A crimson sky, a single declare to "rend," and applause as the sky returned to its original dusk hue.
Yato remained in his final position from his feat against the slain phantom, Sekki's blades outstretched on either side of the god. A smile stretched across Yato's face at the sounds of Hiyori's cheers somewhere behind him. Her praise did warm him inside, even if it wasn't always necessary. He broke from his position to glance over his shoulder at her from across the street. It was in fact the very street where they'd met, but that was beside the point. Making his way over to the girl, Yato told her, "Thanks, but y'know, you don't have to praise me all the time." He broke out into a chuckle, bringing a hand to scratch the back of his head. Ever since he'd told Yukine to light the way for him, ever since he revealed minimal details of his dark past (although the regalia and the half-phantom were his dearest friends, he still upheld the belief that there were things about him neither of them should know...at least not yet), Hiyori had become something like their cheerleader, frequently attending every phantom fight to break out into hearty applause. Yato admitted, Hiyori did boost their morale, but he felt she was taking that whole "I have enough faith for all of us" thing too seriously.
"I know," Hiyori replied with a faithful grin. She waited until Yato reached her curb before she continued, despite the fact that it wasn't possible for gods or regalia to be killed by things that could take the life of a near shore dweller. "But the two of you have worked so well together lately. You're even stronger than before." The compliment was not meant to butter up her friend, for it was true. Since Yukine had become a blessed vessel and made his promise to assist Yato on his path of becoming a god of fortune, the team had become even more cohesive and dependable than ever before. Of course, they still had their quarrels, Yato being far from fair and Yukine growing ever bossier by the day, but when it came down to it, the pair were almost undefeatable. /Granted, so far we've been focusing on phantoms, which they've always targeted. Even still, I just KNOW they're on the path to greatness! And I've just gotta keep being here for them./ Hiyori still felt guilty for being so selfish and stubborn, often avoiding Yato before his sudden disappearance. /Even after I told him I'd visit him every day...School had started and he was only complicating things, but in the end, his life was at stake./ Hiyori mentally shook herself to free herself of her negative recollection. /No! I'm just going to focus on here and now./
Well, here and now, Yato was frozen in time, those piercing blue of his eyes, which were fixed on her, clashing with the primrose color in his cheeks. Yep. Immediately Hiyori developed a sense of alarm, which pulsed up through her body and rose to settle on HER cheeks too. /Oh man, why does this always have to happen? What is he thinking? He's got it all wrong! Should I run? I know! I should fall asleep! Oh...wait...ERGH, that won't fix anything! Oh man! Someone save me!/
Yato's hand suddenly vibrated. It was not his phone, but rather his sword. Yukine was quite uncomfortable with the certain circumstances, and really wanted to be back on his own feet. /My own wielder getting distracted! Do I really ALWAYS need to come and fix things?/
"Oh!" The color faded from the god's cheeks as he suddenly realized. "Yuki!"
In a beam of white light, Yukine returned to his human form, FINALLY. He made his appearance at Hiyori's side, arms crossed over-an-behind his head nonchalantly. It really was annoying how often Yato kept drooling at Hiyori these days. /He really needs to knock it off! I'm thankful for her help too; that doesn't mean I'm going to let it go to waste by being a creep around her. Sheesh!/ The regalia somewhat hoped Yato could sense Yukine's feelings of aggrivation before the shinki had to spell it out for him, while a certain other feeling, a more physical one, sent a ticklish feeling through the boy's nose.
Yukine's eyes widened in surprise as the tickle intensified to a sharp itch...and almost in an instant, the feeling just licked the bottoms of his eyes. It was alarming, and all Yukine could think to do, was hold it back as best he could. /What is happening!? What do I -/ The thought was cut by an abrupt...sneeze? Well, abrupt sneez/es/, as one after the other attack the boy in a single bout. When the fit ceased, Yukine felt really stupid as he buried his irritated nose into the sleeve of his hoodie. /Oh, right...a sneeze. I know what those are...gee, I guess ever since I...I've never gotten one. I didn't know I could!/ His gaze moved up from his sleeve, up at Hiyori and Yato, both staring at him with big eyes.
Hiyori blinked, finding this a difficult matter to fully comprehend. Yukine...sneezed? "Bl...bless you!" This was an awkward thing for the girl to say, as Yukine was not only a spirit, but already a "blessed" vessel. /Well, no time to worry about it! He needs a tissue!/ The girl lept into action, frantically digging through her purse for her tissue pack. /Ah! There it is!/ She drew it from the back and shoved it in Yukine's face. "Here," she offered with a kind, very motherly smile. Suddenly gracing her was the fond memory of Yukine desperately handing Yato tissues when he began..."dripping" on his shrine.
