.

.

There were sounds coming from her brother's room.

Hiyori frowned, blinking up into the darkness. Shifting into spirit form, Hiyori hopped out of bed and padded down the hallway, surprised at the pulsing light emenating from beneath the door.

"Yato?"

"Damn it!" Yato said. He and Kazuma were sitting cross-legged on her brother's bed, barefoot and thumbs furiously tapping on her brother's controllers. Kazuma was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, looking more like a college student than Bishamon's lead shinki, and Yato had taken off his fluffy fluff scarf and jersey. They were playing a fighting game and Yato was losing. "What the heck, Kazuma! That was an illegal move!"

"There's no such thing as an illegal move, Yato. You just need to admit that I'm better than you."

"Damn it!" Yato said, as Kazuma entered in another special combo. "Oi, Kazuma! Be glad this ain't real life, cuz if it were I'd kick your ass!"

"No you wouldn't." Another special combo. "I'd protect myself with a borderline before you could even come near me."

"Don't you dare start mocking me, Kazuma! Don't you know how long I've been a god?"

"Ano," Hiyori said. "What are you two doing?"

"They're playing Street Crasher," Yukine said. He was sitting on her brother's swiveling chair. "And Yato is losing."

"I see that." On screen, Kazuma's avatar spun into a roundhouse kick and slammed Yato's character into the wall. "What are you guys doing here?"

"That stupid psycho was complaining our game was too loud." Yato's thumbs tapped furiously. His character grunted. "I remembered your brother had a playstation so we thought we'd borrow your room."

"My apologies, Iki-san," Kazuma said. He was still concentrating on the screen. "I had assumed we were going to Kofuku-san's. But don't worry - I cast a spell on your parents so that we wouldn't wake them up."

"You what?!" Hiyori said. Kazuma blinked.

"I, ah, didn't think it would be good to disturb them."

"Ha, take that!" Yato said, and kicked Kazuma's character as it was standing not doing anything. "See, Yukine? Have a little faith in your master!"

"Wow," Yukine said, not impressed. And Kazuma's life bar, which was at a full, healthy green, dipped by 1%. Yato's was already red.

There was a knocking at the window.

"Bishamon-sama?" Hiyori said.

"Oh," Bishamon said. "Hello, Iki-san. Is Kazuma here?"

"Yeah, he's right inside." Hiyori motioned behind her, where Yato and Kazuma were sitting. Bishamon frowned.

"You're still playing that game?" Bishamon said, climbing inside. Yato was furiously banging his thumbs while Kazuma countered with measured ease.

"Oh, Veena," Kazuma said, and he lowered his controller. "My apologies. I lost track of time. I'll return to Takamagahara right away."

"Oi, Kazuma! We're in the middle of a match!" Yato said. He started wailing on Kazuma's avatar for emphasis. Kazuma sighed and hit a few buttons, knocking Yato's character out.

Bishamon quirked an eyebrow.

"Alright," Kazuma said, and he stood. "I'm ready, Veena."

"Oi!" Yato said, jumping up. "The hell do you think you're doing, Kazuma? The match isn't over yet!"

"I've beaten you six times already. I think it's safe to say you've lost."

"Oh?" Bishamon said. "What's this? Could it be that my Kazuma is better than you?"

Hiyori and Yukine glanced at each other, frowning.

"Oi, chijou! I was kickin' his ass before you interrupted!"

"Is that so?" Bishamon said. "Because it looked to me like my Kazuma was winning." She pulled off her boots and sat heavily on the bed, wedging herself between Kazuma and Yato.

"Aggh! I was sitting there!" Yato said. Bishamon smiled.

"Kazuma," Bishamon said, and her voice dropped to a low whisper.

"Let me see you dominate him."

"Are you sure, Veena?" Kazuma said. ("What the heck, Kazuma!" Yato said, while Yukine slapped his forehead and Hiyori blushed.) Bishamon nodded.

"No mercy," Bishamon said, smiling.

The tension in the room was palpable.

xXx

.

"That was pathetic!" Bishamon said, laughing, after Kazuma proceeded to kick Yato's ass in under five minutes. She gave Kazuma a high five and slapped Yato on the back, gleefully.

