As Bishamon pulled Yato towards the cop car, Hiyori and Kazuma watched him stumble. The King tipped over, falling to his side with only Bishamon preventing any more damage. Kazuma shouted his name while Hiyori ran forward and dropped to her knees. Brushing his bangs out of the way, Hiyori saw Yato's eyes were still open but unfocused. He was breathing heavily and very pale. Hiyori shook his shoulders and tried calling his name, pulling his arm up. He groaned and half tried to help, half fought her, eventually passing out completely.
"Help me get him up," Bishamon ducked low and put Yatos arm over her shoulder. Hiyori did the same and the women lifted Yato off the ground. Yukine ran around to the other side of the car and helped Yato in.
"Viina, I have to-"
"-Just go," Bishamon waved Kazuma off, watching the man dash into the car and speed away with sirens blazing.
It was hard to keep the car straight when he kept looking in the mirror at Yato. Hiyori cradled the back of his head and pressed her shock blanket to his wound. Yukine tossed his blanket over Yato's torso, holding a hand over Yato's chest and pressing his forehead to Yato's shoulder. Ebisu came up on the horizon, glowing like a utopia and untouched by the violence from it's neighbor.
Screeching to a stop, Kazuma shut the siren off and let Yato be taken away in a wheelchair. Inside, the hospital was bustling, handful of bikers coming in like a wave. The three were directed to the waiting room, finding seats far against the wall. By now, it was way past dinner time but Kazuma managed to snag Yukine a sandwich and Hiyori a bag of chips from the cafeteria. Handing them each a bottle of water.
"Are you with the head injury that just came in?" A nurse walked up to them.
"Yes, and I'm his emergency contact," Kazuma said.
"Excellent," the man handed Kazuma a clipboard, "please fill this out and bring it to the desk." The nurse gave him a pen and hustled away.
"Are you really his emergency contact?" Hiyori asked.
"Yes. I'm also his accountant and I do his taxes," Kazuma smiled slightly as he filled out the paper. Blinking, Hiyori read the top line again.
"Yaboku Ayakashi?" She tested with surprise.
"I'm pretty sure he was going to legally change it," Kazuma hummed, "but didn't. I only know about it because he got really drunk one time; and because of, you know, the taxes." Kazuma shrugged. Next to him, this new piece of information got Yukine's attention. The kid leaned forward and scanned the sheet. Yato had mentioned the last name, but that was before Yukine started living above The Lucky Lady. But Yato's full name was a shocker.
"Is that gonna be my last name too?" Yukine asked after a moment. Smiling again, Kazuma just shrugged.
"Maybe. You can always change it whenever." With that, Kazuma got up to return the paperwork and Yukine fell back into his chair.
"Would you want to change your name?" Hiyori asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Yukine grumbled and crossed his arms, "but first I'm gonna let him have it! Attacking someone with a loaded gun and not telling me his name. The jerk." Yukine hmphed and slipped lower in his chair, Hiyori giggling at his pout. Someone snuck up beside Hiyori, brushing against her arm as they sat. She remembered Kouto and let out a yelp, whirling in her chair.
"Ahh?" Kiun gurgled back, equally startled.
"K-Kiun?" Hiyori breathed and sank back in her chair slowly. She had to consciously unhook her fingers from the arms of the chair and remembered to give an apologetic smile to onlookers.
"Miss Iki," he nodded slightly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"No, no. That's okay. I think I'm just still shaken up," Hiyori said. Next to her, Yukine peaked out.
"You could have said something!" Yukine whispered. Kiun ducked his head to be at eye-level with Yukine.
"Sorry, your highness," Kiun whispered back in all seriousness. A fierce blush spread across Yukine's face like a wildfire and he quickly sat back.
"Don't-! I'm not-!" Yukine's sputtering stopped as Kazuma came back and raised a brow.
"Are you two alright?" The officer looked between them after sharing a quick nod with Kiun.
"Y-yes! Kiun just scared me, that's all," Hiyori waved him off as he sat back in his seat.