Yato's expression of surprise faded into a humored one, taking light of Yukine's traumatic experience as the regalia took Hiyori's tissue and dabbed his nose. "Ha ha! Too many bad spirits for one day?" Yato teased, in reference to the belief held during the plague that sneezing released all the evil spirits from a human's body. "We've been battling them all day, after all." In a way, Yato was making an attempt to commend Yukine's prowess in their battles (Yukine just wanted him to shut up)...even though...there was something about today that didn't seem right with the regalia in his vessel form, something slightly slower, slightly duller than usual, but Yato had written it off...until now. "Though, I must say, you did seem to slip around quite a bit in my hands." Yato had switched back to his more serious self, the current matter at hand important all of a sudden. "Everything okay?"
Yukine had been well aware of that "slipping." There were two different answers Yukine could give the god, the truth or a mask...seeing Hiyori's concerned face made him come to his decision. He tossed his head to the side, closed his eyes, folded his arms, and let out a, "Hmph!" before retorting, "If anything, it was probably your hand sweat that got in the way of work!"
The comment shot through Yato like a bolt of lightning, and he let out an offended gasp. How, after all this time, could Yukine not only be so rude, but land an insult so unexpectedly? Even through their connection as god and regalia, Yato hardly ever saw an insult coming.
"Anyway," Yukine began, shoving the soiled tissue into the front pocket of his hoodie. It had been a while since he'd worn it, but he didn't particularly care if it got snot on it. The light-colored outfit served as something as a reminder for Yukine's dark beginning. "I'm going to Kazuma's to train some more." He glanced down at the pack of tissues he held in his right hand, extending them back at Hiyori. "Here you go."
A warm giggle resonated from Hiyori's throat as she held out a hand and waved it. "Keep it. You need it more than I do." (spot the reference) The boy's face wore a gracious smile, but the girl's face went stern as she went on to ask, "Are you sure you're okay, though, Yukine-kun? You were sneezing a whole lot!"
/She's always looking out for us,/ Yukine thought warmly of the half-phantom, before assuring her, "Yeah, I'm okay." The regalia was unwilling to let Hiyori worry about something as simple as a sneeze...even though he'd been freaking out about it before the fact. He focused his attention on the sky...it would be getting dark soon. The dark didn't bother him /as much/ as it had before, but Yukine valued curfew. "I'd better be going." br
He turned on his heel and hurried for Bishamon's shrine, waving behind him and yelling, "Later!" In seconds, he rounded a corner and vanished from the sight of his friends.
Yato had managed to somehow stay quiet through Yukine's leave, staring blankly after him. Hiyori, subject to the awkward silence, took the oppurtunity to glance up at the statuesque god. "He's only playing around," she informed. However...Yato's hand sweat problem was a matter of concern for her. She often wondered if it was caused by something more serious, rather than just being a trait for the tracksuit-wearing god. /He does dress very warmly...
..
Okay, why is he being so quiet?/ Once again Hiyori cast her eyes on Yato's...only to find traces of tears within them. /WHAT!? YUKINE'S COMMENT HURT HIM THAT BAD?/ Instinct made her hands shoot for her purse and scrounge around, until she suddenly remembered that she'd only just handed her last pack of tissues to Yukine. /Turns out I really did need those after all!/
Yato phased back into reality, Hiyori's fidgeting rousing him from his state of stillness. Why did she look so frantic? What had happened? What did he miss? Who was he? "Hiyori..?" He just blinked at her with confusion. What was she doing?
"You were crying!" she wailed, continuing to search her bag, just in case she had a stray napkin or something.
/Crying?/ Alarmed, he lifted a hand to touch his eyes. He could definitely feel tears, but...Yato wasn't crying, he was sure of it. "Probably just something got in my eye. You worry too much, Hiyori," he chuckled, once again taking light of the situation. It was a little odd that he'd teared up without realizing it, but the god remained positive that it was nothing to...cry about. Changing the subject and turning his gaze back on the corner which Yukine had turned, he asked, "But can you believe the nerve of that kid?"
Ignoring rhetoric to play along, turning her attention to the corner to stare with Yato, Hiyori answered, "Actually, I can." It was in Yukine's nature, and the two of them were always quarreling. Hiyori laughed, dismissing her previous state of panic. Yato was okay...she hoped. /I'm not going to forget about it, though. The minute I start thinking everything's okay is the minute where gradually, nothing is./ Yato's blight. Her memories. /That's how it's went twice before, me being so stubborn and dismissive./ Again, Hiyori vigorously shook her head, but it wasn't just mentally this time. "Anyway, I'd better be getting home. It'll be dark soon, and my mom will freak out if I'm not there." She turned away from him, her hair flicking behind her. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay!" Yato turned for Kofuku's. /Let me see if Daikoku's got any grub./