#rip yomi's mental health

[thespringsbloomboutique]

"For Charley."

Original Character(s): Santiago Springs, Charley Rich

Summary: Santiago sees his boyfriends room for the first time. 

Rating: Mature; heavily implied non-con, age gap, dom/sub (kinda)

Word count: 811

Type: canon/dabble/in-between

May 11, 1962. 

“Charley, are you sure this is allowed?” After three months of being with his boyfriend, Santiago was excited—but nervous—to finally see his home. It was much bigger and more comfortable than his own, furnished with leather couches and family photos galore. And his room. His breath was practically knocked out of his lungs and he laid eyes on a queen-sized bed, a blue plaid comforter neatly tucked in, and puffy pillows on top. It looked like heaven. 

“Of course not, Sandy!” Charley replied with a perfect grin. He flicked on the lights, a baseball trophy reflecting into the other's eye, who promptly squinted. “This is our little secret, got it? Which means no one can know.” 

Santiago nodded, only feeling a little bit at ease. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the 17-year-old, it was just all so different for him. As his first boyfriend, Charley was responsible for taking care of him and being gentle with him. Right?

He couldn't help but ask, "What are we going to do here?" He noticed the posters, the figurines, and the big cable TV Santiago was itching to try out; he'd never seen one before, at least not without a glass barrier between them. He made himself comfortable on the edge of Charley's bed.

“We could play a game, watch TV…”

“Watch TV!” Santiago interrupted quickly, but Charley kept talking. 

“Raid the pantry, sneak into my parents room, or…” His gaze flicked up to the boy with a smirk, sitting next to him. 

“Or?” “Do you know what boyfriends do?”

Santiago shook his head.

“Let’s try again,” he clicked his tongue, leaning closer with a hand pressed against his chest. “Have you ever kissed anyone before, Sandy?” 

Heat crawled up his neck, throat bobbing from nerves. Of course, that’s what he wanted to do. Of course, he wanted to do the one thing he hadn’t done, the thing he wanted to do somewhere special, with someone special. But he’d do it for Charley. “I have not.”

The other leaned forward, his other hand around his left wrist. “Would you like to?”

Santiago’s heart leaped into his throat, getting stuck between his tonsils. He had stayed up imagining how his first kiss would go so many times; on a park bench, under a cherry blossom tree, on Valentine’s Day, with The One. But, a random Wednesday night in the bedroom of a boy a couple of months from adulthood would do. Before he could object, their lips were suddenly crushed together, his back hitting the bed. It wasn’t how he’d imagined his first kiss to be: sweet, romantic, under a blossom tree. Instead, it was under a luminescent lamp in a room that was beginning to spin. 

“Charley—” his breath hitched as his hips were suddenly straddled, hands tracing down his sides languidly. He could feel the man’s excitement against his stomach, open-mouthed kisses against his neck. 

“Don’t you want this?” he cooed, hips rolling forward. A shuddering gasp escaped Santiago’s lips, and Charley grinned. “Oh, you do? Naughty boy.” 

“Please, slow down, Charley,” he whimpered, pushing against the chest of the other. That seemed to encourage him. Hands snook under his shirt, pushing it up and feeling against his smooth skin. There was only the slightest evidence of a happy trail, and Charley loved it. So precious, so naïve. It’s a wonder the boy’s mother never told him to stay away. 

Santiago, meanwhile, was desperately trying to squirm away from his touches. 

This isn’t how it was supposed to go. This isn’t how it was supposed to go. “This isn’t how it was supposed to go,” he found his lips moving in time with his thoughts, his voice coming out as a choked sob. 

“Shh-shh,” he purred, nosing his cheek. “I’ll take good care of you.” 

“Can we watch a movie?” a pathetic attempt at bargaining, “Doctor Dolittle? I can grab my copy from home—” A sharp nip to his throat shut him up. A tug on his pants made his lip quiver. A particular hard roll of Charley’s hips made his eyes squeeze shut. 

“Look at me, Sandy. Keep those eyes on me,” he instructed. Santiago obeyed with a gulp. Those puppy eyes could get him out of anything, but clearly not this, he realized

A searing grin split his face. “What a good boy you are,” a cupped his cheek, thumbing the plump flesh all too gently. All too affectionately. It was beginning to mess with his head. On one hand, he was touching him oh-so-good, but on the other, it didn’t feel right. Another kiss was pressed to his mouth, his shorts being slipped from his legs. Somewhere in between, Charley had removed his own pants, the uncomfortable heat of him making Santiago shiver. 

