AN: Thank you so much for all the views, the reviews, follows, and faves. I had no idea this fan fiction would get this attention in so short of a time. I'm just sorry it's taken me longer to upload this chapter. However, there's Yatori in it, so enjoy 3


Hiyori's footsteps felt heavy to her as she made her way up the stairs and for her room, thenight's meal weighing on her stomach. Although she felt she'd overstuffed herself, half-wishing she could revert to her lighter form right then and there, Hiyori was catching very fortunate feelings. She lived in a nice home, her family had a high status in society, they were wealthy, and yet most nights, her mom would prepare dinner, they'd all gather around at the table and converse as a family, etc. /My only complaint is homework, which I still have yet to do. I feel like I'll fall into a food coma any second now!/ was her final thought as her hand made contact with her doorknob and twisted it, cracking the door open.

It was pitch black in her room, but just as Hiyori's arm began searching the wall for the lightswitch, her hand landed on something oddly soft. /Huh? What is.../

A nice smell...oh...

"WAHHHH!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" The girl lept about 4 feet backwards, landing back in the hall. It was a wonder her parents didn't seem to notice their daughter's panic.

"Good evening to you, too," came the familiar voice from the shadows. The lights came on as his right index finger flicked up under the switch, and the tracksuit-wearing invader was revealed leaning against the wall, arms folded and one leg crossed over the other.

Hiyori could only guess that Yato had rehearsed his smooth intrusion, but still, WHY WAS HE HERE? "That doesn't answer my question," she spat back, returning to a composed position, in which her arms were folded with authority and dignity. She was not amused that all her dinner was now sloshing around uneasily in her belly.

Yato sighed, shoving his hands in his front pockets. /That's the question, isn't it?/ "Yukine's sick." He kept his answer blunt, flitting his blue gaze towards Hiyori's open window, which had served as his entrance a few moments ago. Yes, he had taken advantage of the fact Hiyori wasn't there studying, darkened the room, and waited excitedly at the wall for her arrival. However, the fun was quick to end when the more dire topic was brought up. It deeply bothered the god that his regalia was sick, even if he was only experiencing cold-like symptoms. /Thinking about it makes my head ache./

Recalling the regalia's sneezing attack from earlier, Hiyori wasn't too surprised. /Still,/ she figured, re-entering her room, /It's a little odd that he can get sick./ "How can you tell?" she gently pried, quietly shutting the door behind her. "Do you...can you /feel/ it?"

Yato blinked at her a couple of times, as if he'd misheard her. Really, he just didn't know what to say to those flattering eyes of worry. The awkward silence that followed didnt help matters for Hiyori, but he eventually shook his head in response. "No. That's why it's, uh...such a shock...even to me."

Hiyori gasped in alarm. A shock? If Yato couldn't feel it, then neither of them were fully aware of the impact on Yukine! "Does he LOOK bad off? Is he okay?" she pressed desparately. Sure, she'd only seen him sneeze, but had it gotten serious? Was it always serious? And why wasn't Yato be able to feel it? That part made no sense, unless -

"Well, he's not too bad off, but he keeps on sneezing. Scratchy throat, I can tell. He's got a fever, too." The symptoms themselves didn't sound too bad to the god, and he was sure Yukine would pull through it. /He's strong! That's why he's my regalia,/ he boasted inwardly. What was just so troubling about the matter was that Yukine was sick in the first place.

At random, Hiyori began tearing at her hair, something Yato hadn't expected to see when he turned his gaze back to her. /WOAH!/ What the heck was she doing? The girl commenced into a rampage of words. "He needs an advil! OH! How high was it? Wait...would he need children's Tylenol? Is he that young? He's very small, so he's the right weight...oh! But gods and regalia are really light." Now she had her face right up in Yato's, who's face matched her panicked expression, though his was more fear-driven. Was she going insane!? "BLANKETS! DO YOU HAVE BLANKETS!?" She placed her hands on his shoulders, demanding his full, complete, and sky-blue eye contact.

Suddenly, Yato was attacked with a wave of sudden emotions, including nostalgia. This was just like that time when she demanded he fix her body, on the bridge, desperate hands gripping his shoulders, eyes wide and frantic. And there was something else about this that was nostalgic - looking past the frazzled schoolgirl, Yato spotted a mass laying on the ground by the door. /She must have slipped out when she started getting frantic. /

Yato made a cautious attempt at removing the girl's hands from him, placing his on her elbows to gently guide them downward and off. The tender care in his touch was enough to make Hiyori snap out of it and let the god slip past her. "Relax, Hiyori," he chuckled, eyes sparkling with humor. "You're worrying too much." As he approached her body on the floor, he crouched, and Hiyori turned to see for herself. Eyes settling on the body, the god and the half-phantom wondered in unison, /Why does this always happen at the most awkward of times?/ Again, Yato chuckled, going on to tease, "You see? This is what happens when you panic too much." The jab was reminiscent of an old wives' tale mothers would tell their children.

