The lovebirds are back together, so be ready for some sexual content. Somehow I still have ideas beyond this but we'll see how long I can keep it up.

Hiyori had been merciful and texted a clear ETA so he didn't spend his time panicking as he roamed the house. Instead, he panicked in a stationary position from the front door for the entirety of the hour before she was supposed to arrive. Yukine had been surprisingly hands-off, leaving Yato to be as nervous as he saw fit, only bothering him to change his clothes into something other than sweats and a t-shirt. He was currently picking at the gray band collared shirt Yukine had put him in before hugging the blanket he'd wrapped around his shoulders a little closer against the cool of the afternoon. It honestly hadn't felt this cold in the city, in the compound, but the air off the ocean was filled with chill and brine.

As his feet were stationary, his mind ran. It couldn't stay on topic, flitting from thoughts of her bare skin and how much he wanted to undress her on sight to the thought that she could never forgive him and that there would be something in her eyes today that would say it was over. The undulation between despair and desire kept him decidedly uncomfortable, not to mention the still healing ache in his side. He was writing and rewriting questions in his mind, not just the decisions he'd alluded to on the phone but also a million others.

There was no Father, no Fujisaki, and Nora couldn't possibly even be a threat anymore without someone to wield her, control her. Meaning that they could and should take it slow, just like they had at the beginning where kissing had taken them six months to reach because they thought they had the time. It was simple enough to just enjoy being a little more than teenagers in love. Young adults that would be living together in a house all their own with a kid to take care of and people possibly still breathing down their necks. Not to mention the trauma, right?

Worst yet, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about the life that maybe he was allowed to have now. Yato could actually go to school since fake papers weren't outside of his abilities and Hiyori had been right, it wasn't exactly out of his intellectual grasp either. He could marry her, especially if she could actually stomach this living together arrangement. And while Yukine was absolutely enough of a handful and he had already dealt with the struggle of getting his demand for her attention under control, they could have that kid she joked about. All of those things felt almost tangible, just waiting for her to be there so he could grab them along with her.

But it all hinged on one thing: did he even deserve to be back with her? Was his penance just the almost dying or was it never going to be enough? His brain was cycling through the questions when he saw a car pull up, parking curbside to the house. He tried not to jolt, knowing that it could be anyone, but when he saw the first glimpse of the crown of her head coming out of the car he was on his feet, rushing down the walk as the blanket billowed off his shoulders.

Hiyori's smile glowed as her eyes fell upon him until she scanned down his body, her eyes instantly starting to roll. "Where are your shoes?"

That was the least important thought as he met her at the nose of the car, one arm circling her waist while the other came across her shoulder to plunge into her hair. Slow, slow, slow, he ordered himself but his heart laughed back as he pressed his lips desperately to hers. She was far from resisting him, her body melting against his as her hands slid to grasp at the back of his shirt. Stopping was what he was slow to do, his hands only losing their pressure when she moved hers to his chest, pressing there to signal for air.

"Your shoes," she repeated. "And a coat, Yato, really."

"I'm fine," he murmured with eyes still shut, already leaning back into her.

Hiyori gave him another little shove, shaking her head as his eyes seemed to resistantly flutter open, his hands relaxing just enough for her to get a step between them. "Inside the house, please."

"Hiyori," Yato started an exasperated whine.

"Hiyori!" Yukine's voice thankfully cut off Yato's and she let go of him, pushing past him on the walk.

Yato laughed softly to himself as Hiyori rushed to throw her arms around Yukine, almost tossing him completely off balance. "Yukine! How are you?" She seemed to be examining him again as if expecting cuts and bruises, her hands finishing on the sides of his face to look clearly into his eyes.

"Cut it out," Yukine batted her hands away. "Fine, just a little bored with only Yato around."

"Well, I'm home now," she punctuated the sentence with a pleased sigh that made Yato's heart flutter. "And Daikoku and Kofuku are going to visit next week."

"Really?" Yukine shot a nervous look at Yato. "Is that OK?"

Yato shrugged, "More the merrier out here."

Yukine seemed even more unnerved by the coolness in his answer. "But, aren't we…?"

"No one follows Daikoku; he's better than that," Yato smirked. "But don't tell him I said that."

Hiyori closed a fist into Yato's shirt, starting to drag him back towards the house. "And maybe you won't have to deal with Yato much longer since he insists on being out here without a jacket or shoes."

