Disclaimers: Noragami is still a property of Adaichitoka, Kodansha, Kotaro Tamura, Studio Bones, and Funimation. I can't even afford the rights on my salary alone. Also, any similarities to future events are still not intentional in any way, shape, or form because as a human, I am unable to predict the future.

In all honesty, I have purposely not read the latest chapter so it would not throw off my groove writing this chapter. After publishing this, I will have read it. If you listen carefully, you can hear me sobbing because a little bird told me that it was a tear-jerker.

No new fonts this time, and they are just the same as they have always been.

The full chapter title is Chapter 6: Fractured Masquerade-Standing At The Palace Entrance

Have fun because the next chapter is going to hurt!

Mirrors never used to faze Hiyori. Her earliest memory of them was as a wide-eyed toddler, so astonished to see another person mimicking her every move. Whenever one of her parents held her up in proximity to one or her waddling legs happened to walk past, she would scream her lungs out, hoping that this strange person that looked like her would just go away. Once she grew to understand that was not the case, she became more enthralled, imagining a parallel world beyond the glass where she didn't have to worry about reality. The years passed, and she threw aside that childhood dream for more practical usages, whether it was to fix her hair or brush her teeth. Now, at the age of sixteen, she had a new perspective on mirrors. It wasn't just the fact that her nightmare was the direct cause, although she could say that it amplified it, but that a mirror revealed and expected too much. She didn't want to see how swollen her eyes actually were, or what sadness lurked into the corners of her mouth from those futile days and restless nights. For the sake of guarding herself, she turned away from her symmetric portrait when she could, or kept a distance when it was required to see. In her opinion, it was a test to see how weak she was, how far she could break, and she didn't want to take it.

Tonight proved a lot, about mirrors, about having the strength to face her fears when she didn't want to, and about so much more. But it was that one moment when she dared to stare back at her reflection that changed it all. With the enhancement of lunar light, the image cast back someone she would not have recognized if she didn't already have an inkling that it was her. There might have been a few places where the fabric could have been adjusted better. Despite that, the snowy kosode wasn't loose on her shoulders, the scarlet band of the hakama tightened around her waist firmly, and the embroidered chihaya draped over her left shoulder as if it was always meant to go there, always meant to be worn at all times.

In other words, it was her exact measurements, which made it so much harder for her to accept that she deserved them from her beloved grandmother. Not only that, there was no wear, tear, or any deformity that could date any single thread woven carefully into the fabric as if they were just made the very same day. They were neither too layered to be stuffy or too thin to be shivering. If they were, there was no need. The cooling moisturization that invigorated her the moment she put them on balanced perfectly with the fire in her heart. Twirling whimsically with her other self, the looseness of the pant legs and sleeves molded and swished around her body's outline. When she paused from getting too dizzy, they briefly billowed up before settling back down in place. With her added knowledge, she should know better than not to say they were made by a divine hand. She just couldn't bring herself to admit it in order to silence the memory of the day where similar robes were made by the one she truly cared about.

And her hair! Oh, where to even start with that! Her hair never appeared glossier or longer in her entire life, which, after further examination, was similar to the pictures of the women in her history textbook. They had the most lustrous, ebony locks that reached down to their backs to signify their wealth, prosperity, and beauty. Right now, she was entranced that such a silkiness that was unlike anything she ever felt before even existed.

Of course, physical attributes weren't the only thing that was observed by her, no matter how mesmerizing. On that part of the night, her confidence could soar up to that stormy sky where she could boast with the splendor of the full moon. Pressing the glass with the pads of her right-hand fingertips and then back to the center point of a forming dimple, she wondered why it hurt to view and touch a smile that could have encircled the Earth twice. It almost seemed like she forgot all the misery she went through tonight. Almost. For that one bit of bliss, she was eternally glowing both inside and out that the line between a human and a god crossed boundaries, that she herself could rival and transcend them in all their glory.