With a breath, Hiyori dismissed her frenzy. "I'm sorry," she replied, more embarrassed than apologetic. She really had flown off the handle there. Then again..."But YOU don't have to freak me out like that!"

"What?" Yato gasped.

"Oh, you KNOW what! First you break into my room, then you tell me Yukine is sick and you can't feel it, and NOW YOU'RE PICKING UP MY BODY!?"

Yato looked down. Because it was almost reflex, he hadnt notice he'd slid a hand under the back of Hiyori's body below him, or that he'd slipped the other under the crook of her knees, that he was gathering the girl into a position to delicately scoop her up and carry her...somewhere. He was already standing. /When did that happen?/ Once again, Hiyori had the idea all wrong, but Yato couldnt think of a way to define his actions It was just...gee, he always did this, ever since they'd first met. But what was her problem with it anyway? In an instant, Yato traded his confusion with a defensive glare in Hiyori's direction, shooting back, "Hey! It's not MY fault you're always slipping out of it!"

"Yeah, well you aren't doing a whole lot to FIX IT!" It was distressing the way she constantly dropped her body, and it always happened most random and awkward places, like at New Year's in front of Ami and Yama. "New Year, Same Snooze," they'd teased. It made Hiyori feel like burying her face in shame.

The god's pitch heightened when he wailed, "But y-you said you wanted to stay with me longer! And it looks like this is the only way, SO THERE!" Peeved with the girl's stubbornness, the god turned his back from Hiyori, though her body was still cradled in his arms. /I'm not going to be as stubborn as she is and just drop it./ This triggered a troublesome, startling thought, making his stare drift downward to gaze at her body. /She's still happy with us, isn't she?/ He looked at the body with deep dread, his distraught, worried gaze hidden from the sights of Hiyori...well, both were Hiyori, but Yato could now look down at her all he wanted, but she still wouldn't see him... /Isn't that the opposite of what I want, though?/

Something about Hiyori - it was as if she cou ld read people's minds, even if she didn't know exactly what they were thinking. That was something Yato always admired about her. She could read emotions really well, and right now, Yato looked distraught to her. A pang of guilt managed to phase her stubborn mind. /Ugh. It isn't worth fighting over. Besides, he has a point./ Of course, Hiyori was still stubborn, so she wouldn't admit that last part. Instead, she came up behind her friend and apologized. "I'm sure you only meant well. I guess I'm just getting a little sleepy. Now, what was it you came here for? Did you just want me to be in the know that Yukine is sick?"

The gentleness in her voice was enough to trigger a blush out of the god. Aware of his drastic color change, he kept his back turned when he answered, "Well, I was thinking you and I could work on a stew together."

Hiyori blinked. "A stew?"

The rouge faded from Yato's cheeks, so he turned with Hiyori's body and began carrying it to her bed. "Yep. I figured it would be good on his system. Unfortunately, there isn't much in the way of medicine our holy metabolisms can take. Even aspirin could have a very negative effect on us."

"But you can pretty much eat anything you want," Hiyori muttered, recalling their ravenous eating habits.

"Mm-hmm!" Yato carefully laid the body on the mattress, making sure the head was resting comfortably on the pillow. Finished, he turned back towards her, resting a hand on his hip. Excitedly, he exclaimed, "Plus, it would make a good get-well present, don'tchathink?"

Hiyori giggled, finding it endearing how Yato was taking Yukine's comfort into consideration...while the god was equally taking "raiding her fridge" into consideration. Also endearing was how he tediously busied himself with the comfort of her sleep, even if it was a little weird. /I won't complain about it this time, though. We'll just go back to arguing again./ "Sure!" she agreed, not a hint of reluctance shading her enthusiasm. "It's really good to see how you care for him."

"Well, he is my one and only lead shinki," Yato pointed out, sealing his eyes with pride. He never should have re-opened them, because there was Hiyori, white with dread.

"OH NO! IT'S THAT BAD!? HE COULD DIE!?"

Back again with the panic!

"NO, NO! IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"