In the end, Santiago concluded one thing: this was happening.

So he’d let it happen.

For Charley. 

[carrotcouple]

In The Land of Higashiizumo (AO3)

Kiun has four jobs. One, working for an organization called ‘Equilibrium’. Two, guarding the gate of Yomi. Three, taking care of his cousins. Four, being Takemikazuchi’s anchor. The last one is the hardest. It is also the one Kiun is the most invested in.

Chapter 5: Alliance

“Kiun, I want you to answer all of my questions, honestly this time.” Sayuri said firmly. Kiun was seated in a cell surrounded by a barrier that cut off any yokai power. Kiun had only been in the cell once and that was when Takemikazuchi had still been a newcomer. It was strange how this time the one it was being used for was him. And he had no idea why.

“Can you please explain to me what is going on first, Sayuri san?” Kiun asked nervously.

“Kiun, that lightning was not of natural source. Anyone could have been able to tell that. But the main problem was that it cut through my barriers. Until now, other than the Kami there has been close to nothing that could challenge the power of a Jianhuren in their prime and in perfect health. Now either what hit Takemikazuchi was a Kami, which I highly doubt...or it was the power of a Weizhi.” Kiun swallowed, instantly feeling terrified. He knew for a fact that it wasn’t Takemikazuchi, he was sure. But that didn’t mean other people didn’t think the same.

“A Weizhi? Sayuri san, that shouldn’t be possible, right? You can hold off Weizhis perfectly fine. You kept Takemikazuchi tied down for an entire year.” Kiun tried to keep his voice level, but by the time he finished speaking his voice had gone up a pitch and he sounded desperate. Desperate to make her understand that it simply couldn’t be Takemikazuchi.

“Kiun, what does ‘Weizhi’ mean?” Sayuri asked.

Kiun clenched his fists even harder. His palms would be bruised when he got out of the cell. If he got out of the cell.

“It means ‘The Unknown’, Sayuri san.” Kiun managed out.

“That’s right. As far as we have seen, we have yet to have come across a Weizhi that can stand against a Jianhuren. There are currently four known Weizhi in Japan. There might be more, we may not know of their existence yet. Each Weizhi has their own special power. Yato kun’s is the power to use any weapon freely. Depending on his mental, emotional and physical condition, he could even cut apart this centuries old barrier that covers Higashiizumo in one sweep. The other two Weizhis have their own powers I do not have data on. But Takemikazuchi kun? We don’t know what his power is. He has only relied on his Ban Shen power from day one. I believe there are some that know of his powers, namely Tsuyu, the Ningyo in Ebisu and Suzuha, but they will not tell me. Apparently they refuse to tell me to keep the balance of the world safe. They would rather no one knew of his powers. But Tsuyu did let one thing slip, perhaps a warning. She said ‘Kiun’s raijuu will know. Kiun will be the first trigger, I’m sure of it’. So Kiun, either what penetrated through my barrier was a Kami, a Weizhi we have not discovered yet or Takemikazuchi himself.” Sayuri san looked him in the eyes. Kiun shot up.

“It’s not him, Sayuri san! I swear it isn’t! Whatever that was, it hurt him. Why would something he himself did, hurt him? And he wasn’t doing anything at the time! He was simply trying to bury me with cherry blo-” Kiun cut himself off, blushing.

“Using the powers of his raijuu hurts him, Kiun. Why can’t using the powers of his Weizhi self hurt him?” Sayuri asked pointedly. Kiun bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t know how to explain, but he just knew that what hit Takemikazuchi wasn’t the powers of him as a Weizhi and he knew Takemikazuchi’s Weizhi powers would not hurt him. Kiun stood up straight.

“I don’t know why, Sayuri san. But I do know that it won’t hurt him and that the lightning that hit him wasn’t his own doing.” Kiun said firmly. Sayuri stared at him for a moment. “Sayuri san, I know that Takemikazuchi is a Weizhi and that his mind is unreadable...but please, trust me. I know him.” Kiun looked at the Jianhuren pleadingly. Kiun weaved his fingers together and then found himself smiling. “He is perhaps one of the most dangerous people here in Higashiizumo. He may still be a very real threat, but he’s just a child, really. He’s just started learning how to be kind, how to lean on others, how to lead others, how to think beyond his own personal safety. He’s learning what it means to have family and friends. I would trust him with my life.” Sayuri sighed and massaged her temples.

