Yato: “-oh”

Yato: “Of course!”

Kazuma: “Then…”

Kazuma: “…there’s worth to me becoming a nora”

Yato: “Liar, the obstacle is terrible”

Page 07:

Yato: “The wind is hitting me…”

Kazuma: “-hey”

Kazuma: “Of everything you could’ve picked, why did you give me the name ‘Kazu’?”

Yato: “I dunno, it was the only thing that came to mind”

Kazuma: “Then, what about ‘ne’?”

Kazuma: “You’ve used that name for a long time, but…”

Yato: “…that’s a warning to myself”

Yato: [Tamanone]

Yato: “So that I never forget my mistake”

Page 08:

Kazuma: “Viina, you said that from now on we would be the ‘Ha” clan, so why do you call me ‘Kazuma’? See…’Ma’ is a taboo name…”

Bishamon: “This is a warning to myself”

Bishamon: “If you don’t like Kazuma, I’ll change it…however”

Bishamon: “I don’t want to make it that the ‘Ma’ clan never

existed…” (*3)

Page 09:

Bishamon: “And anyway, I like you as Kazuma”

Kazuma: “…I’m sorry, Viina”

Kazuma: “There was no other way than betray you…”

Page 10:

Yato: “Of everything you could have picked, why Kazuma”

Yato: “Kazuma”

Yato: “Kiyotsugu Hirano”

Yato: “Born the second son of a salter”

Yato: “His father decreed that he would take over the family business”

Yato: “And just before the marriage ceremony”

____

T/N:

1. It uses the word “ai” for love, so there’s no ambiguity. “this” and “that” carry the meaning of ‘the speaker’ and ‘the other person’ so it seems to be saying “His love, My love”.

2. This person seems to be using the Hokkaido dialect.

3. I *think* this is correct, but feel free to correct me if I read this wrong.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back in a few days when I get Jump SQ. Thanks!

[calamitynight]

Yatori week 2018 - Remember Me {Day 6}

@yatori-week-2018

Words: 3660

Notes: It’s funny how I got this idea. My friend and I were having a conversation while we were discussing cosplays... She happened to have had a dream about this a long time ago. So I thought it would be perfect to write it into a story.....Time has passed since Hiyori had forgotten about Yato. He was now busy with Yukine trying to become a god of fortune, spending what seemed to be less time with Hiyori. With great fear she would forget about him again, she slowly starts taking his clothes bit by bit. This was her way of remembering him.

It was a hot summer day, one of those whose heat paralyzed people into staying indoors. The sun was blazing above and the guys were laying on the floor in front of the fans. Their bodies showcased them covered in sweat. They whined, groaned and complained about the hellish heat. No matter what they did nothing seemed to calm down the rays shinning from the sky. Hiyori sat in the corner with a fan hitting her as well. She had draped her body onto the table, her face slammed against the cold surface. She had began to spend every waking moment with the boys, but the weather was killing her. What she would give to be in an air conditioned house. Yet as she turned to look at both Yato and Yukine, she feared leaving their side. Yato had managed to pick himself up and throw his face onto the table. He showed an expression of satisfaction towards the cold surface. She watched and took in every detail of his. How long has it been? Weeks maybe...since she's forgotten about them. She didn't want to be reminded of those times. Yato had gone missing for weeks and she hated that in that small amount of time she had managed to forget about them. She wasn't different at all, she couldn't bare to let them know. They twist and turned in aggravation as if any of that was going to make things better. Then to many surprise Yato's cellphone began to ring. He lifted his arm above his head to read the incoming number. He hesitated but soon put the phone over his ear. He pushed himself up from the table, giving it a little smack as he slammed down his hand. In his palm he held his so called scarf, he could no longer bare it wrapped around his neck. He moved slightly to kick Yukine. The face he received was full of anger, irritation and hate. He seemed to have backed up a little from his response. 

"We have a job to do" He said with all of his might.

"Seriously?" Yukine pushed himself off of the floor. "Let's just hope the place has air conditioning" They both stood up from the floor and stretched. "You know you don't have to be here Hiyori"

"Oh, no it's okay"

"That's right! you have a house with great air conditioning. How about we rest there some time" Yato said happily. That was the first smiled he's let out since she's shown up.

"Don't use her for your comfort, Yato"

"It's not just for me you know!"

         Hiyori watched as they argued while they walked away to their new job. Usually she always went with them on jobs, but she couldn't bring herself to do this heat today. She pushed her face off of the flat table top as something caught her eye. It was that vibrant blue color, so hard to miss. She moved her gaze towards the other side of the table. There it was, his bright blue colored rag. He seemed to have left it behind, and she didn't blame him. She sat there for a moment with a knot in her gut. She didn't understand this urge that was suddenly building up inside of her. For some reason she couldn't take her eyes off it, she couldn't get herself to ignore it. She couldn't fight off the feeling, she had to take it.

The next day had arrived, it was just as hot as the last. It was noon when Yato finally realized that his fluffy fluff scarf was missing. He was ravaging through everything in his line of sight. No matter where he looked he couldn't find it. Finally irritated with him, Yukine began to look too.

"Where could it have gone? I left it on the table" Yato questioned. He scratched the top of his head in means to remembering, it was to no avail.

"If you ask me I think good riddance. The thing was atrocious"

"No! I feel naked without it" He began to tear up.

"Maybe Kofuku took it and put it in the wash or something. She probably smelled how much it stunk when you left it behind"

"That's right! I'll go ask her"

"Her and Diakoku left a couple of minutes ago. They couldn't take it in this heat"

"Ahhh! why why why!? I need my scarf!"

"It's only a rag, it's to hot to have it wrapped around anyway. I'm leaving, this is getting annoying"

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"Up to see Kazuma" He began to walk away from his crying god. Leaving him behind as he zapped up to Takamagahara.

         Hiyori walked along side her friends without a care in the world. The school was cool from the heat waves outside as they walked down the hallway. School was almost over and she watched as everyone around dreaded leaving the safety of the a.c. unit. She drifted away from their conversation as she always did. She watched outside the tall windows at the poor people forced to be outside right now. She didn't noticed her friends had stopped until she walked right into them.

"Earth to Hiyori" Yama waved her hand in front of her face.

"Hm? What's up"

"Oh nothing, just that you were spacing out again"

"I was afraid you might have one of your narcoleptic events" Ami admitted.

"You know since you're finally back into the conversation" Hiyori nervously laughed at Yama's comment. "What's with the rag tied onto your bag strap?"

"Oh, ah..." She looked down at Yato's scarf. Honestly she didn't know what to say. She had taken it without thinking and tied up to her school bag this morning. "you see..." She couldn't think of an excuse. "My mom has been complaining lately how I don't really clean, yeah! I don't do much chores, so this is a reminder that I have to start once I get home from school" She wanted to smack herself for telling such an awful lie.

"Could it be, has our Hiyori been slacking at home?"

"Uh, yeah..." She couldn't believe it, did they buy into that?

"That's hard to believe" Ami commented. "Why such a bright color?"

"I don't know, I guess something about this color caught my eye"

"Well we should get going back to class before the bell rings"

        Hiyori has never been so thankful that class was almost starting. She looked down at the rag and flushed in embarrassment. Why did she take this in the first place? As they walked away, she calmly untied it from her strapped and put the rag in her bag. As she grabbed it and folded it neatly, she let out a blush. Just one piece of fabric held onto his smell so strongly. It smelled so good to her, she dreaded putting it into her bag. Still she couldn't wait to see Yato again. She walked into Kofuku's house as she always had. She didn't see Yato downstairs and saw Yukine thrown in front of the fan in the corner. That was the one she was using yesterday, she was certain that it worked better than the others. She smiled as it appeared that Yukine had also figured that out. She took off her shoes and jacket, it was getting way too hot to wear it. She should really change into her spring uniform she thought to herself. Yukine appeared to be in some sort of bliss in front of this fan. It looked like he was asleep, but as she sat down he opened his eyes.

"Hey, Hiyori" he said in a low dried voice. He leaned over to grab the glass of water before him. "You really shouldn't come when it's hot like this"

"I want to hang around you guys, I find it better than being by myself" He had stood up and walked over to the kitchen as she spoke. Seconds later he came back with another cup of water. He set it down in front of her and went back to the fan. "You guys can come over to my place, you know"

"That's true, but with Yato being the way he is right now, well....I think that'll have to wait"

"What do you mean?" 

Steps pounded at the wooden floor as they ran down the stairs. Yato stopped at the entrance and turned to Hiyori. She grabbed a hold of her shoulders and looked at her with worried eyes. Tears soon filled them just as quickly.

"I can't find my fluffy fluff scarf" He cried out. "I looked everywhere, I teared our room apart" snot slowly fell from his nose. She turned back at her bag and then at him. "You don't happen to know what happened to it, do you Hiyori?"

"What? No, not at all" Why did she lie? it just came out before she could think of anything else.

"Kofuku has been really busy with the shop, so we haven't had any time to ask her" Yukine sounded irritated.

"Oh that's right, with it getting warmer more people walk by. Then this heat ended up being good for someone" She laughed nervously.

"Yeah, but with more people out that means more phantoms" Yato responded. "And I can't go out without my fluffy fluff scarf. It's my identity, it's who I am!"

"Oh shut up, you've been stalling all day. We have to go work now Yato. I'm sorry Hiyori, I know you just got here, but he's been slacking off for hours" He pulled on Yato's shirt. "Come on, I don't want Lady Bishamon picking up your slack, don't you know she has better things to do"

As she watched them walk away she took out her planner and wrote down her small note of the day. Both of them are sure starting to keep themselves busy. She was happy to see them, even if it was just for a little while, but was it enough? Something had began to feel off, like everyone was heading forward and she was stuck there. She was afraid if she kept moving she would forget again. Hiyori heard movement towards the kitchen and headed over to check it out. Kofuku seemed to be carrying a box out to the shop. She stopped as she noticed her right away and gave her a smile.

"Hey yori" She greeted happily. "Did Yato and Yukine just leave?"

"Yeah, they left just a second ago"

"Well that sucks. I know it's hot in this house, so I made Daikoku order some extra ice cream. I just put it in the fridge for them"

"That's very considerate, I will let them know" She grabbed a hold of the box in her hand, taking it from her. "Let me help you with that"

"Thanks Hiyori, you're always so nice to me"

"Not at all, it's the least I can do"

As she put the box down at its destination, she felt eyes on her. She turned back to meet with a smiling Kofuku. This smile was different than her usual smile, but it's a smile she's seen before. A smile that show cased that she knew something. Something Hiyori didn't want them knowing about.

"I chose to ignore it, but I heard Yato crying about how his scarf went missing" She commented. "You don't know anything about that?"

"No I don't"

"Then that's really strange, that's the first time anything has gone missing from our house. Well it's not like it belongs to us, but still Yato seemed very upset about it"

"I'll to look for it"

"That's very sweet of you, although you might not have to look very far"

"Oh really?"

"Mhmm, well I have to get to work now before Diakoku scolds me again. Thanks for the help, Hiyori" She pranced away without a care in the world.

        Hiyori stood there in disbelief as she held onto her chest. She knew Kofuku was cunning and she always seemed to know everything, but sometimes she truly could appear scary. Hiyori walked up to the attic where Yato and Yukine slept. As she stood at the door she was surprised how Yato really did destroy the room. The futons were thrown around with their sheets and pillows. Their one table was flipped upside down. Yukine's many outfits were thrown around the room. She let out a sigh as she began to clean up his mess. After picking up the beds and the table she proceeded to fold their clothing. She was preoccupied with Yukine's at first, but it didn't take her long to notice the black track suit on the floor. As she began to fold it, she let her hold on it linger. His smell was stronger coming from the jacket. It crinkled in her hands as she pulled it up to her chest. It took her a minute, but she did notice something off from before. Yato wasn't wearing his jacket when he came downstairs. She refused to let go of the track suit. Shaking her head in disbelief at herself she put the jacket down on the table. It was getting hotter by the day and Yato had began to leave his clothes off more and more. Hiyori had originally come upstairs to put his scarf back. She had failed terribly on that afternoon. 

"YUKINE!" Yato yelled out to his regalia. It was early in the morning, and all he wanted to do was beat the life out of his god. "I can't find my jacket" Yukine was amazed at how Yato continued without a care. "I've looked everywhere"

"What do you need that thing for? It's too hot for that" Yukine finally responded with death glare added to his expression.

"I can't find my scarf and now my jacket, what is happening!?"

"Maybe Kofuku  put that in the wash too. The room was clean when we came back yesterday, she must have picked it up"

"Yeah, that's true, but she's too busy for me to ask" He draped himself in defeat. "Wait! if that's true, wouldn't she had washed them together? And why wouldn't she tell me that she's doing it?"

"Look I really don't care Yato...Can I go back to sleep now?"

"Help me find them Yukine!"

It was a lovely Saturday morning, Hiyori was dressed in her comfortable home attire. She was thinking about giving the guys some space, and spending a day alone to herself. She ate breakfast with her parents, as she did ever morning. She walked them out as they left to head to work. The house was quiet and empty. Something about it made her feel a bit uneasy. Yet she sat down on the couch and watched a morning show. She figured this would distract her for the time being, but it didn't do that at all. She walked up the stairs, it sounded so hollow as her feet walked on their wooden floor. It was nice and cool inside, and she wondered how the guys were doing. Shaking her head she got the thought out of it, she was suppose to give them some space. They were working really hard, and she didn't want to get in the way. For some reason that left an aching feeling in her chest. She was afraid that if she didn't see them everyday she would forget, but that was too much of a burden on them, wasn't it? She headed to her bedroom and jumped on her bed. Her room was filled with a strong smell, her favorite smell. She calmly hummed in satisfaction of it, it was a lovely smell that only she could enjoy. Holding the rag tightly in between her fingers, she thought about the trouble she had caused for Yukine. Thinking back at this, she felt even worst for what she had done. He looked so tired and definitely annoyed with having to deal with Yato. What would say if he found out it was all her fault. She grabbed hold of the fabric beside her, it was thinner than she had imagined, and felt more comfortable than she thought it would. She sat down on her bed and used it as a blanket to put over her knees. She played on her phone for a little while, it was early in the morning, to believe she was already this bored. She hugged at it and wondered if she should just go over to Kofuku's house already. She voted against it, Hiyori stood up to go back downstairs. She draped the thing over her shoulders and as she started to slide her arms in, she heard her door creek. It wasn't long after till the door was fully opened and Yukine was staring right at her. With a panic she dropped everything that was in her hands.

"Hiyori-" He averted his eyes to the floor and back at her. "Those are..." He rubbed his head in disbelief and confusion. "Yato's jacket and his scarf, those are really it?" He said questionably. "But what are you doing with them?"

"I can explain!" she yelled out in a panic, exactly how was she suppose to explain this. "I was going to tell Yato, really"

"But why would you?" he picked the jacket and rag from the floor. 

"I-I don't know" he raised his eyebrow at her. 

"It's not like I don't find this weird or anything, but if there's something bothering you, you can talk to us" Hiyori let out a deep sigh and sat back down on her bed. "You know, I came here to escape from Yato, he was driving me insane looking for these"

"I'm so sorry"

"I didn't expect to find them with you, but maybe now he'll stop waking me up so early in the morning for a stupid track suit and wash cloth" now it was him letting out a sigh. "Why did you take them?"

"You two...you're working so hard and I feel like I barely get to see you"

"Has that been bothering you?"

