Chapter 10: Forget Him

It had become impossible to decipher how much time had passed. Yato did what he was told and so he killed and he killed some more. The blood and the killing unraveled all that he had worked hard to control over the years. Each broken promise that Father spoke to him would cause him to kill even more in the hopes of being released to see her again.

Hiyori. He wondered if she had forgotten all about him by now. It angered him and hurt him at the same time. He wasn't supposed to be far from her. It was his responsibility to keep her safe since he took her as his.

Yato would often ignore Nora's false reassurances that everything was going to be just fine and that eventually he would be free. When he wasn't fighting against the pleasure of killing or taking in the scent of blood, he would think about Hiyori and how much he missed her. He had all but forgotten how she tasted and how she felt up against him. It was enough to drive him mad.

When the calamity god did finally snap in the cabin they locked him in like an animal after he was done doing their killing, he demanded to be set free, destroying what he could and killing more masked wolf phantoms of Nora's.

Yato almost escaped too had he not shown up. He faced Father, his rage suddenly dissipating in his presence. Nora presented a weak excuse to try and help Yato. The god was not used to his Father's new appearance or voice, but his eyes remained the same. Those eyes of assertive manipulation and playful deceit.

"Temper, temper, Yaboku," he chuckled. "Your hormones are way out of control. Are you that eager to get back to that human girl you claimed?"

Yato knew Fujisaki knew about Hiyori, but he should have known better than to think he could keep what happened between him and Hiyori a secret from him. Yato felt his heart crack, knowing what he had done to Hiyori had just made her real interesting to his father, which was not good at all. Because of his desires and selfishness, he just made Hiyori a target to Fujisaki. He knew he would use her to get to him if he had to.

Yato took in a deep breath, trying to contain himself from shaking. "I did all that you asked of me. Please let me return to her."

Fujisaki glanced to Nora, a smirk lifting on his lips as his eyes came back to Yato. "And who is to say she hasn't forgotten all about you?"

Yato was quiet. There was no way to determine if she had or not until he went to her. But then Yato thought of something. His eyes had went to the floor and then back up to glare at his father. "She won't forget me because our fates are intertwined. I see the red string. And it has only been reinforced by us giving ourselves to each other...our lovemaking."

Fujisaki laughed, covering up Nora's sharp inhale of disgust a few feet away. "Lovemaking? You are incapable of love. You are a god of war and calamity...depravity, not love. Your feelings for her are simply primal urges. Nothing more."

"Not true," Yato hissed.

Fujisaki sighed, his smirk dropping. "Believe me. Her only purpose to you is to allow you to breed and to fulfill reoccurring desires. It will happen again in another hundred years or so after she is long dead and gone."

"I'll prove you wrong. Let me go to her," Yato challenged, his eyes narrowing.

It wasn't like him to defy Father like this, but his words made him angry and very much protective of Hiyori. Fujisaki cocked his head at him curiously, unfazed by the war god's tone. He looked amused more than anything. His father contemplated for a moment, and then smirked.

"Alright, Yaboku. You have my curiosity with this. I will let you go back to Hiyori after one last job. You won't return here and you can head straight back." Fujisaki turned to Nora. "That's an order, Mizuchi."

Nora sat on the floor petting one of her masked wolf phantoms and dipped her head. "Yes, Father."

Yato glanced to the stray then back to his father. "What is the job?"

Fujisaki waved him off after checking his wristwatch. "I will let Mizuchi fill you in. I must run, I have an important date tonight."

Yato had a bad feeling about those words as his father slammed the door as he exited. He was eager to get this job done so he could return to Hiyori. He spun to face the stray regalia that he had known all his life.

"What's the job? Let's head out now."

Nora shook her head quietly. "Tomorrow. It won't be so simple, Yato."

He growled deeply, glaring at her. "Dammit, Hiiro, now. We are going now."

Nora glared at him, but stood up before him. She moved past the war god, sliding open the door to the cabin.