"Don't look so glum, Yatogami!" Bishamon said. "Clearly my Kazuma is just that much better than you!"

"Yeah? Well if you think it's so easy to beat me, let's see you play this," Yato said.

"You cannot be serious," Bishamon said.

"I betcha I could kick your ass!" Yato said.

"Veena," Kazuma said, quietly. "The game is actually rather difficult. I would not attempt to play it seriously without practicing, first."

"You hear that, Bishamon?" Yato said. "Your exemplar knows you suck! Maybe you should just shut your trap and listen to him!"

"Give me the controller, Kazuma," Bishamon said.

"Er, Veena, I don't think it is a good id-"

"Give me the controller, Kazuma."

"Ha ha!" Yato said, and he jumped back on the bed. "Now we're talking!"

"Ugh, Yato," Yukine said. "It's late! Can't we just go home?"

"No way, Yukine," Yato said. "We're up against the great Bishamonten! I need you to watch me kick her ass!"

"Let me start you on the tutorial," Kazuma said to Bishamon, and he selected the level on the screen.

xXx

.

"Huh," Hiyori said.

"Huh," Yukine said.

"Veena! Move your joystick left! Left! No, the other left!" Kazuma said.

"Huh," Hiyori said again. Yato laughed, mashing his thumbs on the controller.

"Ha ha! Bishamon! Where's your stupid trash talk, now?!"

"Impossible!" Bishamon said. She slammed her thumbs on the buttons. "That idiot magatsukami is beating me!"

"Veena! Hit him with a combo!" Kazuma said. "Go up, up! Down, down! Turn!"

"What?" Bishamon said, but Yato's character kicked her on the screen.

"Holy crap, Bishamon!" Yato said. "It's a good thing you've got Kazuma, 'cuz otherwise you just really suck!"

"What is happening?!" Bishamon said. Her life bar fell to almost zero. "Kazuma! Why is my life bar going red?!"

"It's 'cuz you're losing, Bitch-a-mon!" Yato said. "Ne, ne, Kazuma! How's it feel serving such a crappy god?"

"I wouldn't know, Yato. You are not my god," Kazuma said.

Bishamon beamed at him. Yukine put his head in his hands.

"Ano," Hiyori said. "Don't you think it's a little unfair, Yato? You've been playing this game with Kazuma-san all night and Bishamon-sama just started. You had a lot of practice before."

"Hear that, Bishamon? You suck so bad my follower's feelin' sorry for you!"

"Yato! That's not what I said!" Hiyori said, reddening. Bishamon made an irritated sound, glaring and leaning forward.

"Veena," Kazuma said, quietly. "I'm going to get a drink of water. If you need me, you should call my name."

Bishamon waved her hand. "Not now, Kazuma, I'm trying to concentrate!"

Kazuma cleared his throat. "I'm just saying, Veena. If you need me, you should call my name."

Bishamon lifted her eyes. He nodded slightly, then turned to leave the room.

Bishamon cleared her throat, loudly. "Ka-chouki," she said, and she covered her nose.

"Huh?" Yato said. She quickly wrapped her hand around her ear.

"A sneeze," Bishamon said. She slipped her hand in her pocket before picking up the controller. "I beg your pardon."

"What the-" Yato's head snapped back toward the screen. Bishamon's thumbs slid over the controls easily.

"You were saying, Yatogami?" Bishamon said, and her thumbs tapped the controls, knocking out Yato's avatar and bringing his healthbar down to zero.

"What the hell?!" Yato said, jumping up. "How the hell did you do that?"

"Yatogami. Remind me again of your definition of 'suck'?" Bishamon grinned. "Because I do believe you are the one doing the 'sucking.'"

"Dammit!" Yato said. He threw in combos but Bishamon blocked them effortlessly.

(In her pocket, Kazuma-the-earring glinted. The heads-up display that normally swirled around her right eye was dampened - Kazuma tamped down the sheen that accompanied his lens - but the data still filtered in in real-time. The combos were highlighted - which buttons to tap, which triggers to press, in order - and Bishamon's thumbs followed it accordingly.)

"Wow," Hiyori said, awestruck. Her tail waved, appreciatively. "Bishamon-sama got really good all of a sudden."