"I have no control over him," Yukine chimed as he added his hands to Yato's back, pushing him as Hiyori pulled.

"No one does," Hiyori shrugged, sending an indecipherable look back his way.

"Hey, you two aren't allowed to gang up," Yato muttered as they made their way into the entryway.

Hiyori leaned down, taking off her shoes but Yukine paused, looking between the two of them. "I'm going to take a walk."

Yato tried to put a hand on his shoulder but Yukine slipped out of it. "Yukine-"

"Don't worry, it's fine." Yukine grabbed his coat and slipped it on.

Hiyori grasped him before he could get away, pulling Yukine in tightly for another hug. "Be back before dinner, OK?"

"Momming," Yukine huffed before starting out the door, feeling her resist letting go of his sleeve until he looked back over his shoulder. "Sure, OK, dinner."

Yato watched as Yukine slid the door closed behind him, bringing a frown back to Hiyori. "I don't like him going out alone."

Hiyori laughed softly and shrugged, "But he hates the romance stuff." She grabbed at his shirt again and pulled him further into the house, starting the walk down the hallway towards the bedrooms.

"Hiyori," he started weakly but his voice went nowhere as his mind drifted back to the desire that had hit him earlier.

"The main bedroom?" Her hand relaxed, relying on his own feet to move him forward.

"Last on the right," Yato breathed. Hiyori disappeared into the bedroom and Yato found himself slowing as he turned the corner, forcing himself to stand in the door. "We should talk, Hiyori."

"We will." She beckoned him forward and when he came into arm's length her fingers began on the buttons of his shirt. "But this first." She took a deep breath before pausing on the next button. "Please."

The air felt thin in his lungs and he struggled to breathe through how that plea turned his heart into a drum. "Is that really what you want?"

"Yes." Her fingers continued and finished the buttons, her hands gliding across his chest to part his shirt and push it up and over his shoulders. As it fell, her hands came slowly back to his side, one tentatively touching the bandage above his hip. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't…" She sighed, "It's stupid, it's like I almost forgot that you, you're hurt-"

"That doesn't matter," he murmured as he lifted her hand off the bandage, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Just… take it easy on me, OK?" But he wasn't necessarily sure he could take it easy on himself, his hands instantly falling to the hem of her dress, gathering the fabric until he was able to pull it up and over her head. He tossed the dress aside and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in so he could feel the warmth of her skin. "I missed you," came as a murmured breath against her neck as he pressed his lips there.

"You just missed this," Hiyori let herself laugh softly until she felt his fingers tighten into her skin.

His face was no longer hidden, suddenly staring her down with those icy blue eyes. "I didn't even think you'd let me touch you again and, honestly, I don't think I deserve it."

Hiyori brought her hands to his face, ready to pull his lips down to meet hers. "It's what I deserve, isn't it? Some happiness?" She caught his sigh in reply with her lips, feeling that same frantic force behind his kiss. In surprising contrast, his touch was soft and slow, starting at her hips and trailing upwards, one hand focused on fanning up her back while the other groped at the cup of her bra. His one hand was on the clasp of her bra when she broke the kiss. "Hold that thought."

"Hiyori…" Yato caught himself about to whimper as she broke free of him, moving back towards the door.

"Get undressed, lay down. I'll be right back." He found some relief in her smile but it still felt painful to watch her go. Yato did as he was ordered, stripping to nothing and easing himself down on the futon. He didn't even have time to ruminate on his thoughts before she was back, bag in hand, which she tossed next to him. As she walked back over to him she unhooked her bra, tossing it aside before slipping off her panties.

"Come here," at that moment he wasn't too proud to beg, motioning her towards his good side.

Hiyori let out a sigh, feeling the knot that had started in her stomach at the beginning of the trip here finally unwinding as she was slowly reassuring herself he was alive. As she laid down next to him she felt it, his heart beating, the warmth of his skin, his breath against her lips, all of it verifying that her fears over the past month hadn't come true.

Yato let a hand run down her side before whispering, "Get up a little, on your knees."

She rolled on her stomach before bringing herself up on her knees and planting her hands to the side of Yato's shoulders. "Like this?"

