I know...I have been meaning to update this for FOREVER. But as a poster-child for ADHD, finishing shit is stupidly hard. This is Chapter 2. There may be a little prologue in the future, but TBH...My new Noragami story will take precedence. (As well as FINALLY updating my OHSHC KyoHaru fic! JFC.)

Enjoy some more fluff :)

Chapter 2:

The deity and his devotee sat up under the tree as the sun shined down, warm and inviting as it settled lower in the sky. It made those captivating cerulean eyes sparkle like the purest springs. She had always been enamored of them, but in this moment, they took on a whole new nuance.

"Yato, there's something that I have been thinking a lot about lately," she started. Yato went to interject but like so many times, her words held so much weight and purpose that it shocked him into silence.

"Yato, I want to take back my wish."

For a moment Yato panicked, knowing that prolonging her situation meant permanently disassociating from her earthly life.

"But then-"

"I want to make a different wish instead. Because..." Hiyori touched his cheek, causing a shiver down his spine. "I don't want to go back to the way I was before. I like the way things are now...being a part of your world."

Yato leaned into the palm of her hand, holding it to his face.

"Are you sure of that, Hiyori? You are young in your years still," he inquired. She nodded .

"So what is your new wish, then, Hiyori?" he asked with a satisfied look on his face. HIyori paused, carefully choosing her words.

"To always be by your side...and never sever our ties."

She took her hand away from his face and let her hand drop to his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her ear. His voice rumbled against her ear.

"Your wish has been heard loud and clear."

They were quiet a moment, just resting in the embrace. But this time, Yato moved to speak and pulled away slightly.

"Hiyori, you know...I meant everything I've said about being a different god," he admitted with a blush. Suddenly, the lush green grass became incredibly interesting and he began playing with it as he spoke. "You know that you were the one who inspired me, right?"

"Me?"

He hummed in confirmation, glancing at her briefly from the corner of his eyes.

"In all of my years, never once has a human sacrificed themselves to 'save' a god. And you, you crazy girl..." He chuckled to himself before finally meeting her gaze once more and finishing his thought. "You have saved me on so many occasions. You have saved me a thousand times over. Me...an unknown, shitty excuse for a god, long past his prime..."

He sat in somber silence, beginning down the path of self-loathing, when she lifted his chin to meet his gaze.

"Gods have hearts, don't they? Hearts change, Yato. Obviously you are not the same god you were back then. And that's okay. That's why I could never sever our bonds. They are too important to me. You...are too important to me," she said, her eyes downcasting, as she spoke the last words practically to herself. But Yato still heard them.

He was taken aback at the overflowing of honest conversation. But he reveled in how wonderful it felt to get all of it off his chest. Yato had a feeling Hiyori was feeling the same. He leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you, Hiyori."

There was a buzz that emanated abruptly from Yato's pocket, breaking the spell. It was Kofuku. He had a feeling she was wondering about his whereabouts.

"Moshi-Moshi...yup...mmhm... I actually, uh, ran into her in the park. We'll be back soon...All right. Jaa." He flipped the phone shut. "Kofuku said Yukine had mentioned you coming over today to study since you left early last night. Guess we should get a move on."

But before either of them cared to stand, a wave of butterflies washed over the both of them as they just looked at each other. They were finally processing the change in their emotional chemistry and the realization of their confessions. Hiyori couldn't resist leaning back in for one more kiss, surprising the seemingly sensitive god. A hum escaped his throat as she initiated the kiss, taking his bottom lip between hers and applying a gentle, and undulating pressure. A fire had been lit, smoldering in their bellies, threatening to explode and set them both alight with something deep and eternal.

But Yato, being wary of succumbing to his passion in this particular moment, broke the kiss slowly and chuckled.

"I could kiss you for hours," he said in a sultry tone, making Hiyori blush at the thought of them having their very first make-out session. "But...we have the others waiting. Raincheck, maybe?"

"Raincheck," she confirmed with a giggle.

With a nod, Yato hopped to his feet and extended a hand to Hiyori, who took it and then never let go. They walked through the park toward Kofuku's place, fingered laced together, as tightly woven as the spiritual bonds of fate that tied them. There were no more words spoken as they made their way back.

As they approached, the pair were greeted a trio of stares from the porch of the house. Yukine was red in the face. Daikoku's jaw practically had fallen into his lap, and Kofuku had a look of pure joy on her face as they walked up to the wide-open shoji. They both looked down at their hands, fingers still entwined in a gesture well beyond friendship. The blood rushed to their faces as they quickly jumped apart.

"I knew it!" she shrieked. "Hiyorin! Yato-chan! The smiles on your faces! This...It's so...You two! Wahhh!" The blissful Binbogami jumped into the arms of her friends and gave them a tight squeeze. "You have to tell me all about it, Hiyorin!"

"Oi!" the slightly sulky shinki piped up. "She's here to study with me! Gossip later!"

Kofuku pouted momentarily until Daikoku dragged her back into the kitchen, mumbling something about minding their own business. Hiyori laughed heartily at the chaotic scenario. Her heart felt so light and free.

"Yes, Yukine. I agree. I'd rather study now and relax later, anyway," she replied to her friend with a genuine smile.

Yukine was taken aback at how bright she seemed. It had been a long time since he had seen her this happy. And despite a small pang of jealousy, the luminous joy she radiated was so infectious, he was just glad to have his friend back. The way she always used to be.