"Fine. To the Underworld we go then, Yaboku."

Normally, Yato would have scolded her for calling his real name that only Father seemed to take advantage of, but her words caught him off guard. The Underworld? What kind of job did Fujisaki want him to do exactly? Yato hated himself for thinking Father's last job for him would be something as simple as one last killing. But he wasn't going to let it faze him. He would kill a thousand more times to be able to return to his Hiyori.

And so the god of calamity followed Nora out of the cabin, unbeknownst to him a smirk curling on his lips as his body craved the blood and death that was to come that would lead him home to what he wanted most.

She had no idea why she was here. The theme park was huge, with bustling activity all around. Music blared and the voices of people carried over the squeaking hinges of rides. The aroma of food lingered in the air from the nearby food plaza.

Hiyori sighed, depression enveloping her entire being even as Ami and Yama spoke excitedly to each other not far away. They were the ones that dragged her along even though she had declined the offer to come to Capypa Land days ago.

"Hey, here come the guys!" Yama exclaimed, waving them over.

Hiyori felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Ami's concerned face. "Hey, come on, Hiyori. Let's go have some fun. It will make you feel better."

Before she could say anything, Yama was hugging her with rough enthusiasm. "Forget that jerk, Hiyori! It's time to move on and have fun!"

Forget about him?

"Hey Hiyori."

The voice made her look up, and she was looking into the bright eyes and smile of Fujisaki as he waved at her. Yama and Ami left to go talk to his friends, already discussing their plans for the park. His smile caused Hiyori's lips to twitch upwards, and she gave a slight bow.

"Evening, Fujisaki."

"I am glad you decided to come in the end. I did not want to be the third wheel for these four," he chuckled, jerking his thumb towards his friends and her friends.

She blushed, her eyes going to her feet. "Yeah...sure."

Fujisaki frowned, slightly cocking his head. "Are you alright?"

"She is still bummed that that jerk boyfriend just dropped her and disappeared," Yama explained. "Honestly, if I knew what that bastard looked like I would hunt him down and beat the shit out of him for her. Just get over him already, don't waste your breath!"

"Yeah, you deserve much better," Ami added.

There was silence as Hiyori stayed quiet, cheeks still flushed from their words.

"They are right you know," Fujisaki said quietly a moment later, causing her to look up at him. He had a genuine smile and his eyes locked with hers. "You do deserve better."

"T-thanks."

Hiyori suddenly felt overwhelmed and hurt, even with what they just said to her. She stepped back, looking for the exit to the the theme park.

"You know, I think I should just go home. I really don't feel up to it tonight."

"Aw, c'mon Hiyori don't be that way!" Yama complained.

Fujisaki grabbed her arm gently before she could get too far. "Hey, just give us a chance. I tell you what, if you aren't cheered up within half an hour I will take you home myself."

They just couldn't understand. But how could they anyway? What was she to say to them? She couldn't say that the boyfriend they were referring to was a war god that took her virginity and then just disappeared because he was about to go insane. They would think she was the crazy one and probably lose her friends. But she couldn't just forget about Yato. Something happened to him and something was preventing him from returning to her. She had to find him. No matter what.

"No, I am sorry. I must find Yato."

Fujisaki let her go, as if she had shocked him.

"Ya-to?" Ami echoed, confused.

"Is that the chump's name? What kind of name is that?" Yama questioned.

Hiyori shook her head. She didn't mean for his name to slip out, but it was too late now. "I hope you guys understand. I will see you later."

Just as her friends started protesting again, Fujisaki cleared his throat. "I will take you home. It is getting too late for you to be going that far by yourself." He then turned to his friends. "Take care of of Ami and Yama, will ya? Show them a good time, I will be back in just a bit."

"Sure thing, bud," one of the guys said.