"Are you hurt, Kiun?" Kazuma asked, looking the man up and down.
"No, not me," Kiun said, "Take was one of the first people to get hurt. One of Mr. Tajima's bullets grazed his side. Even so, he wanted to make sure all the police and masks were cleared out before he came. I just dropped him off." Kiun finished with a yawn. At some point during his explanation, the same nurse came over to give him a clipboard, but Kiun just set it down.
"I'm sorry," Yukine muttered towards Kiun with his head down. Hiyori and Kazuma gave him looks of pity but Kiun just stared with a blank look. The man suddenly perked up like he just figured out a math problem.
"Oh! No, I didn't mean you, Yukine," Kiun cocked his head with a polite smile, "I was talking about your father." His eyes closed with his smile and he missed the other three flinch. They quickly fell into silence, Kazuma anxiously eying the empty clipboard next to Kiun while the biker stared into space. The nurse came up to them again, smiling slightly at Yukine.
"Are you guys," the nurse paused and checked his papers, "Mr. Ayakashi's visitors?"
"Yes we are," Hiyori said and sat up straighter.
"If you would come with me, please," he asked. Hiyori and Yukine stood and gathered their untouched food. Kazuma remained seated and gave them a nervous smile.
"I think I'll stay here and help Kiun fill out his papers, if you don't mind," Kazuma informed the group, already scooting closer to the man.
"Huh?" Kuin faced Kazuma, "My what?"
"Right. Okay," Hiyori gave a dry laugh and nudged Yukine after the nurse. They went up one floor and were walked to the end of one of the halls.
"The doctor will be with you in a moment," the nurse said. Yukine walked in first then stopped.
"There's no one in here!" Yukine said loudly, whirling around to look at the nurse. Hustling past him, the nurse pulled out another clipboard from the end of the first bed, reading it over.
"It says the patient was brought in for a CAT scan," the nurse calmly explained, "he should be back in a couple minutes." The nurse flashed Yukine what was supposed to be a comforting smile before bustling out the door. The hospital was busy after all. While waiting, Yukine asked what and why Yato might need a CAT scan and Hiyori sugarcoated all the answers. Hopefully it was nothing. After about a half hour, Yato was wheeled in on a wheelchair, looking more awake. Another nurse and doctor following.
"Hey," he quietly greeted with a smile, still looking unfocused.
"Yato! Are you okay?" Yukine got up and helped the nurse put him in bed while the doctor shook Hiyori's hand.
"It takes more than that to keep me down! I'll be out in no time!" Yato shouted at Yukine with a toothy smile. He was shushed by Yukine and the nurse.
"We immediately bandaged his ear, then did a quick check-up and asked Mr. Ayakashi some questions. It was clear his head was the biggest concern, he showed symptoms of internal bleeding and we worried he might have a skull fracture or bruising. He does have a concussion but it appears mild," the doctor wrote on the clipboard as she spoke, placing it at the foot of his bed, "we won't know for sure until the test results come back. We bandaged his ear and cleaned all the blood. He's on pain meds, but he will still be hurting and showing symptoms like nausea and blurry vision. From what he's said, his ribs might be hurt, but they didn't feel broken. It sounds like he passed out more due to blood loss in addition to the head injury. So for now, rest, and try to test his memory." The doctor took in a breath after an explanation. After accepting their thanks, she promised she would be back with the test results and left with the nurse.
"How are you feeling, Yato?" Hiyori pulled a chair up next to the bed and spoke low.
"Oh I'm fine," Yato said, "just got one hell of a headache."
"You were really bloody," Yukine swallowed from his chair on the other side, "Are you sure you're okay? That stuff sounded serious."
"Well, like the lady said, I lost more blood than I realised. My first hit to the head was just a scratch but I hit the pavement kinda hard. Then the bullet drew even more blood so," Yato explained calmly, but he was looking off somewhere by his feet.