"No! not at all, I'm happy Yato is working so hard...It's just ever since I forgot about you and Yato that one time, well I've been scared that it'll happen again"

"Why didn't you tell us?" his eyes softened as he looked at her. It gave her comfort, but made her feel worse about forgetting them. "That you forgot about us"

"I thought I as different, I always thought I would never forget. There was just no way I would ever forget you two, but I did. So I visit you everyday, but it hasn't been enough"

"What does this have to do with you taking these?"

"So I won't forget-I took them so I wouldn't forget"

        Yukine was shocked, but pulled her into a hug. It wasn't normal for him to do that, and he still blushed from embarrassment as he did, but he felt like she needed it. Yato sat outside of the window, he had planned to have just hoped in like he always did, but he decided against it. He was just as shocked to have heard where his belonging had ended up. He wanted to go in there, but something told him not to interfere. He didn't want to believe that Hiyori had forgotten about him, but he knew he had put too much pressure on her. He wasn't mad and after a while he wasn't upset either. He had bought a new track suit that day with the same color scarf, and he acted as if none of this ever happened. Hiyori had found comfort in his clothing and who was he to judge her for it. In all honestly a part of that fact made him very happy. 

It was almost Sunday afternoon when Yato decided to drop by her house. He walked in as usual without a care in the world. Hiyori's parents were at the hospital for work as always. So he found Yukine sitting on the couch watching t.v.. 

"Yu-ki-ne" He said in his regalias ear. Yukine jumped as he wasn't expecting it.

"Yato" He called his name angrily. "Don't do that, you idiot"

"Did I scare you?"

"What? Of course not!"

"Hehe, I totally did" Yato snickered out as he bullied him. He heard the sound of footsteps coming down from upstairs. He turned around to watch as Hiyori reached the bottom of the stairs. "Hiyori" He said happily. She looked at him confused as he had the blue rag tied around his neck. She was certain she still had it in her room. He walked up to her and smiled. "I could't find my things, so I just bought myself some new ones"

"O-oh" She obviously looked disturbed. "Actually Yato-" she was taken aback as Yato softly landed his hand on her head.

"Shh" He said softly. Her face flushed red as she blushed at him. "I hope whoever or whatever took my things is happy with them" He commented.

"But..."

"I'll work hard, that way everyone will remember me"

"What?"

"I'll work hard for you" He winked at her like he always did. "Don't you forget that" His teeth shined bright as he smiled at her. 

"Yeah" she responded with a nod of her head and a warm smile. "I won't forget"

She didn't question him as to how he found out. Hiyori didn't mind either, as she kept his scarf on her bed side and his jacket hanging by the door. It seemed strange at first to them all, but what a better way to remember him, than to have a piece of him always with her. Her room had become more peaceful and she had become more confident. She wouldn't forget him, she was certain of that, He was her god of fortune after all.

[libraryscarf]

title: salut d’amour ( ao3 / ff.net ) pairing: kazubisha length: 2.5k rating: T summary: “Do you know how to waltz, Kazuma?” Bishamon asked. “No.” “Good.” additional notes: @themusicalbookworm​ commissioned me to write dancing kazubisha, so. :’))) (thanks gio ilysm) (also, this is the song they’re dancing to.)

“Who knew Tenjin could throw such a hell of a shindig?” Daikoku said, his eyes traveling from the blazing chandelier overhead, to the luxurious open bar, to the dance floor in the center of the cavernous chamber, golden surface gleaming under a new coat of wax.

“Where did you think he spent all his money? Ray Bans? Beard cream?” Yato appeared next to Daikoku, keeping his nose in the air and his eyes squinted against the glory of the room.

“Why the snark?” Daikoku asked, frowning. The open bar, at the very least, had his stamp of approval.

Yato shrugged. “I just don’t see the big deal. So he’s loaded. Whatever.”

Daikoku glanced across the room to where Tenjin was holding several of his guests rapt with stories of his many achievements. Among the spellbound listeners were Yukine and Hiyori.

“Ah,” he grunted, comprehending.

“Yato-chaaaaaan!”

Kofuku slammed into Yato from behind, knocking him nearly to the floor. She wrapped his arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, clinging to him like a particularly pink, loud backpack.

“Guess who just got here, Yato-chan!”

“Wh-who—Kofuku, air!” Yato wheezed, clawing at her grip around his neck. Kofuku slid off him, and allowed Daikoku to dust her off. She happily ignored his grumbles and Yato’s dry choking as oxygen returned to his windpipe.

“Who just got here?” Yato asked, rubbing his throat. Kofuku pointed to the entrance. The huge mahogany doors were swinging inwards, allowing a large group of people to enter the room.

“Bishamon—?”

“And it looks like almost everyone else,” Daikoku added, forgetting for a moment to chide his mistress as she took off across the room, an ear-killing shriek of “Bishaaaaaaaaaaa!!” echoing behind her like a rocket trail. More than several heads turned to follow her. Tenjin lost the hold over his audience as they looked in the direction of the commotion.

Hiyori and Yukine, having detached themselves from Tenjin, arrived at Yato’s side just as Daikoku left to try and contain his mistress.

“Oh, did you remember I existed?” Yato asked them, hunching his shoulders sulkily.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen either of them,” Hiyori said to Yukine, seamlessly continuing their conversation.

“Yeah. It’s good to see her on her feet again, after…” Yukine hesitated. Hiyori nodded solemnly.

“Hey!” Yato waved his arms, hopping with annoyance. Yukine wrinkled his nose.

“Hiyori, do you smell something?”

Hiyori’s lip twitched upward, and her cheeks pinked.

“Now that you’ve mentioned it Yukine, I think I do.”

“Smells kinda like day-old horseshi—”

Yukine yelped loudly as Yato collared him, trapping him in a headlock and roughing up his hair.

“Don’t swear—and don’t disrespect your master!”

: : :

Meanwhile, across the room, Bishamon gracefully disentangled herself from Kofuku’s embrace.

“It is good to see you too,” she said, her voice warm. “Though I was not expecting it to be quite so…”

She looked around at the other gods and shinki, most of whom were still staring straight at her. Her voice dropped to a near-whisper.

“…Public.”

As though summoned, Tsuyu glided through the crowd like a puff of spring air. In her wake, the guests returned to their conversations, relieving Bishamon from being the target of their scalding curiosity.

“I’m so happy you were well enough to make it,” she said. Her usually inscrutable countenance glowed with genuine welcome, and Bishamon’s stomach unclenched around some of its anxiety.

“I know better than to miss out on one of Tenjin’s parties,” she responded.

As she glanced around the enormous room, Bishamon admitted to herself that even for Tenjin’s extravagant tastes, this was impressive. She turned her head to take in the rest of the sight, and caught Kazuma’s gaze for a half-second. He broke eye contact at once, his gaze falling to the gleaming tiled floor. Bishamon frowned.

“I will let you mingle,” Tsuyu said. If she had observed their silent exchange, she didn’t let on. “I think there are many people who will be happy to see you flourishing again.”

And she floated away into the crowd, leaving behind the sweet, purple scent of plums.

“‘Flourishing’ is putting it a bit generously,” Bishamon muttered, shaking her head. Already, her heart was racing, her palms chilled and sweaty. Kuraha took her arm.

“Shall we find somewhere to sit, my lady?”

“Yes, please.”

There were round tables dotting the perimeter of the dance floor, and Kuraha led her to one, lowering her gently into one of the delicate chairs as her other shinki fluttered nearby like worried butterflies.

“Go,” she directed. She tried to smile, putting her hand on Kuraha’s arm and squeezing it lightly. “Enjoy yourselves. This is a party.”

Kinuha pulled out a chair for herself and sat down. “I will stay with you, my lady, in case you need anything,” she said, leaning back and crossing her arms decidedly.

“No.”

At the sound of his voice, Bishamon’s already weak heart stumbled.

“The rest of you can go,” said Kazuma, quietly. “I will stay here.”

The rest of her shinki looked at her, waiting for a verdict. After a moment, she nodded.

“If you wish to stay here, Kazuma—” She hesitated briefly, hiding the tremble of her lip. “I would enjoy your company.”

Her shinki dispersed into the crowd. Akiha quickly found his way to the buffet table, while Kinuha made a beeline for the open bar. Kazuha and Karuha found Yukine—the only other young shinki in attendance—and attached themselves firmly to his sleeves. Beneath the thready beating of her own heart, Bishamon felt their spirits begin to lift. She let out a long breath. Things had been somber in her house as of late. A party would be good for them.

“Do you need anything?”

Kazuma’s voice plucked her out of her thoughts. She looked over to see him staring straight ahead. His lips were set, eyes fixed, jaw as tight as a bowstring. Bishamon searched that expression for something besides stone-faced obedience—and found nothing.

A dull, gray pain throbbed inside her ribs. “Some water, perhaps,” she said.

He rose instantly, disappearing into the crowd. Bishamon leaned forward, putting her head in her hands.

: : :

“When’s this party gonna get groovy?” Kofuku demanded. She was firmly drunk, clutching Tenjin’s lapels with both hands and stomping on his toes. Daikoku pried her nails loose of Tenjin’s suit, lifting her bodily away from him and flinging her over one shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Sorry,” he grunted.

Tenjin brushed himself off, chuckling. “She does have a point,” he admitted. Summoning one of his shinki with a flick of his wrist, he whispered something to her. She gave a brisk nod, then hurried away.

A moment later, Yato barreled up to Tenjin, steam pouring from his ears.

“Okay old man, I know for a fact you don’t get enough offerings to finance this type of extravagance, so I demand to know who’s backing you.”

“Are you hoping to once again ride the coattails of my success?” Tenjin said suavely. “I might be able to introduce you to some generous clients, if you prove yourself capable, and hygienic…” He gave Yato a once-over, his lip curling. “…Although I suppose that would be a bit much to ask.”

Yato’s face turned an apoplectic shade of purple.

“I’m not the greasy one around here, you perverted, moldy-ass motherfu—”

“Hiyori, I found him!” came Yukine’s voice. A second later the two of them appeared out of the crowd. Yukine was carrying a plate piled high with his successful raid of the buffet. Yato made a grab for it, stuffing eight shrimps into his mouth in lieu of showering Tenjin with the filthiest of epithets.

“Hey!” Yukine jerked the plate away.

Suddenly, music began wafting from somewhere above them, drifting down over the gathering like flower petals. Yukine, Hiyori, and Tenjin turned to look for its source. Yato sneaked another shrimp.

“Whoa,” Yukine murmured.

“Is that—” Hiyori whispered, awestruck.

“A full orchestra?” Tenjin finished, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. “Yes, it does seem that way, doesn’t it?”

: : :

As soon as the orchestra struck up, Bishamon lifted her head from her hands—only to meet Kazuma’s, clouded with worry behind his glasses.

“You are not feeling well,” he said.

“I’m fine,” Bishamon snapped, snatching the water from him. It slopped over her wrist, splattering her dress. She didn’t dare look up at him, but instead stared silently at the constellation of water drops on the silk over her knee.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Kazuma took the water from her. She hadn’t realized her hands were shaking.

Beneath the orchestra’s music, he asked gently:

“Would you like to dance?”

Slowly, Bishamon raised her eyes to his face. Kazuma’s lips were straining into a smile. It was a passable—though obviously painful—effort. The rest of him seemed to be caught between the uncomfortable extremes of agony and desperation. He looked truly miserable.

“Yes,” she said, taking pity on him. “I would love to.”

They walked together to the edge of the sprawling dance floor, where many of the other guests had already paired up—many comporting themselves with more enthusiasm than skill. Bishamon smirked as Yato, a stolen rose between his teeth, was executing a questionable tango with Hiyori as his partner. Daikoku had started square dancing in a corner of the floor with some of Bishamon’s younger shinki. Takemikazuchi was aggressively failing to foxtrot with Kofuku, who kept stomping all over his feet so that it looked like he was doing an Irish jig. The only ones successfully dancing were Tenjin and Mayu, who shared an elegant, nondescript two-step while avoiding the hubbub around them.

“Do you know how to waltz, Kazuma?” Bishamon asked.

“No.”

“Good.”

And she twirled him onto the dance floor, keeping well out of the way of Hiyori and Yato, who galloped around its perimeter while laughing hysterically.

“Viina—!” Kazuma yelped. She grinned, catching him by the wrist before he could stumble into the path of another couple, and swinging them both into the center of the dance floor.

“I’ll teach you,” she murmured.

Several minutes later, Kazuma was blushing almost to the point of tears.

“So my hand goes—?”

“Here, yes.”

“And we…?”

“Move like this. Watch my feet for a moment.”

Kazuma did watch her feet, as it gave him an excuse to look away from her very, very close face.

“See how our feet should mirror each other?” she asked. Her breath swept over his ear, sending a riot of chills down his spine, pursued by a rush of heat that nearly knocked his knees from under him.

“Vi-Viina,” he sputtered. “Um. I’m—I’m not learning very quickly.”

“You’re doing fine,” she reassured him. Her fingers gently squeezed his shoulder. “But…do you want to stop?”

Kazuma swallowed. The silk warmth of her body pressed against him, his hands resting on the suggestive bell-curve of her waist. As close as she stood to him, her sweet, sylvan godsmell was overpowering. He closed his eyes.

“No,” he said, hating how gravelly his voice had become. “Let’s…let’s not stop.”

She smiled. And then the music changed. Above the soft, rhythmic counterpoint of the orchestra, the voice of one violin began to soar: a wistful, heartaching solo that melted over the dancers.

Bishamon let out her breath in a soft puff. She took her hand out of Kazuma’s, winding both her arms around his neck. Without her tall heels, she was able to rest her head against his chest. He hoped she couldn’t hear his stuttering heartbeat.

“I’ve always liked this song,” She admitted. Kazuma decided he would bribe the orchestra to play nothing else for the rest of the evening.

This time, they didn’t bother with the steps. Bishamon didn’t move away from him, and the two swayed together, rocking in the tide of the music. Kazuma held her cautiously, one hand on either side of her waist. His Adam’s apple bobbed against her forehead as he swallowed. Bishamon peeked up at him.

“You can hold me closer, Kazuma,” she said. He squirmed inside his suit.

“I-I know—”

“Are you tired of dancing with me?”

“No!” he exploded. A few people turned around to look. “No,” he muttered, his face dark with humiliation.

“Then something else is wrong,” Bishamon surmised. “You should tell me, before it blights you.”

Kazuma winced at her casual tone.

“It’s really nothing, Viina. Nothing that would hurt you.”

Bishamon looked up at him again. Her eyes were bright and fierce. He felt uncomfortable, exposed, like she was taking him apart from the inside, examining every broken piece of him, every mark of decay.

“Whatever hurts you, hurts me,” she said.

Her forgiveness was so much worse than her rage. While Kazuma silently agonized, Bishamon looked down again. She began talking quietly, as though only to herself.

“I have always admired good dancers,” she said. “If you look closely, you can see how perfectly they talk to each other. The lead partner must not be overpowering, and the other must not let themselves be trampled or dragged behind. And with the best dancing, it looks effortless—as effortless as breathing.”

She sighed deeply. Kazuma let his hands creep from her waist around her back, hovering over the bare skin that radiated warmth.

“I think you would make a good dance partner, Viina,” he said. Something in his voice had changed. It rumbled against her ear, making her shiver.