"Perfect," he murmured as his hand slid up along her inner thigh, stealing the breath from her mouth. With one hand busy, the other moved to cup at her breast, teasing with his fingers. As his hand reached her core he moved achingly slow, gliding his finger along the slit, feeling the urge to groan just at the slickness that greeted him. Hiyori made the sound for him, moving her hips towards the touch. Just that sensation was driving her wild, her sensitivity peaked from all the waiting and wishing and hoping, the desperation of wanting him back so badly. "You're perfect," he whispered again before angling his head to capture her mouth.

Yato was conflicted, wanting to take it slow, to explore her like he had so many times before but the urge to get her to climax, to watch her in her joy moved his fingers between those two lips to press at her clit. She gasped against his mouth as he set a rhythm, stopping every few strokes to slip those fingers inside her as she ground her hips against his hand. His hand at her breast slid to her back, pulling her a little closer so her gasps fell on his shoulder, giving him free rein to kiss and nip at her neck. As her legs began to tremble he moved the hand back to pinch at her nipple, eliciting a moan that warmed him to the core.

At this point her hips were following his motion, grinding against his fingers until that familiar coiling sensation finally snapped, her breath coming out in a sharp cry as Hiyori felt her legs turn to rubber beneath her. She let them collapse slowly as Yato freed his hand, bringing it to her rest on her bottom as she pressed her chest to his. "Happy?" he murmured as he stole another kiss from her lips.

"Almost." He would have worried except her smile broke through another kiss. She rubbed her hips against his and Yato finally did let out his own moan, both hands moving to grasp at the curve of her hips to stop the movement.

"Hiyori…"

"Are you trying to talk me out of this?" Hiyori laughed as she sat up, her hands coming to his on her hips. "I seem to remember you trying this the first time and it didn't work."

Yato planted his hands a little firmer as a sigh escaped his lips, "Well, just like the first time I don't have a condom."

Hiyori smiled as she leaned over, grabbing the bag she had brought from the hall. "And just like the first time, I do." She extracted the box from the bag, tossing that aside so she could take out a single wrapper from the container.

Yato couldn't keep the smile off his face, another quick huff of air leaving his lips before he released her. "Rollover, then."

"No." Hiyori rolled her hips back just enough as to expose him as she ripped open the package.

Yato blinked at her as she rolled the latex down his shaft. "No?"

"You should be taking it easy, remember?" As soon as Yato was covered Hiyori repositioned her hips, her hand fixing him just perfectly so she could ease her hips down, plunging him into her with a slow exhale.

He could have lost it right there, between the way she bit her lip as she lowered herself and the beautiful way her hair cascaded over her shoulder as she leaned down to him to catch his lips quickly before rocking her hips again. It was almost embarrassing to admit they hadn't made it to this position yet, still opting for the easy usual in the newness of their sexual relationship, but he was instantly in love with the way she looked and moved on top of him. Yato tried to steady her rhythm with his hands, enjoying the way her breasts bounced with each motion, so much so that he had to grab at one, her head falling back with a pleasant little gasp.

"A little faster," he whispered breathlessly. She planted her hands above his shoulders to steady herself enough to pick up the speed. His legs stiffened as the groan parted his lips, his fingers digging into the skin of her hips. He slowed her movement with those hands, the sensation making his gut tremble. "Kiss me," he begged, hands moving from her hips to her face to pull her down to him.

Hiyori once again did as asked, her lips meeting his just in time to feel them tremble, to feel his hitching breath cut their kiss short. "Yato…"

"I'm sorry," he moaned out between his teeth. "Please, please, forgive me. Please. I'm sorry, you have to know that I am." His hands moved to clench in her hair, pressing her forehead to his. "Forgive me. I don't deserve it but I'll beg, I'll do whatever you want, just please."

Hiyori sighed, opening her eyes from what she thought had been a bit of ecstasy for both of them. "You can't let yourself be happy for a second, huh?" She kissed his blubbering lips again, her hands moving slowly to smear the tears away. "You don't have to beg. I may ask you to do a few things, Yato, but we'll talk about that once you've cleaned yourself up." She lifted her hips again, releasing him and bringing herself to his side, her hip scratching into the matting of the floor.

Yato was extremely slow rolling to his side before inching himself up to sitting. "I should still be begging," he muttered.

Hiyori gave his hip a little poke, urging him forward. "Well, I only said you didn't have to…"

Even with his eyes still stinging with tears, Yato could produce a speck of a laugh. "I'm going to… I'll be right back, OK?"