"Is that where the bullet hit you? The ear?" Hiyori said. It struck her as odd the doctor mentioned his ear, she figured he must have cut it on some glass. When she looked to Yukine, he didn't say anything.
"I guess so. I think it skimmed my ear and scalp," Yato yawned, "kinda a blur."
"A blurr? You don't remember?" Yukine panicked. The thought of Yato forgetting him, or forgetting what Yato did for him, was painful. Yato winced at the sudden loud noise and blinked before consoling him.
"I remember, don't worry. It just all happened so fast, but I really am fine," Yato insisted. Yukine and Hiyori sighed in relief but weren't totally convinced. Just to be sure, the three pieced together their sides of the event. It truly was terrifying. Yato speculated Kouto had all the masks posted somewhere they wouldn't be suspicious- like the rest stop a decent distance from town- while the three that chased them were watching to see when Yato would move. At some point, Kazuma walked in and just listened quietly.
"But how did he know we were going to leave town?" Hiyori thought with slight embarrassment.
"He probably didn't," Yato sighed, "he was counting on me going to see Mr. Tajima." He yawned and shimmied down into his bed. Hiyori let out a melancholy hum, neither of them noticed the kid's fist shaking in rage.
"You left town again?" Yukine hissed.
"Just to the ridge!" Hiyori quickly corrected, "We wanted to eat there cause it was too hot upstairs!" She sensed Yukine's rising aggravation and wanted to quickly diffuse it.
"What about your real name, huh?" Yukine provoked.
"I give you my credit card like all the time," Yato replied, looking more aware of Yukine's anger.
"It doesn't say 'Yaboku' on it, you idiot!" Yukine stood, "Don't you think that would have been important to tell me?" His voice was starting to raise and Hiyori put her hands up to pacify him.
"Yukine this is a hospital," Kazuma harshly whispered.
"My name is Yato," Yato said seriously, "in every way. I like and use that name. 'Yaboku' is what my dad named me but I don't use it anywhere except on paper. I keep meaning to change it, though." He muttered the last part causing Yukine's teeth to grind.
"Don't you think, if things like this happen to us a lot, that was something you should have told me?" The kid growled.
"You're right, I'm sorry," Yato apologized sleepily. He really did look sorry, but the kid still simmered.
"Yeah, whatever," Yukine stood with a huff, "I'm going to see if the cafeteria's open." Despite his anger, Yukine pushed his chair out silently. Just as he was leaving the room, someone else was wheeled in.
"Yukine?" Take jolted back in his wheelchair, "then that means?"
"Hello roomie," Yato gave a lazy wave that Take tsked at. The nurse wheeled him to the other bed next to the window, Kiun following. They got him settled, Yato watching Yukine leave the room until the nurse blocked his view.
"Visiting hours are ending soon. You may come back at 11," the nurse said. The room thanked her as she walked out, not even two seconds later, the doctor walked in.
"Okay Mr. Ayakashi, I'm here with your test results."
"And?" Kazuma leaned forward.
"In addition to your concussion, you have bruising on your cerebellum and your occipital lobe. There are no cracks or internal bleeding, which is great, however we will have to look at your ribs tomorrow. It's definitely possible they are fractured or bruised. Is there any pain in that area?"
"Just the bone," Yato mumbled.
"Well, then it sounds like your other injuries will require absolute rest," she smiled, "we'll keep you here overnight and watch your ear and head for infection." She nodded to Yato and made her way out again. The group let out a collective sigh, resting in quiet for a bit.
"I'm going to go get Yukine," Hiyori stood after a couple minutes. Yato mumbled something at her, a thank you or encouragement, and Hiyori looked at him. Even though he smiled, his eyes were droopy and hazy, his skin pale. The medication was most likely making him lethargic, but his head would be killing him otherwise. She wondered how his vision was. Without thinking, and ignoring everyone else in the room, Hiyori stepped forward and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
"You always seem to get off with just some scratches," Kazuma chuckled a little, watching the teacher quickly walk out of the room without a glance back.
"It's cause I'm The King," Yato said, "What about you?"