"Gomen, Hiyori. Sorry I was rude," he apologized before curiously eyeing them both again. "I..I'm happy for you," the young blond mumbled. He steeled his nerve before finishing his thought more clearly. "I was getting worried about the two of you. You both have been really depressed and weird lately. So...you guys...are going to be a...couple?" Yukine fought hard to hide the awkward feel the word had.

Yato and Hiyori looked at each other a bit uncomfortably for a second, and quickly realized the answer.

"Well...yeah...I guess so," his master replied, idly shuffled, scratching the back of his head with a crooked smile.

They eyed each other sideways as both the god and the girl fought off an insistent blush. Yukine rolled his eyes with a sigh. The truth had been apparent for a while, but now...

Yato has more motivation it seems. Hiyori, she's inspired both of us. Even if we are...

"Let's get the next chapter done in the mathematics text before dinner, okay, Yukine?"

Hiyori's voice distracted everyone from their thoughts and the shinki instantly hopped to his feet, feeling special in the moment.

The blonde followed his tutor upstairs to study in a sudden flurry of excitement. Leaving Yato alone to stare at the door they disappeared through, wondering why studying was so important in that moment. He felt a bit dejected as the last hour was such a momentous occasion for him. But he understood that Hiyori refused to let Yukine feel left out of the equation, and keep things flowing normally, even if he wanted to be selfish and capture her attention all for himself.

The wandering god, now-self-proclaimed god of happiness, smiled to himself. It was just in her nature to be selfless, to care for those who need it.

That girl is giving to a fault. Ya gotta love her for it.

He looked up at the space in front of him, focused on nothing in particular as his eyes widened. It struck a chord in him as he realized the thought that just crossed his mind. He turned and looked at the back door of the room that led to the kitchen and staircase to the second floor.

Love..?

Yato thought about all the little things along the way: How she had had an essential hand in saving him from Yukine's blight; her refusal to cut ties; her promise to never forget him; the shrine she built him; how she figured out and called his true name, saving him from the clutches of Izanami.

And now she rescinds her wish to be fully mortal, so she can always be with me...

His heart beat a bit faster, suddenly making it a little harder to breathe.

I...love her. And, In her own way, she loves me, too...I think.

Yato has never been loved so unconditionally in his hundreds of years. His father, his mother, his sister; none of them actually loved him. Kofuku did, in her own way, of course, more akin to a big sister, or good friend. But Hiyori was an entirely different feeling. And it sure as hell felt good. Scary, but good.

His chest tightened a little and tears formed in his eyes. The blue-eyed deity wanted to express everything in his heart to her, so that she understood just how much he meant to her. The sensation was overwhleming, but he knew better than to run upstairs and abruptly interrupt her and Yukine. He knew he would get his chance later.

Succumbing to the need for her presence, Yato made his way upstairs to the attic room in which he and Yukine resided.

For the next hour or so before dinner, Yato resolved himself to be as respectful of Hiyori and Yukine's time together as he could. He had smiled at them as he came upstairs, grabbing his sketch pad and pencils and decided to draw. He drew what he thought their first kiss under the tree would have resembled, as well as the two of them walking hand in hand.

The smitten god sketched himself holding her in his embrace, so that he could show her what he was feeling in his heart. When he was around her, the emotions were so overwhelming his words utterly failed him. But his hand never did. And with the pencil in his grip, he spoke volumes.

He had put the final touches on his last drawing before Daikoku called up to them for dinner. Yukine and Hiyori and just clapped their textbooks shut just before the elder shinki had beckoned them. The half-phantom glanced curiously at her azure-eyed god as he squinted at the page in front of him. But as the gruff voice declared meal-time, he sighed and carefully placed the notebook down.

"What are you drawing, Yato?" Hiyori asked softly as she hovered over him, hand extended to help him up off the floor. "Can I see?"

"Not Yet," he replied with a teasing shake of his head. "Later. I'd like to talk...alone."

Hiyori grew warm at the idea of spending more private time with Yato, now that these newly realized feelings coursed through her. Yukine had made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. So Yato took advantage of the moment and cupped her face, quickly leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her lips, a promise of more to come.

She smiled shyly through her blush, letting him know that she did enjoy the attention, before they, too, headed downstairs toward the source of a delectable smell.

Daikoku poured sake for everyone in an undefined celebration. It wasn't spoken, as not to embarrass the blossoming couple further, but it was understood. His favorite drink of choice, Nigori Sho Chiku Bai, was sweet, unfiltered and potent; and the closest thing to the sake of olden times.

Kofuku was rather tight lipped, despite the permanent starry-eyed grin on face. But the tall shinki seemed to have his lady and mistress on a short leash during dinner, keeping her from imposing herself upon Yato and Hiyori's burgeoning relationship. The curry they had made tantalized their tastebuds, while the sake smoothly contrasted. It only took a couple of small cups for Hiyori to have a warm flush on her face. Daikoku took one look at her and knew that she had probably never drank much before. He chuckled, capturing everyone's attention.

"I think we've had enough of this for one evening," he announced, much to Yato's chagrin, corking the bottle. "I'll save the rest for another time."

"Gochisousama!" The girls and Yukine exclaimed, thanking Daikoku for the delicious meal. Yato echoed them after the fact.

The two shinkis and the goddess collected plates and cups and headed into the kitchen. Kofuku gave Hiyori a wink as she let the door shut behind her.

"Wait here a moment," Yato said softly, briefly covering her hand with his. She could hear his footsteps head upstairs, shuffling a moment, and quickly descending once again. Upon his return, Hiyori noticed the sketchbook in his grasp.

"Let's go for a walk," he said simply as he reached out to her.