“Very well, I’ll trust you on this, Kiun. I’ll leave Takemikazuchi in your hands.”

Kiun breathed a sigh of relief.

“Mom?” The door slammed open and Masaomi rushed in. “The training yokai are going wild. Some of the barriers are down. Minor yokai are making it in and out of Yomi.” Sayuri marched over to Masaomi, a grim look on her face, she ripped out her walkie-talkie and started to speak into it.

“This is the head Jianhuren. I’m making this conclusion right now. We seem to be under attack from an unseen force. Masaomi and I have to remake those barriers. All Guancha zhes start setting up temporary shields. All S Class members will be in Higashiizumo on alert and setting Yokai back into place. All A Class and below will do a headcount of all the Institute members and take the children to a safer area. Get eyes on the Weizhi and Yetong. Kiun go to Takemikazuchi now, and someone find Hiyori!” Masaomi followed his mother as she marched out of the cell. Kiun ran towards the clinic. He made it into the building just as three S Class members ran out. Takemikazuchi was lying on one of the beds connected to an IV drip. One of the nurses was busy checking his vitals.

“How is he?” Kiun asked.

“Doing fine actually. Probably because he has a raijuu in him already so the lightning didn’t affect him much.” The nurse looked up to smile reassuringly at Kiun. “Oh, look he’s starting to wake up. He’s a S Class member, right? If he’s fine he should be good to go to Higashiizumo, if I’m correct.”

“I’ll let him rest a bit more and I need to question him about a couple of things.” Kiun told the nurse, a note finality in his voice which put the conversation to an end. She turned and went on her way. “Takemikazuchi sama, how do you feel?” Kiun asked, helping his charge to sit up.

“I feel…” Takemikazuchi looked at Kiun in confusion. “What exactly am I doing here? I remember ranting to you about the cherry blossoms and rabbits and-” Takemikazuchi shot up straight, his eyes wide. “That Weizhi is at full power! He’s getting out of the Institute, Hiyori chan is following him! Kiun this is bad! If he gets out no one can face him but me and the Jianhurens!” Takemikazuchi bolted out of the bed and ran out shoving his knife into his belt. Kiun started after him, whipping out his walkie-talkie.

“This is Kiun, Yato kun is on the move at full power. The next Jianhuren is going after him. Takemikazuchi sama and I will deal with him. Please stay away from the Weizhi, we don’t know what he’s capable of. Both Jianhurens on duty, please continue with what you’re doing, Takemikazuchi sama will handle him.” Takemikazuchi ripped through the stitches and the first seal on his bones. He lit up brilliantly, clothed in blinding lightning. It seemed even brighter than before. In a second, Takemikazuchi had taken off into Higashiizumo. Kiun drew up the power of the raijuu within him but it seemed weaker than usual. Brushing off the strange feeling, Kiun followed the burnt and sizzling trail the raijuu Ban Shen had left behind. It didn’t take long for him to see Hiyori standing near Takemikazuchi and Yato who were glaring at each other. Yato was holding two short daggers he had probably swiped off of someone.

“Kiun san!” Hiyori rushed over to his side.

“You seem to really dislike this Institute, huh?” Takemikazuchi scowled at Yato.

“What would you know? I bet you haven’t had to question everything in your existence! What do you know of what goes through my head? Don’t you dare think that you, a member of the equilibrium that has probably been nesting in peace for the majority of your life knows what’s going on inside of me!” Yato snarled.

A chill passed through the air and then Takemikazuchi pulsed at full power, a stream of lightning lifting up like a beam of light into the sky came from him. Hiyori cried out and covered her eyes. Kiun let out a yelp when his lightning dimmed significantly and his body turned cold.

“You damn brat, you act like you have seen even a little bit of the void inside of me. Trust me, your life is probably a walk in the park compared to mine. I’ll show you what kind of power comes from true darkness!” Takemikazuchi’s lightning went even brighter and Kiun’s went out completely.

“Wha-” Kiun dropped to his knees, clutching his hands. His hands were cold and shaking.

“Kiun san?” Hiyori bent down next to him and reached for his hands in worry when the ground convulsed under them.