“You lead firmly, and you know which direction to go. You know how to make it look easy to everyone else. You hide all the effort. You are determined, and righteous, and…” He trailed off. They stopped swaying, and Bishamon looked at him.

They were no longer talking about dancing.

“You might find someone else—a better dancer than me.” Kazuma smiled down at her. “Someone who knows how to waltz.”

Bishamon met his eyes for a moment, then looked down at his buttons. Before her eyes turned away, Kazuma thought he saw more in them than the ballroom lights.

“I don’t need a better dancer,” she said—so quietly he had to lean in close, until her mouth was almost at his ear.

“I don’t need someone to match me. I just need…someone to stay with me. I can’t be alone. I don’t want to be by myself. It doesn’t matter if you trip, or don’t know the steps, just help me, Kazuma, I need you to be here, I don’t want to feel as alone as I did when…”

Her fingers dug into the back of his neck, stinging him. She clung to him, letting him bear her weight like a child. A surge of unbearable yearning overtook her.

“Never leave me out there by myself again,” she sobbed.

The violin was climbing to its final note, and the vibrato hung quivering, dying.

Kazuma rested his forehead against the top of her head. And, at last, he wrapped her in his arms, clutching her as helplessly as she did him.

“Never, Viina.”

[skyheaven1231]

As fate would have it - Chapter 43

Chapter 43 - Bonds

(possible manga spoilers up until chapter 54)

Words: 3444

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“Mum you should really lay down! You need your rest as well!”, Tsuki lectured her mother.

It's been almost over a month since the incident with the heavens. Over a month and Yato still hadn't woken up.

Hiyori's foot had been treated by her brother at the hospital as well as Tsuki's eye and Yato's terrible wounds on his back.

They did their best to treat him but even now, his heart still wasn't beating.

At first Hiyori wanted for Yato to stay in the hospital so she would be able to treat him there but as soon as she and Tsuki were able to leave, they brought him home as well.

Given the fact that he was a god, there wasn't much they could do at the hospital anyway.

Even though, Hiyori brought a heart monitor with her to be able to check on his heartbeat easier at home.

It gave her a feeling of safety to have this machine here even if all she was able to see was a flat-line.  

Day after day, week after week, every time Hiyori looked at the little monitor in hope to see any reaction of Yato's heart beating, there was nothing. Nothing that would make her feel relieved.

Her ankle had been put back in place and a few metal bars were holding it in order for it to heal properly.

Even though the wound was pretty bad, her foot would be as good as new once it had enough time to heal. Tsuki was now wearing an eye patch to make sure the scratch on her eye wouldn't get infected. A scar would probably stay forever though but the blue eyed girl didn't care about that too much.

A tiny scar wouldn't change who she was, even if it was right in her face.

This statement made Hiyori feel proud and ashamed at the same time. Her daughter didn't care about a scar on her face, when she had trouble accepting one on her stomach for years. Not because of aesthetic reasons, but because of the memories the mark had left that she wasn't able to let go of until Yato had taught her so.

“I appreciate it Tsuki! But I can't just lay down when he is still fighting for his life. I wish I could do something to help him”, she refused her daughter's offer.

“Mum, it's been almost two days since you got any sleep! You need to get rest, please!”, the young girl said, “I'm worried about you!”

“I know sweetie! You don't have to worry about me though, I'm okay real-” “No you are not!”, Tsuki interrupted angry, “You have to sleep as well! You've been hurt and you need to recover just like dad does! You are going to lie down on my bed right now do you hear me?! I can't possibly risk losing you as well!”

Hiyori was speechless. Tsuki had never ordered her around like that. Yukine who was entering Yato's and Hiyori's bedroom right at that moment, was silent as well.

“I'm so sorry Tsuki, I didn't mean to worry you like that. You are right, I'm going to get some rest”, she finally agreed.

“Uhm … Before you go Hiyori, we have some guests”, Yukine interfered, finally able to talk again after the shock of Tsuki's determined words.

Behind him in the door, Hiyori could make out the faces of her friends.

Bishamon, Kazuma, Kofuku, Daikoku, Ebisu, Kunimi as well as Mayu and Tenjin. They were all there.

All of a sudden the small flat was filled with people.

“You guys”, Hiyori said as soon as she saw them.

“You need to listen to your daughter Hiyoriiin! You need your rest!”, Kofuku said worried.

“Listen to the kiddo. You ain't wanna mess with her”, Daikoku agreed.

Tsuki smiled when she saw all of them. It had been a while since they all were together in one place after this whole mess.

They came to visit and check on Yato on a regular basis but never had they came to visit all at once.

“How is he doing?”, Kazuma asked, carrying a bouquet of flowers.

“No change in his condition. The wounds on his back have completely healed now though. I know that gods heal faster but that they would heal that fast ... They've been pretty severe. I hope that he might wake up soon now that the wounds are gone”, Hiyori explained.

Kofuku got closer to the bed.

Yato looked so peaceful.

“He looks like he is sleeping”, she said and looked at the heart monitor, “When really, he is … “

“Not dead!”, Tsuki interfered before Kofuku could finish her sentence.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that!”, the pink haired goddess apologized immediately.  

“Yato-san will be waking up soon, I know it!”, Ebisu said and entered the room as well.

The young boy was confident. He wanted to stay optimistic in this situation.

Slowly the others as well entered the bedroom after asking if it was alright with Hiyori.

They gathered around the bed and the chair next to it that Hiyori was sitting on.

“How's your ankle Hiyorin?”, Kofuku asked.

“It's better. But I think I'm gonna need a lot more time to heal than Yato does. Even though my brother said that it's remarkable how quick it is healing. I'm just happy that it's going to heal at all. For a while I thought there was nothing that could be done”, the half Ayakashi answered.

After that, silence filled the room. Everyone's eyes were resting on Yato.

Kofuku was right, he looked peaceful but yet at the same time, something told them that he was fighting against something.

Something that was way more difficult than fighting against the heavens.

Ebisu had sat down in another chair on the other side of the room as he suddenly noticed something.

“Oh no, my shoe laces are untied!”, he said and and looked at his shoe.

“I'm not tying them again!”

Everyone was in shock after they realized who had said this.

“YATO!”, Hiyori cried out.

His eyes were opened just a little bit and for the first time in weeks, the flat-line had been replaced by the sign of a weak but steady heartbeat.

“Y-You … a-are awake!”, the half Ayakashi said, her voice shaking.

“Daddy!”, Tsuki joined and sat up so she could see him.

“Yato!”, Yukine also got closer to his master.

“Why is everyone here?”, Yato asked groggily.

“Y-You are a-awake!”, Hiyori repeated herself, tears filling her eyes, “H-How do you feel? A-Are you in pain?”

“I feel tired. What happened?”, he asked.

“Y-You …”, Tsuki wanted to explain, but the words wouldn't come.

“You almost died you idiot!”, Hiyori suddenly yelled, “Your heart wasn't beating! How can you scare me like that you jerk!”

That sentence took everything from her, she burst out crying, letting out all the emotions she had held back the last month.

Kofuku rushed to her friend's side and put her arms on her shoulders as a sign of support. She as well, had tears of relieve in her eyes as she said: “You scared the crap out of us Yatty!”

“I agree. We certainly have been worried!”, Tenjin said.

Yato looked around realizing that he was at home. His eyes rested on the heart monitor that was connected to his finger.

“What is that about?”, he asked, trying to lift his hand a little bit.

“I borrowed that from the hospital. To be able to check on you”, Hiyori explained.

“That's not helpful if you are treating a god, you know”, he said, trying to put on his jerk smile.

“I KNOW DAMMIT BUT I HAD TO DO SOMETHING! SHUT UP YOU IDIOT!”, she screamed and finally embraced him, “I'm so glad you are okay!”

Shakily, Yato wrapped his arms around her as well. He was still a little dazed but he knew that his family and his friends had been through a lot because of him.

“I'm sorry!”, he said.

After those words, Tsuki joined her parents in their embrace, followed by Yukine who also had tears in his eyes that he desperately tried to fight.   Kofuku couldn't resist to also join in on their hug and as soon as she did, the others followed her example, gathering everyone in one big group hug.

“It's good to have you back!”, Daikoku said.

“It's good to be back”, Yato answered.

After a short moment, they let go of their hug, the atmosphere in the room now completely changed.

The pressure had been gone and replaced by a happy relieved feeling.

Yato was awake again.

His heart was beating.

Even though they weren't embracing each other anymore, Hiyori still held on to Yato's hand. It was warm.  

Nothing like the cold feeling of the last weeks.

“Never scare us like that again! You hear me?”, she said, her voice shaking yet soft.

“I promise!”, he answered with a smile.

Before anyone could say another word a bright light appeared in the corner of the room. As soon as it vanished, they could make out the figure of a small girl with bright hair.

“Y-Your majesty!”, Bishamon said, causing everyone to bow their heads.

“It's okay, you don't need to bow before me. I am not here on behalf of the heavens”, Amaterasu assured, “I came to see if the Yato god was okay and it seems that you are just fine.”

“Did I miss something?”, Yato asked confused.

He didn't know why Amaterasu, the leader of all gods, would come to see if he, a nameless god, was okay.

“You missed a lot daddy!”, Tsuki said, “Thanks to her we are all still alive.”

“What?”, Yato got even more confused.

It took a while until the others had filled him in on what happened after he had almost died trying to protect his family.

They told him how Tsuki had put on the form of an Ayakashi and what she was capable of doing in that form.

They told him how everyone stood up for him and his family in order to protect them and how Amaterasu showed up and saved them.

“I never meant for something like this to happen. I am supposed to be the one maintaining peace but I also find myself helpless in so many occasions. This time I simply couldn't stay back anymore. I had to interfere. I hate to see gods, Shinki and people die but I always thought I had to accept what the other gods were doing because I thought that was the right thing to keep the peace. But when I saw what this little girl was doing, I knew that the way we had been handling things up until now was wrong. I have to thank you Tsuki! Thank you for showing me that there is another way to reach peace than death! I am terribly sorry for everything you, your family and friends had to go through.”

“That's not your fault!”, Tsuki said, “You stood up for us and thanks to that we are still alive! Thank you your majesty!”

The young girl bowed her head, making Amaterasu smile.

“I've also come here for another reason. I'm sure you are aware that there have been disorders in the heavens because of what I have done”, the goddess said, “Many gods don't want to accept that I have excused the traitors' actions and lifted their guilt. It's going to take a while until I have fully persuaded them that your actions have nothing to do with treason. However, they won't keep silent unless there is a reason for Tsuki to keep existing.”

“What does that mean?”, Hiyori asked scared, “What reason?”

“Don't be afraid. I came here to give Tsuki exactly that reason. Tsuki, I want you to continue freeing Ayakashi from their agony. If you agree to keep using your powers in order to maintain peace on earth I can assure your family's and friends' safety. As long as you do that, you are under the protection of the heavens. If you don't, I won't be able to assure your safety.” “All I have to do is continue what I've done up until now?”, Tsuki asked.

Freeing Ayakashi had caused the problems in the first place and now it should be guaranteeing their safety?

“That is correct.”

“Tsuki”, Hiyori said worried, knowing that only Tsuki could make this decision.

“I … I want to be able to help them. O-Okay! I agree! I promise I will use my powers only to maintain peace and free the world from agony”, Tsuki agreed after a short moment to think about the choice she had been given.

“I am happy to hear that. In that case, from this moment on, you are officially accepted by heaven. No one shall threaten you unless you use your power for something else but the task that has been given to you.”

“I promise I will use it to make people happy!”

Hiyori and Yato were both looking at their daughter all teary eyed, saying: “WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOUUU!”

“Oh boy, get it together you two!”, Yukine answered, hiding his face behind his hands.

Those two could be so embarrassing when they acted like proud parents.

This simple little sentence caused everyone in the room to laugh. It was a great feeling and even Amaterasu joined them.

Finally, they were safe.

They sat around the bed and chatted for a while after Yukine and Kazuma had brought a few more chairs into the room for everyone to sit on. It  almost felt like a little party, celebrating that no one died during this horrible incident.

“You know mum, you were right”, Tsuki suddenly said, directing everyone's attention to the two girls.

“What do you mean?”, Hiyori asked, still holding on to Yato's hand.

“You promised me that we would all get out alive! You were right the whole time!”, she explained.

Hiyori remembered her words. She really had been right, even though she had lost faith a few times herself.

“Of course your mother was right!”, Yato interfered laughing, “She is always right!”

“Says the one that almost caused this promise to be broken!”, Yukine said monotone.  

“Yeah”, Hiyori joined, “Mighty words from the person who almost died!”

“Hey! All I did was to protect my family! Like I had promised”, Yato answered with a fake hurt tone in his voice.

Amaterasu was watching them fight in a joking and loving way and giggled but there was something she couldn't help but notice.

“Hiyori Iki”, she mumbled to herself.

“What?”, Hiyori asked, noticing that she had caught Amaterasu's interest.

“I'm sorry but I think there is something you need to know”, she now spoke directly to Hiyori and Yato while the others were caught up in their own conversations again.

Suddenly, the happy mood changed again. What the young goddess was about to say would be a serious subject.  

“What is it?”, she asked hesitantly.

“How old are you again?”, Amaterasu asked.

“Uhm .. I am thirty years old”, Hiyori answered confused.

“That is not true!”

“Yes it is. I am thirty years old and I'll be turning thirty one next year.”

“That is not true. Your mind may have aged, but your body has not”, Amaterasu explained.

“What?”, Yato now asked, not knowing what Amaterasu wanted to say.

“How old have you been when you gave birth to Tsuki?”

“I .. I was nineteen years old when I gave birth.”

“That's when your body stopped aging. Or when you stopped being bound to the process of aging like a human being.”

“What does that mean? D-Does that mean that…”

“That means that you have started crossing the line to the far shore. You are not dead and yet you are not bound to the rules of the living anymore. Your body will be aging but it will be so slow that you won't notice. In a way, you are walking alongside gods, Shinki and Ayakashi while you are still alive.”

“T-That means … “, Yato said, his voice shaking.

“Her life span has extended. What is one year for a human being, can be a hundred years for her.  What are ten years for mankind, can be centuries in her life.”

Hiyori was shocked. What Amaterasu told her was that, in a sense, she was immortal.

That explained so many things that had caused her questions during the last years. Every time someone told her how young she still looked.

Every time someone told her that she hadn't changed at all the last twelve years.

The times when she was hard to notice even for her own parents.

The fact that her foot was healing quicker than usual.

That was all because,she was starting to live as a being leaning over to the far shore.

“How?”, was everything she could ask.

“You wanted to be with the Yato god. You wanted to be with him for such a long time, refusing to let go of the memories you shared. You have unknowingly crossed the line separating the living world from the far shore, because you held on to the people and the memories you have created in our world. This conviction made you able to cross the line without any problems. You two share a bond that is way stronger than death could ever be. The connection between you two made it possible that a child between the near and far shore could be born. When you carried Tsuki inside of you, the part of her that was a god fused with your body, pushing you even further over the line. You are not a god, yet your body will be acting as one. Tsuki is the prove of the connection between the two of you which is stronger than the line between the living world and the afterlife. A bond that can never be broken.”

Yato and Hiyori looked over to Tsuki who had been talking to Yukine and Ebisu.

“I look like a pirate with that eye patch! Hey big brother, does that scratch still look bad?”, she asked and lifted the eye patch.

“GROSS! Don't show that to me jeez!”, Yukine complained.

“Fascinating!”, Ebisu said, taking a closer look.