In the present, she didn't blame herself for being so intrigued by the sight. It attempted to fill a void that was packed with exponential sorrow. Remembering back on how everything that night built up, however, was a different story. For the reward of healing herself, that slight boost to her spirits cost a swifter solution and almost formulated a demise. Had things gone through their course, she would have never forgiven herself for as long as she lived. She didn't want to be vulnerable because of her nightmares, but that level of thinking opened up a whole new set of weaknesses that she did not identify until they jumped back in her face. Why did she have to be so unsatisfied? If her future self could scream at her, they would tell her to turn away and walk back to the room, that being awake didn't protect her from the real nightmare that was to come.

Yet, she didn't. It all started with sudden prickling that ate away at her, signaling that something was odd and leading into a frantic check of each outfit part for certainty. Usually, there were ribbons that she was supposed to wear in a low ponytail, but she didn't expect such small scraps of fabric to last forever. No, this was an entirely different sensation. The picture that the article showed looked similar to this, but for the love of life, she could not figure out what could be out of place. She had all three pieces with her, so how could she say something was missing? What was it that prompted her to want more than what she saw?

A chanced glance to her left rested her wandering eyes on the space by her box where she placed the inherited weapon before. At that moment, the pain in her chest disappeared as she drew back to gather up the desired objects and mirror herself once more, the bow in her left and an arrow that she pulled from the stand in her right. Walking back to the mirror, she was spellbound to connect the weapons just as they were usually used. Somehow, she knew precisely how she was supposed to be postured, where to place her left hand in the grove of bamboo, how closely the weapon should be near her face, and where to connect the arrow end to effortlessly pull back the string. Surprised that her fingers weren't strained in the process, it shouldn't be possible that she would be an expert at this right from the get-go.

Once she was nearing the limit to how much the string could bend to, she became closer to striking down the image of herself if she let go. Before her, a mirage materialized as if the bow and arrow were growing to their full length the more she tugged the string. Then again, there must have been some dust in her eyes, for there was no way that they could be so naturally measured for her weak upper-arm strength if they were their right size. If she had this much hidden-skill before, she probably would try her chances for the Kyudo club next year. This seems like it was-

As soon as she hit the point where she could no longer persuade the string, a moving picture bombarded her mind, focusing on a few aspects at first, and then multiplying frequently. The few faces shown were left as blank as a slate, hiding the truth that could have been made clear. It was true that she couldn't name everything that was occurring, but the ones she could focus on left an impact that she would carry throughout her whole life.

A lavish feast with its joyous patrons cheering on how splendid the occasion was...

Footsteps scurrying away in the darkness on country roads...

A woman shaking her head as if she deserved better after shattering a bowl of food to pieces…

Flames that reached up to the screaming roof-top...

A long climb of steps to a building...

Heaps of straw that scattered all over...

A hand offering the comb only to be closed softly by another...

A half-finished piece on a weaving loom...

An arrow crossing paths with a shooting star to cut across the half-moon...

A whispered embrace of navy, white, and vermilion...

The backs of two silhouettes resting their heads side by side with the setting sun...

Water gathered in a muddy-colored pot...

The unravelment of crimson and white ribbons and the escape of wooden shoes...

A first-person view of pounding fists that wanted to get out...

Which were getting louder...

And faster...

And sharper...

Before she could have a chance to decipher these visions that danced before her, she awoke by the reemerging sounds of crashes and pounds that were not only a part of the flashback. Startled by this sudden turn of events, she almost triggered the weapon to shoot, catching the slippage of her fingers just in time. After disarming them, she joined both arrow and bow together in her dominant hand. Any thought of those items being accurate to their measure was long gone as they remained as they were initially found, possibly a little shorter. Ever so often, indiscernible yells and deep panting would mix into the increasing thumps.