"I'm alright. They followed me till I ran out of gas, but I just went back to the police station and showed who I was. They hightailed it home and by the time I got to The Lucky Lady, everything was just about over," he narrowed his eyes, "You owe me one. I'm going to have to explain to Viina why I just disappeared in the middle of dispatching backup."
"You're the best!" Yato grinned. They rested in silence as Take's doctor came in, giving him a much shorter run down of his injuries. This was hardly the first time Take was slashed, he made this perfectly clear.
"Anything from Yukine or Hiyori?" Yato asked Kazuma as he looked at his phone.
"Yeah, Hiyori found him. He's still upset with you but he tried to come back up. Unfortunately they're starting to turn away visitors. That must be my cue to leave," Kazuma stood with a wave to Take and Kiun.
"Do you need a ride?" he asked Kiun.
"No, I have a car, thank you."
"You'll come and visit me tomorrow, won't you Kazuma?" Yato purred, his friend rolling his eyes.
"Yes, yes. Probably not till my lunch break," Kazuma sighed at the thought of not seeing sleep until tomorrow night. He made his way out of the room with Kiun, knowing that once he was out of ear-shot the gods would begin their more serious discussion.
The elevator opened to a fairly empty lobby. There was only one woman behind the desk and three other people in the waiting area. Hiyori sat with Yukine on a couch, clearly in a hushed conversation. Clearing his throat, Kazuma announced his presence, Kiun quickly saying goodbye and leaving.
"Hiyori was just telling me what the doctor said," Yukine muttered to the floor.
"It's really not bad," Kazuma tried to say, "he's been shot before and his outer-ear won't mess with his hearing." It was hard to keep up a smile when Yukine kept his face down and walked towards the door with nothing but a hum.
"I don't think he's mad about the name," Hiyori whispered to Kazuma watching him with a worried expression, "I think he's scared. About what happened today and Yato's injuries."
"It's probably not the best Yato has to stay here overnight," Kazuma pointed out. Catching up, they followed Yukine out the door.
"Kazuma?" Hiyori asked when they reached the car, "Do you mind dropping me off at Kofuku's?"
"Sure," Kazuma gave a tired smile. The ride back home was silent, Kazuma's police radio buzzing once but remaining silent. At some point, Yukine fell asleep on Hiyori's lap and she let her hand lay on his head, Yato's blanket covering him.
Heaven was a ghost town. There was no one in the streets and most of the nicer stores were shut down. Even the stings of lights looked dull. It seemed all the motorcycles were off for the evening, the clubs needing a breather and any others hitting the road.
Kofuku's was the same. The Lucky Lady shut down, boards of wood already put up to block the broken windows. All the bikes were gone, and the only lights on were upstairs. Kazuma waited for Hiyori to call the apartment, Kofuku quickly sending Daikoku down. Waking Yukine up, Hiyori kept her arms around his shoulders as they walked in through the auto shop, saying goodnight to Kazuma.
Kofuku was at the top of the stairs to greet them with hugs and words of concern. She asked about Yato as Yukine went to shower, Hiyori done explaining by the time he was dressed. The couple then wished them goodnight as Yukine trudged to bed and Hiyori hopped in the shower, coming out in Yato's boxers and shirt. When she opened the bedroom door, Yukine was already under the covers on his phone. He glanced up at her with tired eyes.
"What time do visiting hours start?" Yukine whispered as Hiyori got into Yato's bed.
"Um, 11? I think Kazuma was going during lunch," she watched him for a moment, "I don't have my car here but I'm sure Kofuku will take us tomorrow." Hiyori's smile drooped when Yukine just hummed and fiddled with his phone. He finally set it down, the light leaving his face.
"I set an alarm," Yukine buried under his blankets, "If he thinks I'm done yelling at him, he's got another thing coming." His grumbling was much more light-hearted and Hiyori felt herself smile in relief. She nuzzled in her pillow too, noticing- not for the first time- that Yato's pillow smelled just like him.