“I … I destroyed you Hiyori”, Yato said, his eyes facing down, “I'm so sorry. This is only because of me.”

“What are you talking about Yato?”, she asked confused.

“You … Because of me … you …”

“It is not your fault! Quit blaming everything on yourself for once. It was MY decision to stay with you. I said that I wanted to be with you and that I wouldn't forget you. When we started dating it was because I wanted to do it. I decided that I wanted to have our child! All of this happened because of my own decisions!”

“But … you are not going to be able to live a normal life anymore. You are going to see your family and friends die while are you stuck between the shores.”

“So what? I don't want to live a normal life if that means that I won't be with you or anyone else I care about. I chose this path myself and I won't back out! I'm going to see my family die one day even if I wasn't stuck in a not aging body. But you are my family as well! You, Tsuki, Yukine and everyone else in this room. I love you all so much and I want to be with you even if that means I have to cross lines that shouldn't be crossed. I love you Yato and I will stay with you forever! When will you finally understand that?”

Yato's eyes had filled with tears that were starting to run down his face. Hiyori reached out for his cheek, wiping away the tears. The blue eyed god's hand slowly went up to hers and held on to it as he looked her right in the eyes.

“Hiyori?”

“Yes?”, she asked, looking back into his eyes.

“Will you marry me?”

Next Chapter: Introductions

[dr-gothtastic]

“Penmanship”

Chapter Four: ‘A Sneeze, a Purple Tie and Many More Incidents’

Fandom: Noragami

Pairing: Kazuma x Bishamon (Kazubisha)

Word Count: 2,313 words

Sound-Track: “I of the Storm”— Of Monsters and Men

Side-Note: This is a mini-series of a regalia experiencing the (sometimes frustratingly complicated) phenomena known as Kazubisha. This is a semi-spoof fic full of comical situations that may or may not make sense.

Summary of the following chapter(s): With the weekend off, our kazubisha detective tries various tactics to withdraw information from the peers of Kazuma. Will this regalia be able to overcome the numerous obstacles threatening to overthrow the investigation?

           “Er, yes.” I scowled slightly as I tried to figure out how to be more direct without sacrificing any sense of discretion. “Well…I wanted to ask you something about, him, er—Kazuma.”

“Hmm?” Kuraha proded gently.

How do I put this as subtly as possible? I wondered for a moment before gathering my courage and asking the question that was nagging on my mind. “WHAT IS GOING ON BETWEEN KAZUMA AND BISHAMON?!”

Kuraha stuttered his step, jostling me and I grabbed on tighter trying not to fall off again. He recovered quickly, quicker than I at least. “Ha, whatever could you mean by that?”

“I-It’s just that he’s always with her. And I’m not just talking about him being her exemplar either. I mean isn’t it odd that it seems like he never leaves her side or even when he does he still focused on her? And not even that but like…like he seems very close to our Lady. Like close enough to call her by some odd pet-name. Can you believe that? Where did he pick up that horrible habit anyhow! None of it makes sense. And the mistress just lets him do what he wants and it’s really unfair to the rest of us and…” I let out torrent of thoughts that had been buzzing around in my head for weeks now.

“Slow down there. A small regalia like you shouldn’t be caught up in such things anyways.” He chuckled as if my serious and very legitimate questioning amused him.  

“…I’m not that small….” I scowled and held back a retort.

“And I agree with you.”

I blinked, not sure if I heard him correctly. “Y-you do?” I couldn’t help but grin like a kid who just won a prize. “That’s great. I mean, I know right? Because what I say makes total and complete sense—“

“’—none of it makes sense.’” The lion recited my words passively.

“Eh?!” I choked on my words for a moment and then my scowled returned as I glared at the top of Kuraha’s head. “That’s what you agree with? What about the rest.”

“I don’t know much about the rest.” He chuffed. “I don’t really see why it’s any of my business anyways. It’s not like it’s harming anyone.”

“B-but, but, b-but!” I sputtered at his mellow reply like he wasn’t at all curious on what was really going on with the exemplar. “That’s not the point! The point is that….” What was the point? “t-that Kazuma is weird.”

“That’s the point? Can’t argue with that one.” Kuraha laughed which came out as a deep rumbling sound, resonating in his chest making his shoulders tremble beneath the palms of my hands. My cheeks suddenly burned as I realized what I had said and I bowed my head feeling the heat seep into my chest as frustration burrowed into my nerves. “No. That’s not what I meant.”

Kuraha let out a short exhale before glancing up at me. “Really, don’t you have more interesting things to occupy your mind with than asking after our exemplar?” He paused before continuing on in a patient tone. “The lady is very fond of him. Kazuma has been here longer than any of us, her has been at her side for centuries upon centuries. And he serves her well as her exemplar. And I think,” He tilted his head in thought, his ears flickering a bit as he did so. “He cares for her a great deal as well. She is his first priority after all. Whether that goes deeper, I couldn’t say.” He offered with a slight shrugging of his shoulders.

We walked in silence for a long moment before I leaned forward, placing my knees just between his shoulder blades and my hands on top his head as I dipped my head down right in front of his face so I could look into his eyes. “I think you are lying to me, Ku-ra-ha” I said lightly bringing my hand forward so I can bop him on the nose with my forefinger. “Boop.”

His eyes widened in surprise and he flinched slightly when I touched his nose, wrinkling the front part of his muzzle, his nose twitching. He squinted and his expression turned tight as he took a quick inhale of breath. “ACHOO!”

I flew off his back no longer having a grip of his mane. As I flew through the air I wondered for a split second onto the power of a Lion’s sneeze. Then I hit the wall and blacked out. Again.

 “Shall I fetch a tissue, Mr. Foof-Foof?” I murmured as my eyes flickered open. Confusion filled my muggy mind as I felt a deep ache in my temple. I’m flying? How I don’t have wings. Am I dead. Or dead dead? I raised my head but it was difficult as my skull felt like it was filled with bricks. I looked up to see the hallway of the manner and my vision was shaky; I looked down to see the same white tile as I had saw before. Suddenly my eyes widened in shock as I realized I really was floating.

“Huh?” I squirmed and felt something tugging on the back of my jacket. I looked over my shoulder to see a giant teeth clamped around the collar of my jacket, holding me off the ground and carrying me down the hall. “Huh?! Ah.” I reached forward my finger tips just brushing against the cool tile but not being able to reach it. I kicked my legs back and forth trying to pry myself loose. “Lemme down! Let me go.” I cried out in protest. How was it that I was so small that he could carry me so effortlessly. “I’m not short!”

Kuraha stopped walking and grunted as I tried to escape his grasp. “Hold on. Stop, moving.”

“Put me down this instant! I—AH!” I felt his grip on my jacket loosen instantly and I fell flat on my face, my words cut off. “Ugh…thanks.”

I rubbed my aching temple, wondering how much more of this I could endure. At this rate I will be dead before I even reach the doctor. I thought bitterly as my sore muscles made their pain known with every slight movement. Kuraha made a movement to help me up but I held up my hand to stop him. “It’s alright, I don’t need anymore assistance.”

I crawled forward on my hands on knees towards the wall and used it to help me get back on my feet, leaning on the sturdy surface for support. I mustn’t get distracted; I need to focus on the mission. I gritted my teeth as my head throbbed, like my brain was hammering against my skull looking for an escape route. I slid across the wall, my legs stumbled for a moment before I regained my sense of steadiness. “Do you know why Kazuma calls our master ‘Viina’?” I asked quietly. “It’s a very unique name. Do you know anything about it’s origin?”

“You are very curious.” Kuraha mused.

I shrugged. “It’s in my nature. And you avoided the question.”

Kuraha sighed as if he had hoped I missed that maneuver. “Why don’t you just ask, Kazuma yourself?”

I scowled and was about to give him a blunt retort when a familiar voice sounded in my ears, causing me to flinch back in surprise.

“Ask me, what?” Kazuma said as he rounded the corner, notebook in hand and his expression curious if nothing else.

I choked on my own breath not being to manage anything but just stare at him. Kuraha glanced at me before looking back at Kazuma. “Well, it seems that someone is curious on why you—“

“No!” I screamed in protest, leaping from the wall and onto Kuraha’s broad head. “Shush. Shh. Nothing. It’s nothing. Nothing at all.”

Kuraha growled a warning and immediately realized I was still glued to the side of his neck, I loosened my grip and stepped away, laughing nervously as I glanced between the perplexed Kazuma and the annoyed Kuraha. “Heh, what he means is, I was curious onto why…” I rubbed the nape of my neck feeling my thoughts sizzle out. I glanced around trying to think of something as Kazuma stood expectant of my answer. “Uh, curious about…um, you’re tie!”

He immediately looked down at his attire and his hand raised slightly to brush against the expensive tie that he wore in such a correct fashion. “My tie?”

“Yes. You’re tie. I was very curious about your tie. Very, very, curious.” I said trying to mask my nervousness with excitement. “Very, very, very curious.”

Maybe I was showing a little too much “excitement”. Kuraha let out a huff of exasperation, shaking his head as he passed by me, his tail flicked upwards and whapped the back of my head catching me by surprise and making me almost lose my balance once more. I rubbed the sore spot, glaring at the large cat as he sauntered away no longer wanting to be a part of the conversation.

I touched my fingertips together before clapping my palms together as I tried to thinking of something that would be fascinating about a neck tie. “Uh, like why is it purple?”

“It’s part of the uniform.” He replied, his hand raising to his glasses, pushing them up the bridge of his nose with two fingers.

“Yes, but why is it purple?” I pressed.

“The divine instruments are given uniforms with purple-colored—“He started to explain before I cut him off.

“Yes, yes. But why is it purple? I mean aren’t you the one who created the uniforms to begin with? So, why did you choose purple?” I asked now genuinely curious onto his reasoning behind it.

“I…,” He paused. “Purple is the color of royalty.”

“So, you think because you are the top regalia you are somehow of regal status. Sounds pretty conceited if you asked me.” I responded quickly and grew only more curious as I saw him shift uncomfortably.

“No, that’s not why—“ He started again but once more I cut him off.

“So, if not of your status representation than maybe it’s your favorite color?” I questioned and then saw a hint of pink rise in his cheeks as he turned his gaze away from mine. “Oh? Closer still. Favorite color, maybe not but you did have some reasoning onto purple, yes?”

I tried to go through all the things that had purple and why it would be significant. A certain flower perhaps? I studied the shade of purple on his tie and it seemed oddly familiar. I let out a short laugh as I remembered one possibility that made perfect sense in the end. I leaned forward slightly not being able to hide the note of smug triumph out of my tone. “Or maybe you did it to match with thy mistress’s eyes?”

He cleared his throat and straightened his stance, adjusting his glasses again before speaking. “Y-yes, well. It wasn’t a secret so I don’t know why you were questioning me as it was. I found the color to be…inimitable, yet practical and the accent tied in nicely.”

I scowled. Did he mean to make a pun there? If he did, exemplar or not, I was going to slap him.

He continued, regaining his usual formal tone. “Also, the fact is that it is a banner of sorts, something that seem to unify us not directly but in a subtle artistic kind of way. Actually, if I recall correctly, I….” (and he went on and on for ten very long minutes that made me regret questioning him in the first place) “…therefore, I chose purple accent after the ‘red with white’ clothes incident a few years back. Did that answer your question?”

I slouched against the wall and looked up at him. “Huh? Oh, sorry, I zoned out a little there.” I admitted and sighed leaning my head back against the wall. “Sorry for keeping you up. I know you’re busy.”

He studied me for a long moment before crouching down so that he could meet my eye without looking down at me. “Yes, well, I ran into Kazuha on his way to fetch the doctor. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.” He gave me a slight smile of reassurance and I stared at him completely and utterly baffled.

“I-I—“ I stammered as I felt my cheeks warm, ducking my head and fixing my gaze to my lap unable to handle the intensity in his emerald optics. “Uh, t-thank you, Kazuma.”

He let out an amused breath before rising to his feet and holding out a hand to help me up. I gazed at his outstretched hand and touched it tentatively before he pulled me up and released his grip. “You should still get checked out.” His tone returning to its usual business manner. “I will excuse you from any activities today and hope that you remain in your room until you have fully recovered.”

He then turned to walk down the hall, only pausing to call over his shoulder: “I’d advise against running through the corridors again. I wouldn’t want you sustaining anymore damage from future incidents.”

I just stood there, clenching my hand, trying to rid the ghost of his touch on my palm. My gaze fixed on his back as he continued to walk without so much as a farewell. It wasn’t until he was out of sight that I recovered my usual breathing patterns, letting out a sigh. “Well, it looks like I’m an incident now.” I smiled slightly as I turned to open the door to medical room. “Well, if that’s the case there are going to be plenty of incidents by the time I’m done with this investigation—“ Just as I reached for the door, Akiha opened it, slamming me in the face with the hard wood. I let out a cry of pain crumbling to the floor as he rushed out to help me. Yes, many incidents before I’m done.

 [Thank you for reading! I will have an update soon! Hope you enjoyed it!]

[thedeliverygod]

Breakdown of my thoughts while reading Chapter 75. Warning that this post is very image heavy.

First off, Yato thanking Daikoku and Kofuku for being the best aunt and uncle ever. tbh it’s kinda funny he still doesn’t say thanks in regards to all the things they do for HIM too (mostly because of Yukine).

Also lol at Kofuku & Daikoku being like whaaa?? and he’s like C’MON I CAN BE GRATEFUL TOO. 

I laughed a lot when I saw this whole panel in Japanese because I knew Hiyori’s thoughts were going to automatically jump to the flash mob when she was wondering what happened. How she thinks that would cause him to sting Yato, I haven’t got a clue. But in this chapter of pain, I definitely needed the laugh.

I love that Yato figures out what’s bothering Yukine and then continues to pester him and make Yukine sting him until he’s practically near death again (and then his head literally just disconnects from his body after he finds out it’s Nora lmao). But really, Yato is really observant of Yukine. It’s adorable. He knows his body language well enough to figure out what’s going on without Yukine saying a single word about it.

Halfway just posting this because bless half naked Yato. But also Hiyori is holding his yukata/robe/whatever you wanna call it. So I’m just gonna believe he basically got dressed in front of her while she held his dirty clothes and wow are these two close. 

when I read this in Japanese, I died. A lot of us already made this connection after chapter 74, but to have Yato realize it too lol omg. Poor boy has had both of his closest people “tainted” by his father and sister. Of course Hiyori and Yukine suffer the worst for it, but both kisses were also kind of like a shot at Yato.

Yato continuing to air Yukine and Hiyori’s private details about their lives in front of Take and his shinki. I low key agree with Yato though, Yukine is also my precious baby boy and I also want him to continue the life of abstinence lol. Take is right though, it definitely makes sense to teach shinki not to feel guilty about those sort of things. But, I’m pretty sure Yukine was already stinging Yato before he even lectured about it for the first time so I feel like it’s more of a self thing that Yato kind of enforced (because Yukine is still a kid forever in puberty and relationships are complicated).

And I just had to add this because Yato is VERY very fatherly during this whole entire thing. Including the beginning of the chapter with him and Kofuku talking about taking to Yukine to shrine visits after he turns 3. I love it so much. I feel like the birthday party just really solidified Yato’s want to protect and treasure this lil boy.