The plan to put away her grandmother's gifts before her parents discovered would have to be further delayed. Denial is not an option anymore when the seemingly impossible is confirmed. The god was still in her room, and it sounded like she was in distress from the noises. Shoot! Why did she run out without paying her?! Since she was the one who granted her wish, did she expect her to leave without that? How could she be so stupid with all her experience dealing with one like her? Now, the god was in a situation that wouldn't have happened had she just had a little more bravery from the start. But...how was she even going to repay her at all? It was bad enough that she ended up in debt with the god of poverty, worse that she would start over that debt with only a few coins left. Did she trust herself to lose everything she had for a wish she didn't even have the chance to speak out? What was she to do if she ended up rejecting the payment? It wasn't like she charged the same rates as him. Oh, couldn't just one-

Wait. If she was here, then she had an opportunity to get information from her, especially concerning how she could vanquish these dreams of hers. It might seem impulsive and probably not the best plan on her part, but as she looked down at the bow she held, she didn't have a lot of options. If she weren't upheld by the promise on the sheet, then she would be more than happy to give away the comb, clothes, or weaponry. Since she didn't want to be haunted for the rest of her life for doing so, it was time to get creative. She may not trust her, but the god did save her life, and she had to reimburse what she could to make up for the lack of money that she currently possessed by her newly-found talent of the bow. She might fail, but she'd forgive herself even less if she failed without trying. Grandmother wanted her to protect the ones she loved, but when her life was on the rocks, she believed she missed her shot. All was lost when no one else would answer her in her time of need, but it was wrong to follow that notion. This time, she was going to come to them. By then, she'll be one step closer to being the bulwark that he would never want to leave, and the girl who didn't need special powers to help someone. All she needed to succeed was Amaterasu's support when she saved her, and no one would possibly refuse her once more.

As she turned around to nod gratitude at her sleeping grandmother, she once again went through the mess with a different purpose in mind. Storming the short distance with the weapon in hand, she went back to the place she never thought she would come back to at all: her current living situation, her room. Her back against the wall closest to the closed threshold, she redrew her newly acquired gear at an acute downward angle to her left. Yeah, that's right. They weren't weird like before, so it most likely had to be something that her mind invented. In the same motion, she attempted to maneuver her right socked foot to slide open the door that covered the harsh voices overcome with the continuing lashes against the floor and walls. Before her foot could pry open even a thin slit, however, a velvety richness wheezed out as the collisions started to dissipate.

"-owe you nothing?! How dare you state that as fact, Your Excellency! There was no one at fault that day, none at all!" Immediate rationality was then regained in the vibration of their speech. "And if you were to place the blame on anyone, then I welcome it because I chose to defend you instead, the one who owes everything and anything for you. If you think that I'm going to leave you in your state and let history repeat itself once again, I-"

Who's that? I don't remember there being someone- Her thoughts were jumbled as she listened, but were then intruded by another who radiated in authority, herself keeping silent as both voices persisted in their discourse that she didn't dare interrupt.

"If you don't go now, then you won't be able to get there in time." The resonance was a sternness so frigid that the room could frost over the outside if it wasn't reheated by a searing flame right after. "Please, trust me. Stop fighting that which is my own responsibility!"

However, the first party seemed to brittlely disagree with their decision. "It shouldn't be at all! Do you think I don't know what you are planning? Nothing has changed, has it?!" Their words started to break down in muffled sobs, moving the heart of the girl to undraw the defense she didn't need anymore. "Please, I want to be by your side no matter what! I barely survived the last time, and I cannot go through it again, Miya! I can't! Even if it costs my own life, I need to be here." The same movements after she was released from the Ayakashi by the god were all too clear to her when someone else made them.

"You know why I brought you and only you here? Because I knew that you would understand why I'm doing this, and because I trust you to be my one enduring strength." Rustling movements made their way across the room for reassurance and sympathy before they settled softly to the ground. "Yet, I can't let you be my replacement any longer. No form of repayment I can give to you or you can give to me can stop this situation all the same. The others are waiting. Go."