“Kiun! What is going on? Barriers are breaking all over the place!” Sayuri’s voice screamed over the walkie-talkie. Yato jumped into the air just as Takemikazuchi launched himself up too. Kiun only briefly saw Yato cutting through Takemikazuchi’s lightning like it was soft bread and Takemikazuchi grab Yato with one lightning covered hand and then he and Hiyori were hit by the impact. The earth tore and the wind hit them like a tsunami. Hiyori clutched Kiun as both of them were thrown across the ground. Kiun tried to pull himself up but his limbs were trembling violently. His entire body was weak and shaking and before he knew it he felt like his insides were burning with a cold fire.

Kiun screamed and threw himself onto his back. The sky spun above him, turning black and red. He clawed at the ground with his fingers, kicking wildly as pain ripped through him, starting exactly from where he had always felt his raijuu.

“Kiun san! Kiun san!” He vaguely heard Hiyori’s voice. Out of the corner of his vision he saw one of Takemikazuchi’s lightning streams. It was so bright, even Kiun, a raijuu jiijin, found it hard to look at. The pain didn’t decrease, it was only increasing. It was as if someone was forcefully drawing the raijuu out of him without either of their consents. Kiun choked out blood. “Kiun san!” He heard Hiyori scrambling around. “Mom? Mom? This is me, Hiyori! Can you hear me? We need help! Please! Kiun san is dying!” Hiyori was screaming and crying into his walkie-talkie. “It won’t work! Why won’t it work?” Kiun’s blood thudded in his ears, his throat hurt, his eyes were stinging, he rolled over and coughed out more blood onto the ground. “Stop it! Stop it both of you! Kiun san is dying!” Kiun heard Hiyori’s far away voice shrieking. “Listen to me! He’s dying!” Kiun’s vision flickered. He was going to pass out. He really was dying. “STOP IT!”

Silence.

Kiun flopped face forward onto the ground as the pain vanished. His muscles were twitching, his ears were ringing. There was dirt in his mouth, sweat in his eyes, blood on his collar. Kiun had never felt so wrung out in his life.

“...un!...iun!...Kiun!” The sky spun once more as Kiun’s body was lifted up. He gazed blankly at the blurry, double image of Takemikazuchi peering down at him. His mouth was moving, but Kiun could barely hear anything. It sounded muted. He was pulled higher and into Takemikazuchi’s arms, his face was pressed into the raijuu Ban Shen’s neck and sweat matted hair. “Kiun! Kiun! Come on answer me!” he heard Takemikazuchi’s voice clearer this time. “Kiun!” His body jolted, eyes clearing and his throat clearing as he spat out blood and dirt on the midnight black hair caressing his face. Kiun sucked in a lungful of air as his quaking fingers found the back of Takemikazuchi’s shirt. He clutched it and then tried to pull himself up. Takemikazuchi was the one to help Kiun sit down of the ground when his body failed him. He had bitten his tongue.

Kiun pressed his hands to his stomach. He could feel the raijuu, sleeping as always, but there. He was still taking shuddering breaths and every inch of his body was shivering. He saw Hiyori supporting Yato who was out cold.

“How?” Kiun rasped. He was startled at how much his throat hurt.

“Don’t really know. All I know is that everything went purple and that Hiyori had knocked out Yato the next moment. She yelled at me about how you were dying. I think Hiyori chan did a Jianhuren thing which stopped both me and Yato.” Takemikazuchi shrugged. He was still holding Kiun up, hands at his waist. “But first we have to get you to the clinic. Kiun, you have no idea how much you scared me. I thought you were dead…” There was worry and anxiety all over Takemikazuchi’s face. “I’ll get you to the clinic in no time if I just use my raijuu-”

“No, do not use your raijuu!” Hiyori snapped, dropping Yato on his face next to them. She looked furious. “Look around you, you idiot! You guys caused this much destruction! Have a great time talking my mother out of locking the two of you up for the next three years! The last time I saw you use your raijuu, it wasn’t like this. This was madness. No raijuu Ban Shen should be able to power up that much in so little time even if you are a Weizhi! Every time your power increased, Kiun san started screaming even more! If I even feel the slightest static electricity in the air, I’m going to knock you out as well!” Hiyori growled at Takemikazuchi. Her knees and elbows were skinned, she was bleeding and bruised, no doubt from trying to shield Kiun when they had been thrown. There was a flurry of flower petals and then Tsuyu and Suzuha were in front of them. Tsuyu nodded at Suzuha and then Suzuha held out out a fruit to Kiun.