Kiun being a heart breaker really surprised me, I must say. Maybe it’s because I’m asexual, but despite Yukine’s urges as a new shinki, I guess I never really thought about shinki in general wanting relationships/sex. I’m not really surprised, especially since I have considered it in terms of some of the main characters (Daikoku & Kofuku, Kazuma & Bishamon). Kiun being the one to guide Yukine in this matter is definitely unexpected, but I guess he needs a senpai shinki since Kazuma is MIA. 

I’m honestly really in awe that Trash Dad was somewhat intimidated by Yato. Even if it was just for a brief moment. It gives me hope that Yato will indeed kick his ass one day and be free from the shackles he has had on for so long.

this panel is why I honestly feel no sympathy for Nora. She’s being making her own moves in terms of taunting Yukine for a while now, I’m not sure why people are surprised. Like, yeah, I understand she’s a victum of abuse like Yato. But she is also toxic as hell herself sooooooo..... until she makes a change for the better or even just for a second manages to see how messed up some of the things she does are... yeah, no sympathy from me. Yato has tried to talk with her about some things but as he said, she never changes. “No matter who lives or who dies, you just keep smiling. But I’m not smiling with you anymore”.

Yukine, my baby, no. No. I will love you no matter what, but please, do noootttt crush on Nora. It will only bring bad things, and I know you know that but ;-;

I love Yato + stray cats. Also I love how Yato is always creeped out when other gods are like “oh yeah we shared Nora so we’re like bonded for life or something” and he’s like “plz no we’re not that close”. Also, Yato butt. you’re welcome.

Excuse me, sir. What exactly is this pledge!?? I also wonder if Yato did it of his own volition or if he was coerced into it after the covenant as a sort of payback for not being murdered for treason.

Hiyori, your imagination never ceases to amaze me. I love this and everything about it. Pretty boy Kiun lookin’ his best. 

This is so adorable. If only it weren’t followed by pain. But also Hiyori thinking about love and Yato just poppin’ up in her face ;) good stuff.

doki doki doki doki doki doki. Hiyori has caught the feels and she realizes it. And looking at Yato’s lips, no less. If only a kiss was what followed this, but nah. Adachitoka prefers pain.

A few more doses of cute before we have our hearts trampled, thanks.

I love that Yato is becoming so selfless and caring about others much more than himself but........... boi. you’re causing so much pain the way you’re going about doing this. Though reading Hiyori’s journal probably wasn’t uh.. the best/most polite thing to do, I do love that like reading about himself through her eyes sort of makes him see things in a different light.

Here’s where we go down hill. I’m glad that Yato has managed to get past that whole lifeline thing but... sigh. As I already pointed out in my other post, Yukine is going to be absolutely wrecked once he realizes Yato has left again. Hiyori is already a wreck currently, both she and Yukine are like possible time bombs (Hiyori only if she’s in her half-ayakashi form, but still.) But worst of all, YATO YOU JUST HAD SO MANY FRIENDS SHOW THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR AND WITH YOU. WHY ARE YOU SO DUMB. 

Hiyori finally confesses to Yato that she forget him once. And this is the response. I... cannot. He’s (seemingly) at peace with everything and it’s.. I don’t know, I don’t really have words. For all we know, he has a little break down after this conversation, but I guess we’ll find out. He seems earnest in this chapter, though.

My heart, my soul, my everything. It all hurts. Yato, she’s realizing she loves you and YOU HAVE TO LEAVE NOW?? IT’S SO PAINFUL. 

Honestly my worst fear for so long now. I’ve been so terrified of anything happening to the shrine and whoop, there it go. From Yato’s hands, no less (I’m sure he expected Hiyori to have a good grip on it but I mean obviously she’s more concerned about Yato than the shrine). also... I took the shrine that I made to animazement for the first time after years of considering it and being too afraid I would break it. I was still terrified for the bit I carried it around, but nothing happend to it. I just somewhat find it ironic that this is basically what I was visualizing like all weekend just 2 weeks ago.

Hiyori is too good to go through this much pain and my heart hurts so much for her. All I can say is I hope Yato truly does have a good plan.

[yatorihell]

In The Darkness Chapter 40 - One, Two, Three

Words: 3,217

Summary: They expected a challenge, but they certainly did not expect a ball.

Previous chapter | First chapter

Thank you Emily (@scarfblogs) for beta-ing me <3

Accompanying art by @eerna

Read on AO3

The last thing anyone expected from the Triwizard Tournament was a ball. The Yule Ball.

Although it had been restricted to the participating year groups - fourth years for Suzuha and fifth years for Yato, as well as the visiting school groups - the small chamber was full of a mingle of fourth year students; boys on the right, girls on the left.

Madame Kofuku made the announcement as Kiun wrestled with an ancient gramophone which let out a short blast of music before being switched off. With that, Madame Kofuku began to explain.

“The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its founding,” she paced slowly as she spoke, “On Christmas Eve night, you will gather in the Great Hall with our guests for a night of merriment.”

Madame Kofuku paused, a hundred-watt smile on her face. “You are expected to put your best foot forward, quite literally, because the Yule Ball is, first and foremost, a dance.”

Painful groans came from the boys, some sinking further into their chairs in embarrassment at the prospect of having to have this dance class, and even worse, be paired with a girl. The girls, on the other hand, whispered excitedly and flicked their hair.

Hiyori caught Yukine’s eye shrugged, giving him an ‘oh well’ smile.

Madame Kofuku wasted no time in starting the dance lesson, leading by example. She chose her victim from the boys, which just so happened to be Yukine despite him trying to shrink behind Suzuha and push him forward in his place.

Yukine begrudgingly joined Madame Kofuku on the dance floor. He was a head taller than her, allowing him to stare at the exit in desire and wish the ground would swallow him whole as she took his left hand in her own and placed her other on his shoulder.

“Now put your hand on my waist.”

Yukine turned a startling shade of red, staring around at the giggling students as if he couldn’t believe what she had just said in front of everyone. “W-where?!”

“My waist,” Madame Kofuku repeated.

Humiliated, Yukine placed his hand lightly on her waist. He immediately let go at the sound of a wolf whistle, turning his head to raise his middle finger at Suzuha. He wore a gleeful grin, arms crossed across his chest, clearly enjoying the show.

Madame Kofuku quickly pushed Yukine’s hand back onto her waist.

Yukine stared at the ground, ears pink and honed onto the sniggering behind him as the gramophone began to play a rusty tune.

After a moment of twirling, Madame Kofuku instructed the students to pair up, allowing Yukine to slink over to Hiyori with his pink cheeks.

“Nice dancing,” Hiyori smiled.

Yukine groaned, rolling his head back to stare at the ceiling. “That was so embarrassing!”

Hiyori pushed his shoulder playfully. “It wasn’t that bad.”

She looked over Yukine’s shoulder.

“Don’t you want to practice with Suzuha?”

Yukine turned even pinker and looked over his shoulder. He could see a Hufflepuff girl – Tomoko, he believed – had already taken Suzuha as a partner.

“W-why would I practice with him?”

Hiyori smiled, taking his hand. “Just an idea.”

They took their positions, falling into clumsy steps and staring at their feet as they worked out a pattern that didn’t involve stepping on toes or bashing kneecaps. Once they were comfortable, they looked up and smiled at each other before Hiyori’s face clouded.

She leaned back slightly, eyebrows drawn together.

Yukine cocked his head to the side. “What’s wrong?”

“You’ve gotten taller,” Hiyori said.

Yukine leaned back slightly too, and a smile pulled at his lips when he saw that he was about the same height as she was now, eyes just above her level.

“Not so short now, eh?”

Hiyori huffed and kicked his toe lightly as they stepped, eliciting a small laugh from Yukine. “Don’t get cocky!”

~

In the library during lunch, Hiyori and Yukine found Yato loitering close to Bishamon and Kazuma who were studying at a book-strewn table.

It turned out the fifth years had dance practice with Professor Tsuyu, who made the grave mistake of pairing Yato and Bishamon together.

Hiyori noticed Yato was dishevelled, tie undone and shirt sticking out of his trousers as if he had just been in a fight.

Yato dragged them over to the window, eyeing Bishamon warily when she flicked her hair over her shoulder and leaned over Kazuma to reach for a book. Yato was sure he saw Kazuma turn a violent shade of purple, but he had more important things on his mind.

“I thought fighting a dragon was bad,” Yato hissed, “Bishamon nearly killed me when I had to dance with her!”

Hiyori couldn’t stop the smile on her lips as he quietly ranted about how Bishamon kept stepping on his toes and that he would never walk properly again.

“You know she’s still annoyed about not being chosen,” Yukine said.

He shrugged off his robe and threw it on the window seat, dumping his bag on the ground after taking out a book. He sat down, back propped up and book resting on his knees as he flicked through it.

“It’s not my fault!” Yato whined, “I would’ve given her to Kazuma if I could have!”

Hiyori shook her head. “Don’t you have more important things to worry about? Like that egg?”

Yato huffed at the change in conversation. “I’ve tried everything, all it does is scream when I open it!”

“Eggs can’t scream, Yato.”

“Well, this one does,” Yato rested his elbow against the wall, hand tucked behind as he scratched his head.

They fell into a lull of quiet, the scratching of quill on parchment reaching their ears and Kauzma’s quiet voice as he spoke to Bishamon.

“I wonder if Manabu has worked it out yet,” Hiyori said idly.

Yato prickled. So what if he’s worked it out?

“Suzuha has,” Yukine interrupted.

He didn’t notice the surprised look both Yato and Hiyori turned to give him, flicking the page of his book with little interest in its contents. “He carried his egg everywhere. I think he even took it to the bathroom.”

Yato scrunched his nose. “Why the hell would he take it there?”

Yukine shrugged in response and they fell into a ponderous quiet which was broken a moment later by the bell.

Hiyori shouldered her bag. “I’ve got Transfiguration, I’ll see you later!”

Yukine raised his hand in farewell, both him and Yato watching Hiyori weave out of the bookstands.

“So, who are you going to take to the ball?” Yukine asked. He made no move to leave despite the library beginning to empty.

Yato looked at him. “What do you mean?”

“It is a dance. I believe you need a partner.”

Yato hadn’t thought of that. He stuttered before Yukine interrupted with a sly, hidden smile.

“I think Manabu wants to go with Hiyori,” Yukine said idly.

He watched Yato’s reaction out of the corner of his eye, and, as expected, Yato’s face clouded over with jealousy. “Why would she go with him?”

“Well, it’s clear how he feels about her,” Yukine drawled.

Yato turned purple, clearly biting his tongue as he tried to keep his voice casual. “And what’s that got to do with me?”

“I just think you should tell Hiyori how you feel before he does.”

“What do you mean, ‘how I feel’?”

“God, you need help,” Yukine snapped his book shut and swung his legs around. Very slowly and very clearly, Yukine said five words. Ones that would make Yato understand what he was getting at.

“Ask. Her. To. The. Ball.”

A lightbulb went off in Yato’s head. He could be her partner instead. He just had to get there first.

“Oh, Yukine,” he breathed, “you’re a genius.”

~

Yato’s first proposal was pitiful.

Yato waited for Hiyori outside her second to last class of the day, going over and over what he was going to say. It all fell out of his head the second the classroom door opened and Hiyori and Yukine emerged, waving at him as he stared at Hiyori stupidly.

“We’ve got Herbology, where are you?” Hiyori asked.

“H-History of Magic,” Yato swallowed hard, eyes flicking to Yukine who raised his eyebrows expectantly.

He was too slow to speak as Hiyori carried on: “Oh, well, see you at dinner!”

Hiyori brushed past him, and as her arm grazed against him, Yato suddenly caught her wrist. It tugged slightly as Hiyori’s footsteps faltered and she half-turned to face him.

“Yato?” she said his name with a hint of confusion, eyes flicking from their hands to his face.

He stared at her blankly. Why did I do that?

Her wrist was slack in his grip, unresisting even though Yukine had now walked a good distance away without noticing she wasn’t behind him. She waited for Yato to say something, but he kept staring at her face.

“I… um…” Yato began – or tried – to blunder out some form of proposal, but her eyes on him and the feeling of her small wrist caught in his hand made it harder to think straight, let alone ask her out.

Her bright smile made it harder to concentrate, and the crowd streaming around them made Yato’s words stick in his throat.

What if she says no? he thought.

Yato let go of her wrist, confidence disintegrating. “Nothing. I’ll see you later.”

With that he turned on his heel and ran up the stairs.

~

Yato spent the next few days’ breaks in the library devising the perfect plan to ask Hiyori to the ball.

He lazily drew on a piece of parchment, chin in his hand and trying to think of something less specular than ‘fireworks display and proposal’. He wouldn’t use any of the numerous ideas he had crossed out, but it was the thought of asking her that counted.

"Excuse me?”

Yato looked up at the voice, surprised to see it was Manabu standing in front of him with a warm, though nervous, smile. He sported the same blue cape he wore at the assembly, smooth peaked cap held to his chest with one arm. Surprisingly, he didn’t have as strong of an accent as the other Beauxbatons students.

“May I talk to you?”

Yato ‘uuh-ed’ before nodding, gesturing to the vacant seat and sweeping the parchment out of sight.

“Your friend, the red girl -,”

Yato pricked instantly. He folded his arms over his chest and leant back in his chair, not caring if his expression was sour. “Yes?”

“Does she, uh, have, how you say, un amoureux?” Manaubu waved his hand as he looked for the English word, failing to find it and settling for French, hoping Yato would understand.

Yato started at him blankly.

Manabu cleared his throat, trying again. “Un petit-amie?”

When Yato’s expression didn’t change, Manabu realised that he wasn’t going to get through.

He gave a small, fake laugh, trying to hide his embarrassment. He rose to his feet and fitted the cap back on his head, hands crossed in front of him.

“I’m sorry to waste your time, mon copain. I wish you good luck in the following trials.” Manabu gave Yato a short bow before turning, cape fluttered around his shoulders as he left.

Yato felt a hand on the back of his chair and he looked up. Kazuma stood behind him, watching the Beauxbatons champion leave.

“What did he want?” Kazuma looked down at Yato, glasses sliding down his nose a fraction. “Did he tell you how to open the egg?”

“Why would I ask him for help?” Yato said shortly.

“I believe you’re the only person who hasn’t worked out what the next trial is.”

Yato groaned and dropped his head onto the desk with a loud bang. The egg did nothing. Unless the other champions were fluent in the language of screaming, then there was no way to tell what the egg was ‘saying’.

‘I think he even took it to the bathroom,’ Yukine’s words filled Yato’s head about how Suzuha had worked out the next challenge.

Yato bolted upright. He swept his belongings into his bag, not caring if the ink pot spilled before he threw the bag strap over his shoulder and raced out of the library, calling hasty goodbye to Kazuma as he hurtled himself down the flights of stairs.

Where was that damn egg?

~

One hour later, Yato was still sat on toilet lid. He had opened the egg and it gave a hideous scream. He stared at it, waiting for it to burst forth and proclaim the next task. He even talked to in the hope it would give up its secrets.

The gold was smooth under his fingers as he stoked its sides, hesitating to open the latch again in case it – quite literally – scared the crap out of someone in the neighbouring stalls.

Yato sighed and shoved the egg back into his bag, leaving the toilet stall and heading down for lunch.

Yukine was already there when he arrived. Yato dropped his bag on the table with a loud bang, making Yukine jump and cough on his drink.

“I sat on the toilet for an hour with this bloody egg and it still didn’t tell me anything!”

Yukine cursed under his breath, but Yato was pretty sure Yukine was questioning his intelligence.