"I know you will." Hiyori watched him closely as he unevenly walked towards the doorway, still favoring his uninjured side when walking. It brought back that sinking feeling of his mortality that she tried to push away. She slipped under the covers, pulling them up to her shoulder as she rolled onto her stomach and let her face linger in his pillow. The deep breaths of his scent and the new memory of his fingers digging into her skin were enough to banish those thoughts for now.

"Hiyori," he had to warn her before he was close enough to touch her, still feeling as if this was a right he shouldn't be allowed. She rolled onto her side in time for him to join her beneath the covers. Yato eased himself onto his back, a long exhale escaping his lips before he turned his head to look at her. "I'm sorry-" he started again but her finger came to his lips.

"Listen to me," she murmured while she slowly blinked those magenta eyes as her lips stretched into a contented smile. "It hurt when you left and I think it was the most I'd ever hurt in my entire life, just thinking you were dead and that I'd never get to be with you again." She renewed the pressure on his lip, seeing his eyes start to well up with tears again. "I was angry with you and honestly probably still am a little and that may take some time for you to fix, for you to regain my trust because even with you here now there's this worry I can't escape that I'm going to turn my head and you'll be gone again."

Yato's hand gripped into her wrist and she allowed him to pull the finger from his mouth. "Angry should be an understatement, Hiyori, and I'm going to do everything I can to make you know I'm not leaving, not ever again. I'm not living without you and Yukine ever again." He took a deep breath before releasing her wrist to let that hand touch her face. "Hell, I'd ask you to marry me right now if I thought you'd say yes."

Her eyes widened and the soft smile faltered on her lips. "You think I'd say no?"

"You're not ready," Yato smiled wanly. "And that's my fault. Like you said, I have to fix this. I know I've joked about it but you should know that's what's in my mind, in my heart. Remember when you asked me what I wanted?"

Her mind settled on the memory, her mouth pushing out his old words, "You wanted to be good enough to deserve me."

"I'm still working on that," his voice cracked before he cleared his throat, trying to push the emotion away for now. "And I know it doesn't excuse it but leaving helped me do the things I needed to in order to really start that. I can be here for you, for Yukine now. I can take care of both of you. I'm even going to go with Yukine to that guy your mom suggested."

"Dr. Maeda?" Hiyori blinked. "You mean you're going to talk to him, too?"

"Kind of made a deal with Yukine," Yato shrugged.

Hiyori stared at him, studying that hopeful look that was starting to soften his eyes. "Will you tell me what you did? While you were gone, that is."

Yato's stomach started to knot but he had to start settling on her knowing everything, on Hiyori being aware of all the parts of him. "If you really want to know."

"And you're sure… Yukine said it should be safe now," her lips pressed together in a thin line as if to hold back more to that sentence.

This was the conundrum, wasn't it? And again his mind blinked back to that one missing link. Every part of him was aching to lie, to assure her that this, wrapped together in bed in love with each other, was all the future had in store for them. "Nora's alive. I don't know what that means, but she's out there."

The line of her lips trembled and Hiyori tried as hard as she could to bite back the tears. "So that means you not leaving, that could be a lie and-"

"No," Yato's voice boomed over their old whispers. "I'm not doing that anymore. If she comes here if she tries anything…" He thought to edit himself but that old Yaboku still shared some of his mind. "I'll kill her. I'm done hesitating. I won't play games that put you and Yukine at risk."

It felt like a tug of war in her heart between the fear and the adoration, the want to be with him and the insecurity of still not knowing exactly what he was at any given moment. His words there seemed so ugly, but at the same time were a kind of promise that she had asked for: the security that he wouldn't leave. Her mind could produce nothing other than honesty, "I don't like that you said that."

"I know," he replied quickly. "But it's the reality. That's why… that's why I thought maybe it was better for you if we didn't…" he sighed and ran a hand over his face before continuing, "I talk a lot about being good enough for you but I should probably ask if you want me to even bother. What I did, what I might have to continue doing, it's messy and I don't think my life will ever be easy and comfortable. I'll have to say and do ugly things, hopefully not as much, fuck, hopefully never, but the reality is I'm going to always be part Yaboku."