“It’ll help you feel better.” Tsuyu explained. Kiun accepted the strange looking fruit and bit into it. “We’re going to have to blame this entire incident on Yato kun.” Tsuyu said simply.

“What?” Takemikazuchi and Hiyori asked.

“Takemikazuchi kun, did you feel a strain on the second seal of your raijuu even though you used up so much power? Were you in pain?” Tsuyu asked. Takemikazuchi shook his head. Kiun, Hiyori and Takemikazuchi connected the dots. The one that had felt the pain instead had been Kiun. “That’s because you were not using your own power, you were using Kiun’s.”

“But that shouldn’t happen cause well...Kiun san isn’t Takemikazuchi san?” Hiyori tilted her head in confusion.

“Not if Kiun’s powers are now connected to Takemikazuchi’s. You see, what he was using wasn’t his Ban Shen powers, he was using his Weizhi powers.” Tsuyu explained.

“Now wait a moment! I have never done this before!” Takemikazuchi protested. Kiun straightened up, his eyes widening.

“Well that’s because the owner of the power you use has to-” Tsuyu began.

Kiun let out a shriek and fell over, feeling his face heat up.

“...some can capture the heart of a yokai.”

“Oh my god. No way. This is ridiculous. I can’t believe this.” Kiun mumbled into the ground.

“Kiun! Kiun, are you OK?”

“Kiun san?”

“There are certain requirements for your power Takemikazuchi and we are not exactly sure what it is.” Kiun shot back up and turned to Takemikazuchi, saying the line very very seriously. Takemikazuchi blinked at Kiun.

“But Tsuyu san was just-” Takemikazuchi started, baffled.

“I was saying, the owner of the power you use has to go through certain requirements.” Tsuyu smiled. She sent an extremely amused glance at Kiun. Kiun closed his eyes in mortification. Great, now Tsuyu and Suzuha knew. He peered suspiciously at Suzuha. The Yetong wasn’t exactly an example of people skills, who knew what he might blurt out. Suzuha grinned serenely at him.

“This still doesn’t explain why we’re blaming all of this on this guy.” Hiyori gestured at Yato.

“Because, the more power Takemikazuchi gets, the easier it is to overpower anything that resists it, it might even overpower a Jianhuren eventually. This would cause chaos if people knew. I would prefer only the four of us who have heard this and the Ningyo in Ebisu san should know about this.” Tsuyu said seriously. Kiun’s jaw dropped. There was a stifling silence.

“Understood…” Takemikazuchi said slowly. “But how am I supposed to fight without using my powers?”

“Actually, the point is, you weren’t using your powers, at least not your Ban Shen powers. You were using your Weizhi powers which come so naturally to you it’s as simple as breathing. When Yato kun was younger, I suppose, he cut and damaged everything when he held a weapon. What you need to learn Takemikazuchi is how not to use your powers. Until then, it might be a good idea to take time off your work and focus on teaching instead. You should practice with Kiun kun to see whether you’re using your powers or not.” Tsuyu told him with a look that dared him to challenge her.

Takemikazuchi frowned.

“I’m not going to teach him anymore, thank you very much.” He sniffed with disdain.

“I’m sure Sayuri dono can talk you out of that.” Suzuha said with that same serene grin. Takemikazuchi made a face.

“Oh, Kiun san, you already look better!” Hiyori said in surprise. Kiun felt better. His body wasn’t shaking anymore and his fingers were warm again.

“That was yokai medicine. Of course he feels better.” Suzuha beamed at Kiun. Kiun, Takemikzuchi and Hiyori gaped at him.

“It worked with the raijuu within. However, other things like your aching throat and outward injuries that were not caused by the raijuu and Takemikazuchi kun taking your power will have to heal on their own.” Tsuyu calmly explained.

There was a sudden whirl of wind and Bishamon landed on the ground next to Tsuyu. Extended from her fingertips were long animal-like claws dripping with blood.

“What happened here?” She demanded to know. “Sayuri san is freaking out over the amount of barriers that have come down. It’s utter chaos.”

There was a moment of stunned silence and then Hiyori spoke up.