"But what if-"

The voice laced with power matched a soothing intensity, "I am neither helpless nor alone. However, if it alleviates you, I swear that I will not come back empty-handed this time." Even so, that did not hide the faint laments they held as they persevered. "If I appear to break this promise, well, it's not like I can consider myself 'someone' at this point, correct? This isn't just a suggestion; this is a command to my shinki, to someone I deem as family. Ebisu and the others are waiting. When I return with the signal, there is no turning back."

The more masculine voice exhaled forlornly before reverting to a submissive tone, "Obedience to you is of a higher rank than your protection. I will heed by your orders as I always have before, Your Excellency, because I swore to serve under the name you granted me. My most humble apologies if I offended you."

Slow shuffling proceeded one by one until they finally stopped in place. Under the slight crevice below the door, a flash of light shone its diffraction before vanishing from her sight. Whoever or whatever was having a tense conversation with the god was gone before she could even place a face on them. Too many questions swam across her mind. How were they both so familiar with each other, especially by him calling her Miya? What did she mean by not coming back empty-handed, and why did he so easily back down when it didn't seem like he was going to? Is it possible to wonder about this so much when they were practically strangers to her? None of this made sense.

It continued in that manner when she shifted her eyes back to the hand she placed the weapons together earlier, almost jumping when they were both the size of the ruler she used for math class. Apparently, she was wrong to assume that they didn't change their size, but at least it was convenient that they were small enough to tuck behind her. Since her plan did not go accordingly, it would be rude if she were to go barging in with it when the "danger" had left. She desperately did not want to make the wrong impression with a powerful god in the room, never foreseeing that the angle she stashed them behind would sour their whole conversation. At the time, she only stressed the fact that she would have to give up the three coins not spent, and that was her intent when she discreetly slid open the door with her hands instead, turning around to make sure that it closed behind her when she passed through the opening. She never anticipated that by pivoting around, she would witness such a solemn moment. As the god made no indication she was there, one of her celestial hands pressed against the window as she looked up at a point in the night, her voice a breathy, woeful prayer.

"I'm sorry, but I have to try once again. Hopefully, you won't have to carry this burden like last time. If I fall, then maybe it will be worth it when you rise in a world where you are happier."

There were only a few feet between them, but they might as well have been miles away, provoking Hiyori to wish that she wasn't so careful coming in. No use wasting a second to have this discussion, so she might as well get over it. Moving so she was halfway between the door and the seemingly unaware god, she had to break the silence they were separated by. Beginning with two bows and two claps of her hands following after, she spared no effort calling the god to converse, praising her with reverent gratitude so she could fulfill her own desires.

The minute she started to kneel into prostration was the minute when the god finally turned around and acknowledged her. Two girls, with the masks they'd crafted for the world, hoped that those masks would be enough to hide the faces they would never show to anyone, never predicting that they would crack under pressure.

"Welcome back, but there's no need."

A/N: I know I said I was going to post last week, and that was the plan last Saturday. However, everything changed when my computer decided to not save all my edits, causing me to redo everything. Another reason was that I have written an extended author's note with source hyperlinks on my Tumblr (yatoholmes), which took some time getting ready because it was a lot of research. It's up right now, so check it out.

The most difficult part was writing the bow and arrow parts. I have tried the best I could from what I researched, but knowing me, it would probably be rewritten.

I have said it on Tumblr, but I am going to repeat it here as well because it is important to say it twice. Amaterasu and Mitsurugi are not in a romantic relationship. They are like family. They never were, and they never will be in that kind of relationship. If there was one thing I have to be firm on in this story, it's that.

Let's talk about something lighter, which is the fact that we finally get to see the first glimpses of Amaterasu's characterization in this story! I haven't read everything when it comes to Noragami fanfiction, but I have read enough to say that there isn't a lot that people do with Amaterasu's character. Even though we don't have a lot of information on her now, I find this sad because there's so much potential with a character like her. The same goes for Mitsurugi too because of his position in the written Japanese mythology. This changes tonight with this chapter, and it will continue to change as the story progresses.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and that it was interesting to read. I now join my fellow soldiers in reading the latest chapter of Noragami. See you next time!