“I meant the bath room. To bathe.” Yukine gave Yato a deadpan look that reflected their long-suffering friendship.

“Ah.” Yato shut his mouth and sat down, staring at the golden egg which peeked out from his satchel.

Yukine shovelled a mouthful of ketchup-drenched scrambled eggs into his mouth, speaking as he ate. “How’s it going with your imaginary date with Hiyori?”

“It’s not a date, its two friends going to a party together,” Yato corrected. This was the only way he could think about it without have a nervous breakdown over the prospect of asking Hiyori to be his date. “And it’s going horribly, thank you very much. I can’t even dance.”

Yukine made an amused noise as Yato relived the assault he faced from Bishamon during their first and last dance together.

Yato put his chin in his hand and made his most charming face, eyes wide. “Could you teach me?”

Yukine choked again, this time much more violently and for much longer until he was bright red and wheezing. “No way! Ask Hiyori to teach you!”

“Teach you what?”

Hiyori had materialised behind him. Yato made a strangled noise, leaping down the bench away from her. He hurried for an excuse.

Yukine grinned, enjoying Yato’s comical flailing, “Oh, just one of the spells he missed from skipping classes last year.”

Hiyori smiled, helping herself to a sandwich from the platters. “Sure, but I have to go meet Aimi and Yama. I’ll see you later!”

“Don’t do that again,” Yato hissed once Hiyori was out of earshot.

Yukine grinned slyly, ignoring the daggers Yato glared at him. “No promises.”

~

On her way to meet Aimi and Yama, Hiyori was stopped by Manabu.

It almost seemed like he was waiting for her, standing at attention near one of the arches of the corridor overlooking the snowy courtyard, and watching her approach with a smile. He was wearing a much longer cloak that brushed the ground, hat dusted with snow and cheeks tickled by the snowy kisses that drifted down.

Hiyori smiled at him as she passed, but Manabu stepped in front of her before she could enter the main building. Hiyori stopped short, nearly colliding with him.

“Hello Hiyori,” Manabu said.

Hiyori was taken aback. He knows my name?

“Hello Manabu,” Hiyori replied politely. She made a move to go around him, which Manabu mirrored.

“Ah, mademoiselle, a moment please,” Manabu held a gloved hand out to Hiyori, which, after a moment’s hesitation, she took.

“Since I have come to this school, I haven’t stopped thinking about you,” Manabu started.

Hiyori flushed, heart hammering. What was this?

Hiyori’s fingers curled around his hand whilst Manabu tucked his other hand behind his back. A flurry of snowflakes blew around them, making the rest of the world vanish into a silvery grey that was framed by the stone arches of the castle.

Hiyori’s fingers curled around his hand whilst the other tucked behind his back. A flurry of snowflakes blew around them, making the rest of the world vanish into a silvery grey that was framed by the stones arches of the castle.

Manabu bowed his head, but his eyes stayed on Hiyori’s astonished face.

“Mon Cherie, will you do me the honour of accompanying me to the ball?”

~

“If you step on me one more time I’m leaving.”

“Yukine, please, I’m sorry!”

Yato and Yukine had found a private room for their brief dance lesson in their free time that evening. Yukine had begrudgingly agreed to teach him the steps once, and dance once, and then Yato was on his own.

This didn’t matter as he found out Yato was a slow learner. A very slow learner.

“Left. I said LEFT!”

“Is this right?”

“No, that’s my foot.”

“Y’know Hiyori is shorter than you, crouch down.”

“Fuck off.”

“You’re meant to be helping me!”

Yukine grumbled some more but was determined to see this through until the bitter end. They waltzed around the room a few more times, Yukine hissing every now and then and Yato’s quick apologies as he trod on his toes.

Yato huffed. “Is this it?”

Yukine shook his head. “Each jeté of the string instruments a queue for the champions to lift their partners.”

He put his finger in the air, queueing Yato to listen to the violins as they soared and fell in a quick pace.

“Then pick her up and half-spin,” Yukine said once the lifted note had passed.

Yato gave him a wary look. He moved to let go of Yukine’s hand to place it on his waist.

Yukine glared at him. “Don’t even think about it.”

Yato let go of Yukine and moved to turn off the gramophone.

“Who are you going to go with anyway?” Yato asked, back to Yukine as he fiddled with the record. The music stopped with a scratch, replaced by the tap of footsteps as Yukine moved to get his bag.

Yukine shrugged. “I’m going to ask tonight.”

“Really?!” Yato spun around, face breaking into a delighted smile. “Who?”

Yukine hid his smile as he turned away from Yato, packing up his bag and walking out of the room with a nonchalant farewell that left Yato’s question hanging in the air.

He thought it was obvious who he was asking to the ball. Hiyori seemed to have cottoned on to the blossoming romance a while ago, but Yato was dimmer than most people.

In the dark of the night, lit by soft candles and whispered across dormitory beds, Yukine’s hushed voice asked the question.

The boy in the bed beside him grinned, dark head resting against his pillow and eyes shining in the candlelight.

Suzuha reached out his hand and Yukine took it. He gave it a tight squeeze, fingers interlocked and hearts melting at the proposal and its acceptance.

“I’d love to.”

[thedeliverygod]

Good Enough

yatori college AU

chapter 16/?

AO3|ff.net

“Why don’t you shop at the place you work at?” Hiyori asked curiously as she dropped the handful of produce into the basket dangling from Yato’s arm.

“I’m too tired by the end of work to do the shopping, much less carry it all the way home. And it’s too out of the way compared to this place.” He answered in a groan, taking a few steps before grabbing something else off of a shelf and dropping it in the basket, “The discount doesn’t make it worth the hassle. Besides, we only need a few things.”

She hummed in response as she followed after him, “Ah, I see.”

Looking back over his shoulder, he added with a small grin, “Besides, we’re trying to make this quick. If I took you to where I work, then I’d have to introduce you to everybody and yeah… we’d be there for the rest of the night.”

“O-oh, gotcha.” She gave a sheepish smile in return, her face flushing, “You’re really close with everyone there, then?”

Yato shrugged, “Yes and no. It’s more like no one believes I actually have a girlfriend, they’re convinced you’re not real. Mostly Tomone—I mean Mayu, the other assistant manager.” After Hiyori tilted her head in confusion at the name switch, he laughed and explained, “When I first started, I thought her name was Tomone for some reason and I’ve kinda continued to call her that even though I know it’s not. And I may or may not go out of my way to annoy her in other ways as well.”

“Jeez.” She reached up to touch her forehead, “Well, no wonder she thinks something like that.”

“Hiyoriiii, but you don’t even know what it’s like at work.” He bumped into her shoulder with a whine, “She picks on me, so it’s only fair she gets a taste of her own medicine.”

“Sure, sure.” She nodded before leading them forward, “C’mon, if we’ve got everything, we should go ahead and check out. Yukine-kun is probably home by now.”

Nodding as well and adjusting the basket on his arm, Yato followed her through the aisles and into the checkout lane. After everything had been paid for and loaded into bags, he and Hiyori both loaded up their arms and started out the door.

However, they didn’t get very far before they heard a sharp voice, “Yato.”

His head snapped around immediately, a shocked expression on his face, and Hiyori followed in curiosity. As she spun, she spotted a woman with gorgeous blonde hair that extended almost to the back of her knees, accompanied by a man of about the same build as Yato with short brunette hair and glasses. The blonde woman had her violet eyes squinted into a harsh glare at Yato while the man looked on at them with a nervous smile.

“Ah, if it isn’t the skank and Kazuma.” She heard Yato comment from her side, his voice a mixture of amused and nervous.

Hearing the word skank, her eyes immediately moved over to Yato in a questioning stare, though she didn’t have much time to scold him before the other man responded.

“Yato, nice to see you too.” He seemed to genuinely mean it, his smile growing a bit, though the woman scowled even more and let out a noise of annoyance at Kazuma’s kind reply.

Though he ignored the hostility pointed in his direction, Yato’s face showed a bit of uncertainty, “So what brings you on this side of town?”

���What’s it matter to you?” The blonde woman put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.

Yato rolled his eyes dramatically, “Just asking a question.”

“Just talking a walk around the city, doing a little bit of shopping. This and that.” Kazuma answered instead, looking past Yato and at Hiyori, “And who’s this?”

Though Yato started to part his lips to introduce her, she interrupted and did it herself, “I’m Iki Hiyori, nice to meet you.” More timidly, she added, “I’m Yato’s girlfriend.”

“Ah, nice to meet you Iki-san. I’m Takimoto Kazuma.”

“Koizumi Bishamon.” She seemed to look her over with a look of pity, “Good luck with that one.”

Hiyori’s stomach dropped and her eyes widened at the name Bishamon, realizing that this was the Bisha that Kofuku had talked about. ‘Yato’s ex-girlfriend from high school…’

She was definitely beautiful, that was for sure; not to mention a few inches taller than her and her body was definitely more curvaceous as well. ‘Then again, it’s been a few years…’ Hiyori thought to herself, but it didn’t stop her from continue to make the comparisons between them.

“Ha ha, very funny.” Yato shifted his weight, adjusting the groceries on his arm.

Looking back at Yato, Bishamon retorted, “I’m completely serious.”

Kazuma laughed nervously and took a step between them, “So how did you and Iki-san meet?”

“Oh, uh,” He blinked and his face relaxed a bit, now seeming a bit sheepish, “We were friends when we were kids and we ran into each other again a while ago. She’s been tutoring Yukine as well.”

His eyebrows raised in interest, “Oh, that’s certainly quite a unique story. How is Yukine doing?”

“He had kind of a hard time at first with moving here, but he’s doing better now.” Yato answered honestly, “Wish he could see that Suzuha kid more often but can’t do much about it.” Locking his eyes with Kazuma, he added, “But you know, I’m sure he’d be happy if you showed your face every once in a while too.”

“A-ah, yes, I’m sorry about that.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, “It’s just been very busy since it’s my last year at university and with this internship I’m doing right now—”

“I know, I know.” Yato waved him off, “Still, with as many parties as Kofuku and Daikoku throw, I’m sure you can make time to show up at one of them at some point.”

Kazuma nodded, “I’ll definitely try. Well, speaking of, I suppose we should let you get home. It was nice to see you, Yato. Goodbye, Iki-san. Again, it was nice to meet you.” He gave a small wave before motioning Bishamon forward. She gave a small nod to them before Kazuma guided her past them and continued down the street.

“Yeah, see ya.” Yato looked over his shoulder.

After a moment of hesitation, Hiyori also added, “Goodbye, it was nice to meet you too!”

Letting out a breath, he commented, “Well, definitely didn’t expect that…”

As he started walking again, Hiyori followed after him and laughed nervously, “Y-yeah, it was definitely interesting…” Clearing her throat, she added quietly, “Bishamon-san definitely seemed to have a pretty strong distaste for you.” After a small pause, she added, “Kofuku-san mentioned her to me a tiny bit.”

“Of course she did.” He forced a laugh, “So you know she’s an ex, then.” Humming a bit, he corrected, “I guess I should say the ex, considering she’s the only one.”

“Y-yeah.” She nodded.

“We were never that great of a match to begin with and it didn’t last very long.” He explained as they walked, quickly adding, “Not that Bishamon is a bad person—she’s really not. Even now, if I needed her help with something, she’d still be there, believe it or not. But we just always managed to get on each other’s nerves over every little thing to the point it just wasn’t even worth it.”

Shrugging his shoulders, he continued, “It was high school and we were dumb and weren’t really thinking about the long term. To be honest it was kind more about the physical—” He froze and looked back to her with wide eyes, his cheeks quickly gaining color, “…stuff… Shit. Sorry.”

Her stomach did a bit of a flip flop again, her mind going back to the comparisons she had been making earlier, “I—it’s okay.”

“Uh, ah, need to talk about that sort of stuff more in detail eventually, I guess. I didn’t mean for it to come out so casually though, it’s just too easy talking with you, I guess.” Yato looked down at his feet, “And on that note, if you were wondering from anything I just said or anything Kofuku said… I don’t want to mess this up.”

“So you mean you do want this to last long term.” Hiyori replied, her nervousness still building inside her chest but now gaining a warm feeling.

He looked back to her in disbelief, “Of course. Don’t you?”

As she met his eyes, she laughed and grinned widely, answering simply, “Yes.”

“Jeez, don’t scare me like that.” Yato shook his head and let out a laugh as well, causing her to laugh more.

“Sorry.” She followed him up the stairs of his apartment building.

Once they’d gotten up to his floor, Yato knocked loudly on the door, “Yukine! You home yet?” They waited for a few seconds before they could hear him from inside.

“Yeah, hold on!” After a few moments, he swung the door open and looked to the grocery bags in both of their arms, “I was wondering where you guys were.”

“Getting dinner for you.” Yato answered as they both stepped in and Yukine started to take some of the groceries from his arms.

Giving him a narrow stare, he answered, “You say that as if you won’t be eating it.”

“Of course, but the main focus is to provide nutrition for my wonderful kid.” He took a step up onto the raised floor and tousled Yukine’s hair as he passed him.

The younger boy rolled his eyes before following after him, though he only let out a small noise in response, “Tch.”

As she followed after them, she heard Yato call out, “So, Yukine, we actually ended up bumping into Kazuma on the way out…”

“Oh, Kazuma-san, really?” She heard him ask excitedly in response, “What’s he been up to?”

“Busy as always. Mentioned an internship and how it’s his last year of school, blah blah.” She lowered the bags that she had down onto the kitchen counter as she watched Yato start to put some things away, “We didn’t get to talk very long since the psycho bitch was there.”

“Yato.” Hiyori’s mouth dropped and both of them gave her confused looks in response.

“What?” He blinked before realizing, “Oh.”

Yukine waved her off, “It’s nothing I haven’t heard before, Hiyori.”

Letting out a breath of air, she commented tiredly, “I don’t know if that makes me feel better or not.”

“A-anyway,” He continued with a nervous laugh, “Good for Kazuma-san. It would be nice to see him, though.”

Yato returned to the groceries, reaching up into a cabinet, “Yeah, I told him that. He said he’d try, but we’ll see how that goes.”

“Yeah.” Yukine nodded quietly before reaching into one of the bags that had yet to be touched.

“So, um….” Hiyori fiddled with the edge of the counter, “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the story with both of you and Kazuma-san? You seem to really look up to him, Yukine-kun.”

Yukine nodded and smiled, “He tutored me a bit, too, actually. Also he sort of helped convinced me that Yato wasn’t as helpless and self-absorbed as he seemed and that I should give him a chance.”

“Hey.” He pouted at Yukine’s jab before looking back over to Hiyori, “Guess Kofuku didn’t tell you everything, then.”

She shook her head and answered timidly, “No, she didn’t say much at all. She just only said that Bishamon-san was the only one who you’d ever really brought over to their house aside from me and that despite the fact you didn’t really get along anymore, you still saw each other because you were friends with Kazuma-san.”

“Ah,” He rubbed the back of his neck, “Well, Kazuma was just a classmate and we were sort of acquaintances. Talked a bit here and there, but weren’t really close. I met him through Bishamon because they’ve been friends forever and he sort of followed her around like a lost puppy. Anyway, not long after we called a quits with the relationship, it became pretty clear to me that Kazuma wanted to be more than just friends with her but didn’t really know how to go about taking that step, yadda yadda. Told him repeatedly that I was literally the worst person to give advice when it came to anything like that but since I had technically dated Bishamon, he thought I was the perfect person to talk to about it.”