“Yato kun was going on a rampage. We only just got him to stop.” Hiyori explained. Bishamon carefully looked over their injuries and Takemikazuchi who was holding Kiun. She eyed Takemikazuchi.

“But the fact remains that Takemikazuchi went beyond the full power we usually see, right?” Bishamon asked suspiciously.

“Takemikazuchi simply caused this destruction down here. The barriers were cut down by Yato.” Tsuyu linked her hands together and nodded her head slightly at Bishamon.

“I’ll go make sure a medic team gets sent this way for you guys. Takemikazuchi, we need your help towards the east side-” Bishamon turned ready to start off with Takemikazuchi coming behind her.

“Bishamon sama, Takemikazuchi sama can’t fight anymore.” Kiun rasped out, trying to get to his feet but falling back into Takemikazuchi’s arms. “He strained his seals and something isn’t going right...it must be because he fought a Weizhi at full power. In fact the one that actually stopped Yato kun was Hiyori chan. Takemikazuchi sama can’t fight.”

“Eh? Didn’t he bail out on us last time too cause he captured the Weizhi? I’m telling you, we need all hands here.” Bishamon said seriously.

“If you really need someone, I’ll come with you.” Kiun attempted to pull himself up again.

“No, that’s no good. Have you even seen yourself? It’s fine, we’ll continue somehow.” Bishamon shook her head and was gone with a gust of wind.

“If the humans need help, shall I help?” Suzuha turned to Tsuyu. Kiun stared. Suzuha didn’t even consider himself human. Tsuyu nodded at Suzuha and Suzuha was gone in  blur of cherry blossoms, plant vines and roots carrying him across Higashiizumo.

“Hiyori chan, you should rest a little. Oh there’s the current Jianhuren, most likely here to put barriers on Yato kun.” Tsuyu noticed Masaomi running over. Hiyori sat down on the ground next to Kiun, wincing as she avoided putting pressure on her cuts and bruises.

“Hiyori are you, OK? Did you break anything? Oh my god, dad is going to freak.” Masaomi fussed over his sister the moment he saw her. Hiyori smiled tiredly.

“More importantly, can you put the barriers on him again? It would be a pain if he woke up.” She gestured to Yato who was still passed out. Masaomi nodded and squatted next to Yato and started to make the barriers.

“The med team will be here soon. I will go and assist Tenjin sama.” Tsuyu bowed to them and then she too was gone in a flurry of plum blossom petals.

Kiun turned back to Takemikazuchi who had been silent the entire time and started. The raijuu Ban Shen was staring straight at him in what seemed to be a daze. Kiun realized, Takemikazuchi’s hands were still on his waist. He went scarlet but swallowed down the embarrassment.

“Takemikazuchi sama, is there something wrong? You don’t seem as lively as you always do…” Kiun said gently. Namely, Bishamon and Takemikazuchi hadn’t argued the moment they saw each other.

“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine, just...won’t that scar?” Takemikazuchi asked, gesturing to the side of Kiun’s face. Kiun slowly raised his hand and put it against the side of his face. He felt blood. He pushed his fingers a little higher and then let out a hiss of pain. There was a slim but sharp stone lodged in the flesh right at his cheekbone.

“Ow! I didn’t notice! It stings!” Kiun wasn’t unused to getting hurt while on the field but he was surprised he hadn’t noticed it before.

“The med team can take care of that.” Masaomi said, tying Yato’s hands behind his back. “We’re going to have to lock this guy up for a while. We need him to calm down. If he continues like this someone will eventually get hurt. But the major issue is, how did he get rid of his previous barriers in the first place?”

Kiun, Takemikazuchi and Hiyori turned the other way, suddenly extremely quiet and attempted to look as innocent as possible.

“There’s the med team.” Masaomi look up. “I’ll come with you guys so I can lock up this guy up and then I’ll return to helping mom.”

------o------

“Hiyori chan, what were you doing when you started following Yato kun?” Kiun asked as they lay their on their clinic beds and stared up at the ceiling with IV drips connected to their arms. Takemikazuchi turned on his side so he could take part in the conversation properly.

“I was actually going to the library. I knew everyone was busy with dealing with some of the barriers that had come down. So I went to go study to make sure I didn’t get in anyone’s way. There was no one in the library but then I heard Yato talking angrily to someone. It was really weird. He was screaming at the person to go away. I couldn’t hear a thing. Then suddenly Yato went quiet and then he said ‘fine, I’ll do it’ and then he just ran out. So I followed him.” Hiyori explained.