"I know," Yukine said, nodding. "I bet it's cuz that shitty jersey's pissed her off."

"I wonder where Kazuma-san is?" Hiyori said, looking around. "It's kinda strange, isn't it? Ever since Kazuma-san left the room Bishamon-sama's been doing much better. It's a shame he isn't here to see."

"Yeah," Yukine said, and he glanced up. "Where is Kazuma-san, anyway?"

"HA!" Bishamon said. "Double combo! You were saying, Yatogami?"

"O-oi! The hell did you learn that move from? You stupid skank, you cheated!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Yato," Bishamon said. Her eye glinted. Yato frowned.

"Ne," Yato said, squinting. "The hell's up with your eye?"

"What about my eye?" Bishamon said. Her thumbs tapped the controller.

"Your eye," Yato said. He squinted. "There's somethin' sparkling around it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Bishamon said. Yato's eyes widened.

"OI!" Yato said. "YOU'RE FRIGGIN WEARING KAZUMA!"

"I'm not wearing him!" Bishamon snapped.

"STOP LYING BITCH-A-MON! I SEE HIM SWIRLIN' AROUND YOUR EYE!"

"I'm not lying!" Bishamon said. She glared.

"...I have him in my pocket."

"I knew it!" Yato said.

"Ugh," Bishamon said.

"Ha ha! Way to have your boyfriend help you, Bishamon! I knew you couldn't beat me without him!"

"Return, Kazu," Bishamon said, and Kazuma zapped outside her pocket. "The Yatogami found us out."

"Hey Bishamon!" Yato said, preening. "Which god did you say sucks again? Cuz I don't think I quite remember."

"Be that as it may, Yato," Bishamon said, and her voice was clipped. Irritated. "My Kazuma is still stronger than you."

"Ha, yeah right!" Yato said. "Lemme tell ya something, honey. Just be glad this ain't real life - if me and my Sekki went up against you and your Chouki, all you'd have is a stupid earring! So guess which god would lose?"

"Are you insulting my hafuri?" Bishamon said.

"Ha ha! Hell no! I'm stating a simple fact!"

"Yato! That's enough!" Hiyori said. "Yukine-kun and Kazuma-san are both strong! And Bishamon-sama is still learning how to play!"

"You know what, Yatogami, your follower is right," Bishamon said. "I will concede that you are better than me, but none of us has yet to see young Yukine play."

"Huh?" Yukine said. All eyes turned on him.

"Are you serious, Bishamon?" Yato said. "My kid's a friggin teenager! He plays this crap all the time! Why do ya think I have to play with Kazuma? It's cuz Yukine thinks I'm not good enough to play with him!"

"Oh? So you're saying your kid can beat my Kazuma?" Bishamon smirked. "I'd like to see him try."

"Yeah? Well c'mon, Yukine!" Yato said, and he shoved Yukine the controller. "Show them what you got!"

"Can we go home after this?" Yukine said. Kazuma picked up the controller. Yato shook his fist.

"Oi, Yukine! You master's honor is at stake!"

"Fine," Yukine said, and he pressed the start button.

xXx

.

Their energy bars were at the same level.

Yukine worked his thumbs with the furious concentration of a top-ranked player defending his title, as Kazuma struck and countered with the same scary efficiency of a computer AI.

"This is getting kinda boring," Yato said.

"Indeed," Bishamon said.

"Oi, Yato! Can you shut it for a minute? I'm trying to freaking concentrate!" Yukine said.

Kazuma didn't say anything, biting his lip and hunching over the controller.

"I'm going back to sleep," Hiyori said, and she left the room.

xXx

.

"Hiyori! Time for breakfast!" Hiyori's mom walked past the bedroom.

"Oh," she said, opening the door. Everyone froze. Kazuma and Yukine were still sitting on the bed, wide-eyed and holding their controllers, while Bishamon and Yato stared at her, terrified. On the TV, Kazuma and Yukine's avatars breathed, heavily.

"Hiyori, honey? Were you playing in your brother's room again?" and she walked over and turned off the power.

"NO!" Yato and Bishamon said. Hiyori's mom lifted her head.

"There's a draft in Masaomi's room," she said, walking back into the hallway.

"I think you left open the window."