Looking down in a mutter, he commented, “Really, the only thing we had in common between us was our shitty pasts but… anyway. Somehow it worked out, Kazuma goes on and on about how he’s indebted to me. I don’t really think much of it until this kid comes into my life,” He waved his arm towards Yukine, “And I know absolutely nothing about how to go about adopting a teenager, so I naturally called up the smart guy who says he’s indebted to me. We both had to do a lot of research, but he really helped me through all that legal stuff while Daikoku and Kofuku helped me with the living situation, so yeah.” He gave a small shrug of his shoulders, “I guess you could say we’re kinda close now. But we’d be a hell of a lot closer if I ever saw the guy.” He finished with an annoyed huff.

“I—I’m sure he does the best he can, from the sound of it.” She laughed nervously, “But wow, Yato. For saying you’re not that great with people, you sure seem to have quite a few really great friends.” She bumped into his side playfully, “Even if you don’t see them very often.”

He looked up at the ceiling, seemingly racking his brain for something, “I—uh, yeah , I guess so…”

“You’re the one who always says you don’t need a ton of friends, just one will do.” Yukine chimed in with a small grin, “Maybe you should take your own advice.”

Yato sighed and gave a small smile in return, admitting defeat, “I guess… sometimes I just think I’m more of a burden then a friend? Someone that they all help just because I usually avoid asking anyone for anything until it’s to the point where it can’t be avoided anymore?” He gave another shrug, “I don’t know. Anyway, at this point Kofuku and Daikoku are more like family than anything else. You should call him Ojisan next time and see what his reaction is, Yukine.”

“No thanks.” He grabbed a juice box out of the fridge before looking back up, “And stop being so hard on yourself. I know I give you crap all the time, but you’re not a bad role model, I guess.” Yukine continued in a mutter, his cheeks slightly flushed, “We’re surviving anyway, and it’s not like I’m missing out on anything important.”

“Yukineeeeeee.” Yato dropped the bag he had in his hand roughly on the counter and immediately went over to smother the younger boy in a hug.

“Uh, um,” Hiyori managed to stop the bag from falling off the edge, but failed to stop Yato before he clung onto Yukine, causing him to squeeze his juice box so tightly that a large amount of it poured down onto the floor, “Oh, jeez… Be careful, you two.” She immediately started searching for a cleaning rag.

As she ducked down to the floor, Yukine groaned even louder, “See what you did!” Kneeing Yato in the shin and finally getting him to let go, he apologized, “Sorry, Hiyori.”

“Sorry, Hiyori.” Yato echoed, though his apology was more in a betrayed cry aimed towards Yukine.

“Honestly, just don’t touch me and we’ll be fine.” Yukine brushed off his sleeves and headed for the living room, protectively holding his juice box to his chest.

“But what am I supposed to do when you say adorable things like that?” He leaned against the counter and called after him.

Yukine sat down at the table and flipped open one of his schoolbooks, “Leave me alone.” Turning a few pages, he added, “And appreciate it in silence.”

Yato lifted his elbows from the counter and went back to putting away the last bag of groceries, answering simply, “You know I can’t do that.”

“Hug Hiyori instead.” He retorted, “You are dating now.”

“Yu-Yukine-kun!” Hiyori’s hands immediately flew up to cover her face which she could tell was quickly turning a bright shade of red. After seeing Yato glance at her and raise his eyebrow in interest, her condition only grew worse.

Laughing mischievously, he admitted, “That’s not so bad of a plan.”

“Ugh.” She buried her face farther into her hands.

[skyheaven1231]

As fate would have it - Chapter 34

Chapter 34 - Responsibility

(possible manga spoilers up until chapter 54)

Words: 2984

| Read on AO3 |  ,  | wattpad |  ,  | < previous chapter |

Yato woke up, covered in cold sweat. His blanket was torn aside and Hiyori was already sitting up next to him, ready to comfort the shaking god. “A nightmare again?”, she whispered softly.

“Y-Yeah”, Yato answered breathless, “I'm just … so worried.” “A lot of things happened today. I understand why you feel uneasy. I do too.” Tsuki had made up her mind and no one was able to change her decision. She wanted to learn more about the powers she got and use them to be able to help people. That desire was so strong, so powerful that not even Yato could forbid it. He was so proud of his little girl in that moment that all his arguments would have been in vain. He knew how dangerous Ayakashi could be, how unpredictable and moody. They were life threatening for everyone who got in touch with them no matter if it were human, Shinki or even gods. And now his little daughter wanted to learn how to interact with them. How to help them. The thought about finding a way to deal with Phantoms without having to kill them was a tempting one and if it was anybody else, he would have been thrilled to hear about it. But right now, they were talking about the safety of Tsuki. A thought that no parent ever wanted to deal with.

How far did he want to go to help people and make them happy?

He would definitely not be able to put his daughter's life at risk. Seeing her being forced to deal with pain was the most terrible thing he could think of and he wished that he could lift that burden off her tiny shoulders and of course, Hiyori felt the same way. But it wasn't their decision to make.

Even if they would try and forbid Tsuki to learn more about her powers, there was always a risk that she had to use it in the future. That's why, in the end, Yato agreed on helping her to learn how to deal with that power. And just like that, day after day when Tsuki and Yukine were back from school, they headed outside looking for small Ayakashi that wouldn't cause much of a thread so Tsuki could try and do the same thing she did with that giant catlike beast. She wasn't able to do much though. Yato caught the tiny creatures and got bitten and scratched a lot, much to Yukine's amusement. The blonde Shinki enjoyed to see his master scream like a little girl, before he helped him with a bottle of purification water. He would always tease him how much of a sissy he was. Sometimes the three of them would be accompanied by Hiyori or Bishamon and Kazuma. Kofuku wanted to come as well but Daikoku knew that he had to keep her from doing so or else they would have dived right into the next disaster.

The first few days Tsuki was pretty upset about the fact that she wasn't able to communicate with the Ayakashi like she did the other day. Back then she had been in a state of shock. They were being attacked and Tsuki wanted to protect her father and her big brother. She didn't think about what she was doing and then it suddenly happened. There was this connection between her and that sad creature. A connection that she seemed to be unable to make when the situation didn't ask for it. She had to figure out how she had felt when it did happen the first time. That sudden impulse that made it possible to do what she had done. It was hard but slowly she started to get a hang of it and every once in a while she managed to link to the Ayakashi Yato caught and just like the first one, they disappeared after Tsuki had taken the negative emotions from them. Not without causing the little girl pain, much to Yato's, Hiyori's and Yukine's disfavor. But every time Yato carried her on their way back home, since Tsuki was too exhausted to walk herself, she had a big smile on her face. She was so happy that she was able to help those creatures that she didn't care about the pain she had to endure while she did it. She didn't care that she was exhausted, all that counted was that she started to learn how to use this, in her eyes, gift.

“You are still worried, aren't  you?”, Yukine asked one day on their way back home.

“Of course I am!”, Yato answered, carrying his sleeping daughter on his back, “I wish she would stop but she has made up her mind. She can be so stubborn sometimes.”

“She's not the only one who can be stubborn”, the blonde boy mumbled much to his master's annoyance. Yato wanted to retort to his Shinki's comment but in that moment he got a strange feeling all of a sudden. Something felt off but he didn't know what it was.

“What is it?”, Yukine asked when Yato started to look around.

“N-Nothing, I just felt like someone is following us.”

Right when Yato finished his sentence, a bush a few meters away from them started to rustle. Yato immediately got ready to fight whatever it was that would be jumping out but that shouldn't be necessary. What had been hiding inside the leaves was no threat but a bird that flew away as fast as it could.

Yukine clapped his hands and said in an annoyed tone: “Congrats, you sensed a bird. How dangerous. Let's run for our lives or it might eat us.”

“Shut up!”

Back home, they lay Tsuki down on her bed so she could rest properly and the boys sat down on the couch in the living room.

Hiyori was home already as well and prepared lunch when Yato's phone suddenly started ringing. “It's Ebisu!”, he announced, looking at his display before he picked up, “Ebisu! Haven't heard from you in a while, how is it goin'? … Oh don't worry, it's alright. I know you've got a lot to do at the moment … She did? That's good, I guess … Sure thing, it'd be great to see you! … Alright until then, bye!” “What did he want?”, Hiyori asked, cleaning her hands on a towel as she sat down next to him.

“He just called to say that he is sorry for not being there when we all gathered at Kofuku's the other day. She told him what we were talking about and about Tsuki's powers. He said that he would come and visit us soon to say hi. I guess he is just as curious about Tsuki's ability like the others. His previous incarnations were trying so hard all those years to achieve this kind of control over Ayakashi. So many of them died for a chance to make this world a better place and now Tsuki is able to do what all of them wanted. I just hope the current Ebisu won't get too involved in this kind of thing again.” “Don't worry, I don't think Kunimi would let that happen again”, Hiyori tried to console Yato.

Once again, Yato's phone started ringing but this time it was showing an unknown number. Yato picked up and introduced himself as the delivery god like he always did. The person who had been calling turned out to be a woman that needed help to run her restaurant. She had no one to help her and was pretty desperate. That's when she saw one of Yato's old graffiti on a wall and because she didn't know what to do, she called him. “No problem at all. I'd be glad to accept this job … Alright, I'll be right there”, he hung up, “Let's go Yukine, we got a job!”

“A job? An actual job? It's been ages! What is it about?”, the young boy asked.

“Helping out in a restaurant, nothing big. See you later Hiyori!”, Yato kissed her on the cheek and with a bright light, the two boys were gone.  

They popped up in a nice little restaurant, a friendly looking woman standing behind a counter, smiling at them. She seemed to be around thirty years old and had long black hair that was tied back into a braid.

“Oh my, that was really fast. You didn't lie about the 'fast' part then I see”, she said.

“Yep. Fast, affordable and reliable!”

“I'm really thankful that you agreed to help me. I don't know how to handle the situation anymore at the moment. Right now I don't have that many guests but all by myself it's really hard to manage both, cooking and taking care of the customers”, the woman explained, “My partner left me a few days ago you see and ever since then I'm a little overstrained.”

When the woman stepped away from the counter, Yato was immediately caught by her belly. Behind an apron, he could clearly see that the woman was pregnant. “You are pregnant!”, he discovered surprised.

“Don't be rude!”, Yukine ordered his master.

“U-Uhm .. I'm sorry!”, Yato apologized.

“Haha, it's alright really, I don't mind. I'm in the sixth month.  I'm really looking forward to being a mother”, she first smiled but slowly her happy face turned into a sad one, “B-But sadly, the father doesn't think the same way. He and I were running this restaurant together, it had always been our dream. We also wanted to get married, start a family and be happy but a few days ago he decided that he didn't want to be a father. That he didn't want to be with me anymore. I don't know what I did wrong or why he just left me. Now I'm all alone with our child and this business and I don't know how to handle the situation at all.”

She sat down on a chair next to her and hid her face in her hands, trying to hide the fact that she was starting to cry.

Yato felt so terrible sorry for that woman. Being left alone with a child and the burden of running a restaurant.

How heavy must this burden be?

Was that how Hiyori felt when Yato tried to cut their ties?

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble like that. I guess I've just reached my limit. I wish he would come back to me and our child. I feel so lost without him”, the woman cried.

“Do you have a picture of him?”, Yato asked.

“What?”, the woman asked confused, “U-Uhm … y-yes. On the wall over there, that's a picture of the two of us. It's from the opening of our restaurant.” Yato walked over to the other side of the room, where the owner's finger was pointing at. He was looking into the faces of the woman he just met and next to her, the man who had left her. They looked so happy in that picture and Yato felt sick just by looking at it.

“Your wish has been heard loud and clear!”, he whispered.  

“What was that?”, the woman asked, wiping away her tears with a tissue. “Let's get to work!”, Yato said enthusiastically as always, “We are here to help you after all, what do you need us to do?”

The woman ordered Yato to take care of the cooking while she and Yukine were taking care of the customers. Yukine had a few problems to be noticed but after he directly spoke to the people, they were able to notice that he was there. Yato on the other hand had no problems whatsoever in the kitchen. He only had to take a look at the menu and he was able to cook everything that was ordered. Helping out in restaurants was something the god wasn't unfamiliar with. Before he met Yukine and Hiyori, he was working in many kitchens and had learned a lot that was helpful for his job right now. The customers were amazed by the great food and at the end of the day, the woman was really thankful. “I can't thank you enough for today. You were a big help and we made so much money! Thank you so much! And once again, I'm sorry for my little breakdown earlier. I didn't mean to burden you with my problems”, she said while she was paying Yato the five yen he had told her to pay.

“Don't worry about it, we don't mind at all. I'm happy that we were able to help out. I don't think I would ever be able to understand how hard your situation must be but your partner is a fool for leaving you and your child”, Yato answered.

“At least he didn't disappear completely. He is staying in a hotel nearby so if anything should happen I know where to find him. I wish you and your son the best, he can be happy to have such a caring parent.”

“Oh I'm not his son actually!”, Yukine interfered, “I guess you could say that he took me in when I had nowhere else to go.” “Oh I'm sorry, I assumed you two were related”, the woman apologized, “Do you have children then?” “I do”, Yato answered with a smile, “I have a daughter. She is twelve and I missed almost her entire life because I only found out about her a few months ago. I regret it so much, that's why I can't understand why your boyfriend just up and left you. Makes me sick to even think about it. He's got such a gift right in front of him and he throws it away. If I had known that I was becoming a father … If I had known how much I would miss. I wish I could have been there from the beginning.” His smile had vanished and Yukine was giving his master a concerned look. He knew that it was still lasting on Yato's mind but now that he heard about a man that chose to miss out on his child's life, it made everything even worse. “I'm really sorry to hear that!”, the woman said commiserative, “So our situations are kind of similar I see. I wish you all the best and I hope you and your family are going to have a wonderful future! Cherish every moment you have!”

The sun had started to set when Yato and Yukine were walking home. Yato didn't say a word the entire way back to the flat and Yukine didn't ask any questions, what he thought was for the best at the moment. Yukine was already opening the door with the key, when Yato suddenly turned around and said: “Go ahead without me, I have to do something before I go home. I don't know how long it'll take so you don't have to wait for me with dinner and stuff.”

Without another word, Yato had turned around and started to run off elsewhere, leaving behind a worried and confused Yukine. What was his master up to?

It was way past midnight, when Hiyori woke up because she heard a loud cracking noise coming from the window. “Yato? Why are you always entering through the window? We have a door you know!”, she asked as soon as she could make out the dark figure that was her boyfriend.

Yato didn't answer her.

He just closed the window again and rushed towards her, catching her in a tight hug.

“U-Um … what is going on?”, she asked dazed.

“Nothing”, Yato answered, tightening the hug. Hiyori knew that something was up and she could guess what it was about. Yukine had told her what happened in the restaurant, making it obvious that Yato felt bad for the years of his daughter's life that he had missed. She didn't say anything though and only returned the hug. In that moment, someone knocked on their door and shortly after, it slowly opened, a big pair of blue eyes squinting inside.

“Tsuki? What is it honey?”, Hiyori asked.