Hiyori felt the rest of the glow of the moment rushing away and her nakedness suddenly becoming vulnerability instead of comfort. There was a very real possibility that she could let herself weaken at that moment, give in to fear and that natural human wants for normalcy but instead she collapsed forward, pressing to him for that familiar warmth as she hid her face in the crux of his neck. Without hesitation, Yato wrapped both arms around her, letting one trail down her back while the other tangled in her hair. "You're what I want. The rest that comes with it… I'll have to learn to deal with it."

Yato sighed long and hard as her chest bobbed along with his. "There's a part of me that wishes you'd give up, Hiyori, but the louder, selfish part of me is the happiest man alive right now."

"Wanting love isn't selfish, Yato," she murmured.

"It is when it costs the other person everything," he sighed as his hand tangled in her hair again, real possibilities playing in his head. "What are you going to do about school? About your career? Last I knew you weren't planning on living here but Sayuri made it sound like you, me, and Yukine were going to be a happy little family in this house from now on."

Hiyori lifted her head to stare at those bright blue eyes of his, to catch his gaze that didn't necessarily want to look at her. "There's a hospital nearby. I've already gotten a job there and I start Monday."

Yato's eyes rolled as if the conversation was painful, his voice came out hoarse, "But school-"

"I told you, I'm still decided what I want so a year of work won't kill me." Hiyori's eyes trailed away, focusing on her fingers grazing his bare chest. "And I want you to put serious thought into what you want to do. I'm sure there are odd jobs around here, too, but you're… maybe free isn't the right word."

"Maybe that'll be something I figure out with the shrink," he gave a rueful laugh. His voice was quieter this time, tip-toeing a line in his own heart, "But you're going to live here with me? The two of us together every day like this? I'd make a cute little quip about mommy, daddy, and baby Yukine but I'm sure he'd know about it and come for me."

That brought a laugh to her lips and she brought her sparkling eyes to his as his hand grazed her cheek. "Yes, if you'll let me."

"Like I could say no," he laughed softly before nipping at her lip. This kiss took time, Yato searching her mouth to taste the hopeful promises she was making to him. It was divine, her taste and the feeling of her skin against his creating a kind of elation he'd never experienced before. This was safety, the kind that you find in the steadiness of a love that wasn't anywhere close to ending.

Yato's back and side felt like a kerosene fire but that wasn't an excuse to stop his fight with stump leftover from a withered old unidentifiable bush that was making his new yard too ugly to bear. If he had actually stopped moving and tried to reflect here, he would see that this was simply him struggling against this new free time, the new life he's made here, and losing to it. The stump wasn't necessarily ugly, just an excuse to not spend his time working on what he was supposed to be: himself, and by extension, his relationships.

"You need a mattock for that." Yato whipped around too quickly to follow the voice, feeling the pain rear up in his side. His knees crumpled and he took a hard seat on his ass, eyes squinting up painfully at the older man's face hovering over the hedge. "Didn't mean to frighten you."

"Easily frightened," Yato breathed between his teeth. As the wave of pain subsided Yato attempted a smile, watching as the other man seemed unconvinced, "What's a mattock?"

"Like an ax but made for stumps. Mr. Kimura should have one, two doors down." He jutted his chin in the direction of their eastern neighbors before reaching up a hand to resettle the glasses that had slipped on the bridge of his nose with the action.

"Thanks, uh…"

The man rested an arm on the hedge, his hand extended towards Yato. "Abe Shohei. And you are?"

They shook quickly, Yato once again chiding himself on the sweaty nature of his palms. "Iki Yato," the lie felt warm on his lips. He'd adopted many last names in his life, wearing them like some women do hair colors but borrowing hers made his stomach flip.

"Iki…" Shohei pondered over it, sending Yato into a spiral of fear. "The old woman who used to live here, her daughter married into that family, right?"

"Ah, yeah, yes," Yato was quickly trying to piece together another lie.

"So you're her son, then?"

Yato's mouth moved too quickly, "No."

"Then…?"

"Hiyori's her daughter." He wished his foot would fly directly into his mouth. Did almost dying turn my brain to mush? You should have just said yes! Idiot, idiot, idiot-

Shohei frowned before shrugging it off with a laugh, "So strange how this generation sometimes takes the wife's last name."

My wife! With that the old Yato seemed to settle in, telling one of those easy good-for-business lies, the kind that placated people into trust. "You see, when we got engaged, this old fortune-teller told us that my last name would bring bad luck, some business about the kanji and stars and all that, and Hiyori's just so superstitious that, well, who was I to say no?"