Takemikazuchi sat up a smirk on his face.

“Called it. I’ve had a strange feeling since the moment I met him.”

“What do you mean Takemikazuchi sama?” Kiun asked.

“Yato is a Weizhi and most Weizhis are known to work alone. One, because, they are discriminated by everyone else, be it people from this side of the world or the other side. Two, because they are extremely powerful and smart. No one would match their level, they prefer to be alone.” Takemikazuchi put his finger up in the air as if he were making a point. “From all of my interactions with him, I’ve noticed, he behaves like he just ran away from someone who has had a hold on him for a long time and he’s scared that person will find him again. I’m not saying he’s working with someone, I’m saying he works for someone. And to instill that kind of fear into a Weizhi, that person must be very fearsome indeed.” Takemikazuchi looked dark. “I want to tell Sayuri san-”

“No! We can’t!” Hiyori cut Takemikazuchi off. “The only way we can solve this is to get Yato to open up to us. We’ve already blamed an incident on him and he probably hates us enough. But if we get him to trust us, we can deal with this differently. Telling my mother won’t help. She won’t give us the opportunity of time. She has an entire city to keep safe, she won’t put the lives of so many at risk. We have to do it ourselves.”

“I hate to admit it, but Hiyori chan is right…” Takemikazuchi shrugged.

“So you’re saying you’ll become friendly with Yato kun, Takemikazuchi sama?” Kiun asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Friendly?” Takemikazuchi scoffed. “Friendship between Weizhis doesn’t exist because the only minds we can’t understand are each other’s. But I can get him to trust me.” Takemikazuchi grinned almost evilly.

Hiyori chuckled.

“This plan, I want in on it.” The curtain dividing their beds from others swung open and Yukine stood there, rather bruised but a sharp light in his eyes.

“Takemikzuchi sama! Why didn’t you tell us he was there?” Kiun cried out as Hiyori and he started.

“Well, the kid seems interesting, plus, I’ve always wanted to see what a Yukionna Jiijin would be like.” Takemikazuchi said cheekily.

“Our first goal would be to get Yato out of that cell. If you guys were serious about the incidents earlier, then that means we don’t have much time to become chummy with him. And since he’s a Weizhi, he’ll be able to tell if we’re faking.” Yukine said pointedly.

“Point taken.” Kiun swung himself up into a sitting position. “So our first mission is to get him out of lock up.”

------o------

Voices.

“You know what you have to do.”

“I’ll go with him! I trust him!” A familiar female voice said.

Yato felt a dull pain at the back of his head. He slowly stirred.

“You’re not alone anymore.”

His eyes cracked open and for moment he was blinded by the light coming from the window to his left. He took in his surroundings. He was sitting on a chair in a small grey colored room. His mind started to work fast. That was right, he had been fighting that Wiezhi when suddenly that girl, Hiyori, had stopped them. Where was he? He tried to reach for his power but he failed. The barriers were on him again, and more barriers than last time.

He cursed under his breath and wondered how he could get out. There was a loud click, a screech and the door swung open. And old man looked down at him. It was one of the Ban Shens named Tenjin.

“You’re lucky you’re not being locked up much longer. The usual sentence would have been a week, but for some reason it was cut down to four days.” Tenjin told him. “You should thank those who vouched for you.” Then he walked out.

Vouched for him?

“Well that took a little longer than I expected. We thought we’d have you out in at most two days time. Oh well, one can never underestimate Sayuri san.” Yato scowled at Takemikazuchi who was leaning leisurely against the door.

“How are you feeling?” Kiun walked into the cell.

“I don’t think I meant to knock him out for four days. Wait, is that even possible?” Hiyori followed in right after.

“Of course it isn’t possible, he must have been under some kind of spell or something. They probably thought he would be more annoying to deal with if he was awake.” Yukine was the last to enter.

Yato frowned as he tried to understand the logistics behind these people getting him out when others didn’t want him out.

“At least look a little grateful, brat.” Takemikazuchi said.

Yato clenched his fists. This was the first time he had felt confounded by normal humans.

Author Note - I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! This chapter probably came out faster than any of you were expecting. Well that was because all the research for this chapter was done when I wrote the last chapter! Please look forward to the next chapter!