“I … I, uhm …”, the girl stuttered, “I had a nightmare. Would it b-be okay, i-if … If I ...” “Come here!”, Hiyori said, raising her blanket as an inviting gesture. Tsuki always came to her mother whenever she had a bad dream during the night. Whenever it happened, she would crawl into her mother's bed and cuddle with her, making her feel better instantly. This time was the first time that Yato was also there when Tsuki wanted to sleep with her parents. Before he lay down next to his two girls, he rushed outside and came back a few seconds later, dragging along a sleepy Yukine and lay him down in their bed as well. Yukine didn't know what happened since he was still half asleep but before he could even start to struggle, he was caught by Tsuki as well as Yato's arms making it impossible to flee. 

And just like that, they spent the night in the same bed cuddling, without having any other  nightmares. The next morning, Yato received a call from the woman they had helped out the day before. She told him that her boyfriend came back home and  that he promised to be there for her and their child.

A weird guy in a tracksuit seemed to have opened his eyes and showed him how much he still loved his girlfriend, by breaking into his hotel room and giving him a beating that turned out to be the necessary factor for him to man up and take responsibility.

Next Chapter: Making things interesting

[libraryscarf]

all of this

| all chapters |

chapter 24 ~ expectation ( ao3 / ff.net )

“Do you think they’ll chase us?” Hiyori asks, straining to be heard over the wind whipping past her ears.

“We have time,” Bishamon calls back.

Hiyori has to hang on even more tightly as Kuraha bounds from rooftop to rooftop. Everything between her temples still feels suspended, underwater. A dull ache has begun pulsing behind her eyes.

Too much. Too much.

She squeezes her eyes shut.

“Where are you taking me?” she asks after a few more minutes have passed. She does not open her eyes, but Kuraha’s trajectory feels vaguely familiar.

She must have come this way often, when she was alive.

When she was alive.

Something flutters unpleasantly in her chest.

A god of calamity.

“You really don’t remember, do you?” comes Bishamon’s voice, slicing through the noise within her.

“It’s...foggy,” Hiyori admits.

And out of that fog, stormy with half-memories and solid nightmares, she is trying to tease out the concrete realities of her past. The name Bishamon threw at her when they first met. Yato.

As they fly over the city, the visible impact of the vents and ayakashi is a painful manifestation of Hiyori’s own internal state. It is especially so above the urban areas, packed thick and black with hungry spirits and miserable humans. Her eyes linger on the gloom-choked streets.

Is this what she has supposedly caused? Is she a god who wastes?

Suddenly, a memory surfaces. Her breath stabs harshly at the bottom of her throat.

It is a memory of someone standing in front of her, covered in bruises and blight. He stares at her face, and his own looks very young.

“Hiyori...?”

In the memory, she looks at him and she smiles. She tells him he smells nice.

Then, she gives herself to the storm.

Bishamon feels Hiyori’s arms around her waist tighten and tremble. She turns her face halfway to check on the girl.

Hiyori’s head is bowed slightly forward. A silvery drop rushes across her cheek, past her ear, and the wind scoops it away.

She turns around again.

/

Kuraha lands with a soft thud of paws in the yard. The surrounding area is miraculously free of ayakashi, except for a few tadpole-like creatures cautiously circling the boundary. They probably have the instinct to steer clear of the house’s occupants.

Hiyori gasps. She slides off Kuraha’s back immediately.

“Th-this is--”

The sliding door bangs open, and a curly pink head pokes around the doorframe.

“Bisha, is that you? Where did—”

The rest of the question gets sucked back down her throat in a sharp inhale. One hand smacks over her mouth, stifling a squeak.

Then, a bolt of bubblegum lightning rockets across the yard into Hiyori’s arms.

“Hiyoriin-how-are-you-alive-oh-my-goodness-I’m-so-happy-how-did-you-survive-was-it-Bisha-did-Bisha-save-you-oh-DAIKOKU-COME-OUT-HERE-what-were-you-doing-we-were-all-sure-you-were-gone-forever-oh-Hiyoriin-I’m-so-happy—”

The stream of ecstatic shrieking verges on total incoherence as she blows her nose into Hiyori’s sleeve. Hiyori blinks down at her.

“Kofuku…?”

The pink-haired person sniffs wetly, still clinging to her arm. Hiyori feels like she’s trying to throw off a heavy blanket in order to unearth the names and memories underneath.

“That’s your name...right?”

Kofuku stares up at her, lower lip quivering.

“You don’t remember me?”

Hiyori doesn’t know how to answer. At that moment, Kofuku’s eyes flicker downward, catching the sizeable stain on the arm around which she has wrapped herself. Her eyes pop open impossibly wider as she takes a quick step back.

“What’s that?”

“A very good question,” says Bishamon, giving Hiyori a searching look.

“Well...um,” Hiyori says uncomfortably. “I think it...sends ayakashi away somehow. It makes them...I don’t know...”

She puts her fingertips to her forehead, massaging the bridge of her nose as the storm swirls behind her eyes. “I don’t know. Really.”

Kofuku’s mouth becomes a comically enlarged “O,” and she stares from Hiyori, to Bishamon, back to Hiyori again.

“You can get rid of ayakashi without a shinki?”

Before Hiyori can respond, Daikoku comes out of the house.

“Apparently I can,” she says several minutes later, once Daikoku sets her back down on the ground and has managed to get his deafening sobs under control.

“That’s amazing!” Kofuku cheers, clapping her hands.

“It’s something,” Daikoku says, wiping his still-dripping eyes.

“It’s dangerous,” says a new voice, and Hiyori jumps as a man materializes right next to her.

Glasses. Quizzical forehead. Uniform.

“Kazuma!” she says, feeling considerably more confident in her memory.

“Hiyori. It’s so good to see you back.”

A genuine smile breaks across Kazuma’s face as he says it, but a shadow of worry lurks beneath his warmth.

“Dangerous how?” she asks quickly.

“You saw how Heaven responded,” he says. “They won’t let you simply move around as you please. You threaten them.”

“How? I didn’t do anything!”

“They obviously think you could.”

Hiyori’s hands tremble. Execution. A god of calamity.

A god of calamity.

Blue eyes.

Hiyori shakes her head.

“What should I do?” She swallows thickly. “I don’t want to die.”

She’s surprised by how true it is. She really doesn’t want to die. Not again.

Not before saying how sorry she is.

“You won’t die.”

Hiyori looks up from her hands, startled by the determination in Bishamon’s voice. Kazuma pushes up his glasses, his eyebrows drawing together in mild disapproval.

“Well...we can do as much as we are able,” he says cautiously. “It’s likely that once Heaven regroups, the first location they will approach is Veena’s house. After all, she did make a bit of a spectacle--”

“Because they are a bunch of ill-mannered, cowardly, fearmongering, quivering fools--”

“So I’ve put you all at risk,” Hiyori says, abruptly cutting off Bishamon’s tirade.

“Well…” Kazuma begins uncomfortably. He ignores a glare from Daikoku that could melt steel. “Obviously you didn’t mean to come back from the near-dead and give Heaven the scare of the century--”

“--a deserved one--” Bishamon interjects.

“--but, here you are,” he finishes.

Kazuma’s expression begs Hiyori not to hold his honesty against him, but she’s too busy wrestling with herself to care.

Here she is, indeed. A god of calamity. That is what they called her. Hiyori is sickened with the wrongness of it. The answer is lurking very close to her, along with her memories. She feels like she’s missing a leg--or her lungs.

Kofuku chooses that moment to say the worst thing of all. Or maybe the best thing of all. Hiyori is having some difficulty telling the difference.

“What about Yato and Yukine?”

Kofuku’s voice is a forlorn echo. The question goes unanswered.

Hiyori remembers then, and wishes she couldn’t. She left them by her own choice. She had broken her promise, and then she had broken herself, and she had, of course, broken them along with her.

What an awful human she had been.

What an awful god she had become.

“Hiyoriin?”

Kofuku’s warm, small hand reaches up to pat her chin and wipe something off.

“They’ll be happy to see you, Hiyoriin. No matter what you are. I promise they will.”

“Are they...all right?” Hiyori asks haltingly. A lot of disagreeable fluids are leaking from her face and doing some interesting things to her voice. The question comes out very wet.

Kazuma clears his throat in an uncomfortable, masculine sort of way while studiously looking off into the distance. He says something quietly to Bishamon, and she seems to agree with him. He becomes an earring again, and then Bishamon is on Kuraha’s back, leaping off into the clouds.

“What...where are they...?” Hiyori sniffles faintly, still allowing Kofuku to pat her dry. Daikoku looks up after the disappearing lion.

“Back to her house. They’re going to try to send the subjugation force on a wild goose chase. Luckily, the last place they’d want to look is here, what with my mistress’s reputation and all.”

Kofuku grins proudly. Hiyori blinks, still unable to shape her thoughts around any distinct questions in order to ask them.

Daikoku points warily to Hiyori’s marked arm.

“What’s going on there?”

She looks down at it, reeling a little from the twist in the conversation.

“Oh…um...”

“Hiyoriin can get rid of ayakashi just by thinking about it!” Kofuku says, excitedly and erroneously.

“Well, I have to touch them,” Hiyori corrects, relieved that this, at least, she is sure of. “And say something. I don’t know what I say...it just...happens. They ask me to do it.”

Her mouth snaps shut. That last bit had surprised her, until she said it aloud. Now it makes perfect sense. It is her job.

Kofuku pouts. Daikoku scowls. Neither of them knows what to make of her.

She can relate.

“Yato,” Hiyori says purposefully. She’s stupefyingly grateful the name doesn’t trigger tears this time. “Is he all right? Is Yukine all right?”

“We haven’t seen them,” Kofuku says immediately. Then, more quietly: “We haven’t found them.”

Relief bursts in Hiyori’s chest, warm and rich and delightfully unexpected. They have not been found. Which is, of course, why she is here. She can find things.

Is this what she is, perhaps? A god who finds?

She draws a deep, thrilling breath into her lungs, and immediately understands why her mind has been so jumbled, so chaotic.

The air tastes. The atmosphere itself is such a glorious, appallingly complicated banquet that her mind had been drowning in it.

The air tastes.

It is so much richer than it ever was to her half-ayakashi senses. Categorizing the flavors is the work of less than a second. Bishamon’s, Kazuma’s, Kofuku’s, Daikoku’s, all sort themselves out in her mind, and she filters through the soot and grime of the city, the watery freshness of trees and plants, searching…searching…

Is she a god who searches?

Hiyori’s feet lightly carry her to the top of a nearby fence. She hears someone call after her, but she is caught by the wind already and cannot answer. Buried in the stench of ayakashi and the black, oily taste of the city, and the warmth of sun and trees and the might and metal of the subjugation force and the wild, purple soul-scent of many, many humans, she searches.

There.

Yes.

/

Next to an obviously brand-new vent, she finds them. They are surrounded by an impossible number of ayakashi.

They are badly outnumbered, two to two hundred. They aren’t worried. In fact, Yato seems to be enjoying himself hugely. He pivots, dodges, strikes. Sekki’s blades are as thin and bright as the tail of a comet, and seemingly aimed for thirty targets at once.

In half a blink, a third of the attacking ayakashi have been reduced to showers of ruby light scattered in the windless air.

Dragging her eyes from the deadly ballet next to the vent, Hiyori briefly ponders the fact that several ayakashi now have their eyes on her. One of them approaches.

It is a monster born of hunger; Hiyori knows this by the gnarled ache in her own stomach as she looks into its eyes. It has four long, gashed grins, all of which are drooling obscenely. Nice smell, nice smell.

“You, who are born from the human spirit,” Hiyori says. She lifts her arm toward the ayakashi’s nearest face.

“You, who are condemned by gods.”

Two fingers stretch toward the monster’s quivering jowls. Almost a naming. Almost, but not.

“Rest, you require.”

It drops to its blunt knees. The ground shivers under Hiyori’s bare feet.

“Rest, I grant you.”

The ayakashi leans toward her, as docile as a cat.

“Recede.”

The ayakashi winks out of existence, a candle silently extinguished.

Because this is what she is, after all: a god who cures.

/

As Hiyori keeps snuffing out ayakashi, she also keeps an eye on the battle raging nearly inside the vent itself. She realizes something, and her stomach lurches.

Yato is happy.

His eyes light up with vicious joy, reflecting each new crimson pattern Sekki carves in the air. Another explosion of red, and a smile bursts across his face. She can see it even from this distance.

He is an animal. He is terrible. And it is her fault.

Her feet bog down with horror. Hiyori doesn’t see the nearest ayakashi shake free of its stupor. She doesn’t see its million spinning, bloody eyes all focus on her. She doesn’t see it rear back, teeth bared. She turns--

“Oh!”

The creature shatters into shards of itself, sliced through with a single precise stroke.

Her rescuer lands silently, dropping into a low crouch. He lands with his back toward Hiyori, and she sees the rush of wind through his hair. She sees the charged twist of his shoulders after a successful strike. The double blades of his weapon are still held aloft.

“Be more careful next time,” he says, after a long pause.

His fingers tighten around the sword-hilts as he straightens up again. The area is free of ayakashi, and as if it too knows the fight is over, the vent shrinks down, constricting its edges inward until it seals with a hiss of gas and the heavy boom of earth against earth.

“Nice job, Yukine,” Yato murmurs.

The idea of him turning around, of recognizing her after doing that, is so shockingly beyond anything she had envisioned that Hiyori’s voice abandons her.

“Thank you,” she manages to whisper.

Yato, still facing away, scratches the back of his neck.

“A tip for you,” he says good-naturedly. “Don’t take your mid-day stroll near any portals to hell, and you can easily avoid this sort of situation.”

He turns. In the quarter-second before his brain catches up with his eyes, Hiyori almost sees the flippant, jaunty, genuine Yato.

It makes his strangled noise, and the raw expression on his face, infinitely, infinitely worse.

“Hi,” she says.

Yato does not say anything.

He keeps not saying anything until she starts to wonder if he still can.

Hiyori takes a tentative step toward him, and the tendons in his arms jump as he tightens his grip on Sekki. She stops.

“Um. Remember me?” she asks, searching for what a smile should feel like. Her mouth is stiff and unwilling.

His Adam’s apple bobs frantically as he swallows. Twice.

“What,” Yato says. “The hell.”

“It’s--it’s me, Hiyori...” she says stupidly, and trails off. She hadn’t gotten past this moment in her planning. She hadn’t really done much planning.

“No,” he says, just as stupidly. “No you’re not.”

She doesn’t have any more words. At least, none of the ones she needs.

And then he is right there, right in front of her, so violently present that his closeness is all she can feel on her face and in her nose and against her skin--

“Hiyori is gone.”

He is screaming it into her face.

“I saw her go.”

He does something strange with his mouth. It’s curling up, straining in on itself. She recognizes it as the moment right before a sob.

“I watched them bury her.”

He is sobbing now, loudly and unattractively. Her own eyes feel crowded.

“She’s gone. You are not Hiyori. Not anymore.”

His face is a ghastly thing, distorted with rage and loss and grief. Hiyori tastes salt on her lips when she opens her mouth to speak. And then she finds she can’t, because she does not know what to tell him to make it better.

These are not the circumstances for truth.

And then his arms are around her, his face pressed messily into the crook of her neck. His tears are scalding, falling onto her robes, rolling down her skin beneath them.

Then--shocking after the hot tears--Hiyori detects a whisper of ice at the nape of her neck.

“Yato…”

She exhales the rest of her air, holding deathly still.

“Prove it.”

Hiyori licks her dry lips, waiting. Sekki’s teeth tremble, a breath away from her artery.

“Prove it,” Yato rasps out again, his voice tortured. “Or I’ll have to release you.”