There was no use talking Fujisaki out of it. He walked with her out of Capypa Land. Their company was quiet for a long time, taking the subway home. The subway took two separate trains to get them near Hiyori's neighborhood. Once off of the subway, Fujisaki kept at Hiyori's side as they left the metro station onto the surface. By this time, it was completely dark. Street lamps had popped on and helped guide them to the Iki residence.

"So tell me about him," Fujisaki suddenly said, keeping his hands in his pockets as he walked at her side. "What's this Yato guy like?"

Hiyori glanced up at him in surprise. Why on earth would he want to know about Yato? Then again, even if she did want to talk to him about the god, she couldn't.

"Oh, uh...I don't know how to say it."

"Sorry," Fujisaki mumbled, kicking a rock. "I just...I just want to make sure you are being treated good. And so far I haven't seen that. You are too wonderful a person to be let down like this."

"Fujisaki?"

She wasn't exactly sure how it came to be, and her mind froze up, but she felt Fujisaki's lips on hers after that instant. It was a deep kiss, his hold tight on her arms. Hiyori was shocked, and although all she could do was think about Yato and that this was wrong, her body fought her, urging her to respond to Fujisaki instead. It felt...off. She didn't feel in control of herself.

Hiyori squeezed on Fujisaki, trying to gather herself enough to push him off of her, but her mind felt scratchy and hazy at the same time. She really couldn't find a grip on what was happening to her in that instant, and the more she fought it the more her body sought to give in under Fujisaki.

Finally, she scrapped up what was left of any willpower and shoved him away. She gasped, shaking, and all of a sudden her mind cleared and she suddenly felt in control again.

"I-I'm sorry. I have no idea what came over me."

She glared up at him. Fujisaki looked ashamed, eyes going to his feet. "You can't...just do that!"

He sighed. "I know. I am sorry, but damn it Hiyori I can't stand to see you this way. I care about you. I hate to say this but if this Yato guy really cared about you, wouldn't he be here?"

"Shut up, you have no clue of the whole story," Hiyori snapped, and took off running.

She ran all the way home and when she made it to the front door, she opened it and slammed it shut behind her as if Fujisaki would be right behind her. As she briskly headed for her room, she wanted to cry, but then she saw her father poke his head around to see who had just entered the house.

"Hiyori, back already?"

"Sorry, daddy, I don't feel good so I came home early."

She gave him a brief hug, noticing all the papers in his hands from work. "Oh, honey. Do you need me to look you over?"

She smiled. "No. I'm fine, I am just going to go to sleep."

"Alright. Sleep well, darling."

Hiyori bounded up the stairs and locked herself in her room. Before she knew it she was on her bed, face smothered into her pillow as she cried.

Yato, where are you? Please come back to me!

She was at a loss. Yato had been gone for nearly a month. Kazuma told her the only reason she hadn't forgotten him was because they were now bound together. That meant her ties with him could no longer be severed. But now it felt she was farther from him than ever, and that he was only a thread in her mind. She just had to find him and find him fast.

"Psst."

Hiyori's head jerked up. She jumped seeing Kazuma in her window. Hiyori got to her feet, quickly wiping her tears as she walked over to the blessed regalia.

"Kaz-Kazuma. Why are you here?"

"You know we have been watching over you," he said. "We cannot allow you to get hurt if we do not want all hell to break loose when Yato gets back. Oh, and I saw what happened. You need to stay away from that guy. He doesn't feel...right. And if I were you I would not tell Yato about that kiss if you don't want that guy seriously hurt or killed."

She slowly nodded. "Okay."

Kazuma looked down into the yard for a moment then back to her. His green eyes beheld her intently. "By the way, you should drop your body here and come with me, I think we may have sighted Yato."

A/N: Sorry for taking a bit longer on this chapter! I decided to change it up even more, lol. It's a little short, but next chapter should be longer. Thanks for all the faves/alerts/reviews! I have had a ton on my plate recently, but I hope to not take as long posting the next chapter! Have a great weekend everyone! :)