Shohei grunted a laugh in reply before eyeing Yato's work. "Your mother-in-law gave you the place, then?"

"Just letting us stay here while we get settled," Yato's mind continued to scramble. "I have my brother to take care of. You've probably seen him. Yukine."

He pondered this before nodding, "The blond boy, right?"

"Yeah, half-brother," Yato shrugged the comparison off. "My mother passed and, well, I'm the only family he's got left."

"Sorry to hear that," came along with the commiserative head nod.

Why don't you tell him your birthday and your social security number, too? His mind snapped at him, but he had to convince himself this was still falling into the good-for-business lie territory, setting up a backstory for the trusty neighborhood hired hand. "So we're staying here, for now, until I guess we get things figured out. Hiyori's working over at the Nakamura Hospital and I'm… working on this stump for now."

"Well, there's plenty of work if you're good with your hands," Shohei offered jovially.

Those words were music to Yato's ears, his lies all dominoing him into this perfect position, back to odd jobs, back to at least the only comfortable part of his old, bordering-Yaboku life. "I sure am. You let me know what you need doing and I'll do it. You can spread that around, too."

"Well, get that mattock from Kimura and we'll talk." Shohei took a long, reading gaze over him. "But with your side as it is, I'd take it easy for at least another week."

Yato's taste for lies suddenly went bitter, little to no explanation coming freely to his mind for the wound. "Yeah, I'm still technically supposed to be recovering."

"You do that first," Shohei nodded towards the stump. "Let that wait."

"Yes, sir," Yato bowed his head to emphasize the respect in those words. When he raised his head again the man was gone, leaving Yato scratching his head between the hedge and the stump. He lifted his shirt, using it to mop the sweat from his brow that had accumulated regardless of the slight chill that wasn't ready to give way to spring. Before he could go back to stabbing at the stump with his shovel he heard her soft footsteps, her head sticking through the screen he'd left open.

"What are you doing?" Hiyori narrowed her eyes.

"Something I shouldn't be," he muttered before tossing the shovel aside. "How was work?"

"Oh, busy, the weather's changing, so everyone's got that little beginning of spring cold," Hiyori was tired but could still manage a laugh at the predictability of people.

The laugh caught in her throat as he firmly wrapped his arms around her, hands instantly slipping under the hem of her shirt. "I talked to the neighbor today."

"Mr. Abe?"

Yato raised an eyebrow at her. "You know him?"

"Barely, maybe met him a few times when I was here with grandma, but he seemed nice enough." Hiyori reached up and cleared some of the hair from his forehead, grimacing a little at the sweat.

Her touch should have brought his eyes to hers but instead, they fluttered around the room, trying to find somewhere else to be other than her gaze. "I may have… told him we were married."

"Oh?" Hiyori laughed.

"Well, you know the older crowd. It's easier for them to think we married young that we're living in sin." He let out a weak laugh but still couldn't look at her, hating the fact that he knew he was blushing at the thought of it.

"So a better-for-business lie," she giggled again, turning the pink on his face red. "Not just wishful thinking?"

"Hiyori…" He couldn't let her laugh about that, capturing her lips for a lingering moment because sometimes it did feel like it was the only thing on his mind. "I meant it. I'll ask when you're ready."

"How do you think you'll know when that is?" she murmured.

He couldn't stop his hand from shaking as he removed it from her shirt and brought it to her face, smudging her cheek as he caressed with his fingers. "I think I'll just know." There was no better way to describe it since he could swear he still felt hesitation in her touch or the way she seemed to grab on to him at night as if his body were to disappear at any moment. "Or you could make it easy on me and tell me."

She smiled but let the comment drop, leaving a heavy pause between the two of them. "I guess it's just practice for now."

"Practice," he echoed before moving his head to press his lips against the nape of her neck.

"Yato…" Hiyori let a hand tangle in his hair.

"Come help me wash up," he breathed against her neck.

Hiyori went stiff, her hands instantly falling to his shoulders to pull him away. "Does your side hurt that badly?"

Yato had no control over the chuckle that her concern elicited, even when he got a frown in return. "No, just a thinly disguised request for you to undress me while I do the same for you."

"Yukine," Hiyori started.

And Yato finished, "Is at the doctor for another half hour. So we can't waste any more time." Without any prompting from her, Yato moved his hands back to her waist, leading her back down the hallway, those little echoes of wife and practice driving him forward.