They were saved. Everyone is fine. Yato and Bishamon were deemed innocent and any death sentences they had were all dropped.

Yukkine was rescued, though the kid might take his time recovering, but he will be fine. He is a very strong kid. Wise beyond his years.

Tomorrow, after school, she'd hang out with them again at Kafoku and Daikoku's place, til its late and she'd have to come home, then be bugged for another hour by Yato, followed by a grudging Yukkine. Until both were called out for a new job, and slaying some pesky ayakashis.

It made her smile. This is now her new norm. Her everyday slice of Utopia.

She wouldn't have it any other way.

Hiyori had her back from the group that was celebrating, still smiling to herself. Content of this peace.

She smelled something nice, her favourite smell in the entire universe, Yato.

Her Yato.

She turned back to welcome him in, smiling as she did.

But something was off. Oh no.

"Hiyori."

She froze.

She knew that tone. How can she not? She had always associated that tone with a mental snapshot of him all bundled up in his blanket, turned away from her, Yukkine, and from everybody. It was burned in her memory, unwanted but necessary. She can still hear those words in her head.

"Do you want a shrine that badly, Yato?'

"I do."

"Not having a shrine is the same thing as having people say, 'Get lost.' "

There was silence but she heard her heart breaking at that simple statement.

When he saw his tears, happy and surprised tears, upon seeing her gift to him, a shrine that she made just for him, she knew in her heart and very soul that the splinters and the lost sleep last night was all worth it.

She wanted to hug him so bad that moment but, she knew that it might ruin the beautiful moment.

That's funny…

Hiyori's heart suddenly decided to rebel against her and normality. She loves Yato, with all that there was of her, she loves him.

She was unaware of how hard she was falling and she is a little annoyed by it. Huh.

It wasn't supposed to happen, they were friends, and the only reason she's sticking around him is because he made a promise to fix her situation with her soul suddenly jumping out of her body.

His warmth.

His hair.

His scent.

His eyes.

His eyes that is reminiscent of cat's.

He was a pinnacle on her existence He held her down. Even after she 'almost' turned into an ayakashi, he was there to turn her around and lead her back home.

Even when she almost forgot about them, him, she was able to find her way back home to him.

That was hell by the way, Hiyori felt, more than knew that there was something… no, someone very important was missing at that time.

She was crying out. For what or who, she couldn't remember.

But her heart remembers. It knows.

And since her heart was stupid and strong all at the same time.

She found her way home to them.

Yukkine.

Yato.

She won't take no for an answer, stubborn as always.

Yato.

MY YATO.

She realized and replayed everything in all but a few seconds, she didn't even notice that he was now just a few steps away.

Yeah, she was spacing out and she don't give a fudge. She knew that it's the last time she'll have with him, might as well enjoy it.

"Hiyori" Yato said again.

How is that possible?! Why does her name sound differently when he's the one saying it?! And when did that start happening?

Is this how a "shinki" feels like when they are being summoned by their masters? It feels like a lifeline.

"Hiyori, I am sorry" Yato said, not knowing of the wars and monologues that's going through Hiyori's head at the moment.

Then she heard a little sniffle.

It didn't came from him though, it's from Yukkine.

Oh dear Yukkine, she always saw him as a beloved baby brother, she always had a protective maternal side for him.

Of all the many times that they had to go through hell and back together, this sight of Yukkine triggered that side again but even stronger. Still, she couldn't speak, couldn't even tell him that he shouldn't cry, that he needs to be strong for Yato. He was his guidepost, a Hafuri and an exemplar too. He needs to be strong. Because she isn't sure if Yato can be strong enough for both of them.

Hiyori's attention was once again turned to the boy in front of her

She was angry, no she was outraged. She knew what was coming, and all she wants right now is to 'Jungle Savate" him a million times to make HIM forget about this situation. Make him say sorry and that they should head back home, she'll buy 1 dozen cheesy buns for dinner, and then go home, sleep, and then wake up, go to school, then afterwards, meet them at Kafoku and Daikoku's place.

But yet once again, she couldn't afford to move a muscle.

Tears.

Oh. I'm crying. Nice.

"Hiyori, I am sorry. I've put your life in so much danger."

A simple confirmation of the hell that she'll be facing—alone.

She looked at him, almost challenging him. "I made my wish, I gave you my 5 yen. A deals a deal." HIyori said.

'Great. You'll just stand there and not even be brave enough to look at me.' She said to herself.

"I have no choice, I can't have all the gods and all of heaven and hell come looking for you."

She understood that.

Hiyori wanted to let the tears fall freely, but she knew that if this is killing her, to Yato… it is a dark abyss with no hope of rescue. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, with her entire being, but she won't. If it'll make it easier for Yato and Yukkine, she'll shut up.

So she did the almost impossible.

She smiled up at him. A smile that is only for Yato.

"Take care of Yukkine, okay? Don't get drunk too much, and don't forget to tell Kofuku where you'll be going so that they won't worry about you. You are Yukkine's father, too. So set an example." Hiyori said to Yato.

Then she turned to Yukkine, who was now crying uncontrollably, "Yukkine, take care of Yato, alright? You know how stupid he can be, and the crazy ideas he cooks up, keep yourselves warm all the time, especially in winter. Don't skip meals. Always study okay? You can go to school anytime. Also, train really hard so you could be the best Hafuri ever."

She still managed to hold back the sobs that were threatening to come out.

Still, Yato wouldn't look at her, his blue-black hair covering his beautiful eyes. Hiyori wanted to brush it back to commit those eyes to memory but she couldn't. Instead, she held his chin up and smiled at him.

"I'm ready." She said.

Yato only nodded. He can almost see tears in those blue eyes. So, she stood up straight and paced a few steps away.

"Will it hurt?" she nonchalantly asked.

"No," Yato answered quietly, enough for her to hear.

"Of course," of course it won't hurt her, Yato would never do anything to hurt her in a physical way. But it will hurt, and it might kill her. Figuratively. Duh.

She smiled at the cynical voices in her head.

She took one last long look around her.

Family, they are not just friends, Yukkine, Kofuku, Daikoku, Bishamon, Kazuma, Tenjin, and even chibi Ebisu, They are her family. She loved them all. Yato will be in good hands, they wouldn't let him get hurt. Or be lead astray again.

She figured she needed a pep-talk, but she was never good at it anyways so she skipped it.

"Come, Sekki." Yato said in that ominous voice.

Hiyori never looked away, never even dared close her eyes, she wanted to memorize his face, his smell, one last time.

As he steadied his sekki to cut their ties, Hiyori saw tears in Yato's eyes. They were invisible tears, emotions held back only with the resolve of keeping her safe. She wanted to hug the tears away, arms outstretched, she wanted to tell him to forget it, she changed her mind that she will always be stubborn, that he can't tear her away from him, She unconsciously stepped forward a little, and then…