The morning had been strange. Yukine woke up at sunrise, which is something he hasn't done in months, and made himself too much tea. It was very quiet without Yato, usually the man woke up before him or didn't sleep at all. Yukine had made it his job to force the biker to go to bed, but then he would end up kicking Yato awake when the man talked in his sleep. But last night was just Hiyori's quiet snores and the morning was distant birds. The oddest thing was Heaven's silence. There was not a motorcycle engine to be heard for miles and the normal background noise was seemingly on mute. It was jarring. Yukine had half a mind to find his way to the hospital alone just to have Yato's stupidity ease the tension. But, Kofuku was up before he could really convince himself and they had a quiet breakfast.
Everyone sat in the hummer, sore from the night before, as Daikoku drove to the hospital, getting there nearly half an hour before visiting hours opened. The moment they were allowed inside, Yukine walked straight up the stairs while Kofuku dragged Hiyori and Daikoku to the gift shop. Yukine sped-walked to Yato's room, hovering by the door when he saw a doctor leaning over the biker. Take noticed him first and nodded, stuffing more terrible breakfast in his mouth. Yukine awkwardly waved.
"Okay," the doctor stood, "when you leave today I'm going to give you some antibiotics. Make sure you get plenty of rest."
"Thanks doc," Yato said. Stepping aside, Yukine let the doctor pass before inching towards Yato. The latter let his head fall back into the fluffy pillow with a grunt and sigh, shimming his shoulders to get comfortable. Yukine came forward again, surprised that Yato didn't notice him. Maybe he really did get hit too hard.
The bandage on the side of Yato's head was a fresh white and looked like a small pillow taped to his face. Yato also looked much cleaner, all the blood and grime washed from his colored cheeks. A bag of clear liquid connected to the inside of Yato's elbow and an ice pack covered his left side. Just as Yato was falling asleep, his roomie cleared his throat.
"Hey King, your prince has arrived," Take said without looking away from the television.
"Prince charming?" Yato sat up and looked towards the door. His face was surprised but his smile didn't leave.
"Yukine!" Yato chirped, "for a moment I thought you were Kazuma, but you're even better!" His bright, beaming face was probably because of the medication but Yukine still blushed. A small part of the kid wanted to turn and walk out because, wow this guy was too much and the drugs just made him worse. Instead, Yukine pulled up a chair and plopped down.
"Kofuku, Daikoku, and Hiyori are downstairs. They're coming up after Kofuku destroys the shop," Yukine said. He felt Yato's eyes on him but Yukine couldn't bring himself to look at the man in the hospital bed.
"Oh fun," Yato chuckled a little, "What about you?"
"I didn't bring you anything. I'm still mad at you." Yukine muttered. He felt a pout grow when Yato just laughed again.
"You don't have to bring me anything, though I'd love anything from you. I meant more like how were you feeling?" Yato paused, "And what do you mean you're mad at me? I thought we had a mutual agreement I could kick the shit out of your dad if-"
"-No not that!" Yukine interrupted, glancing nervously at Take, "That's not why I'm mad at you! I'm mad- I'm mad because you knew there was a gun! And you didn't! I don't know, stay with me? Or run away! Why would you stand in front of me and attack someone with a gun?" Somewhere along the line Yukine's voice raised, then became strained and sizzled out by the end. This got Yato's smile to drop as he noticed the kid look so sad, scared, and guilty.
"He was after you, of course I would stand in front," Yato said seriously. This wasn't as sweet as Yato tried to make it sound. It only made Yukine shrink in on himself, not comfort him.
"Besides! I can wrestle a gun out of someone's hand no problem. I've done it before but after watching that video you gave Hiyori, I can do it like a black belt! And it only took me two tries!" Yato poked himself just above his left hip-bone where they both knew one of his bullet scars are. A couple beats of silence past and Yato dropped his hand, looking sadly at the top of his kid's head. Then, Yukine sighed and slumped his shoulders, finally peeking up at Yato through his bangs.
"Im-," Yukine backtracked, "thank you." He raised his head a little when Yato beamed at him again. Bumbling through the doorway, Kofuku pushed at least eight large balloons through the entrance with a squeal, Hiyori and Daikoku trying to help keep them under control. They greeted Yato and Take, Kofuku giving two balloons to the grumpy biker, and one to Yukine. As Hiyori sat down, Yato complained loudly about getting another kiss on the head, which got him a whack to the ribs.
"So Hiyori told us you got a concussion. Don't think that'll get you out of fixin the place," Daikoku nagged, earning a whine from Yato and Kofuku.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Hiyori asked, not liking the idea of a concussed person cleaning broken glass.
"Daikoku's just kidding! We have really great insurance," Kofuku clutched her lover's arm, "we won't start construction until after Yatty's better."
"But, we might have to leave the house during the construction," Daikoku sighed and rubbed his head, "but I feel bad movin the kid around right now." His statement was true. Yukine and Yato needed to stay in town for the trial, especially since the papers weren't completely signed.
"Don't worry about that!" Yato boasted, "I got the bastard to agree to sign the papers and Kazuma and that skank are dealing with it right now." Yato snickered at the thought with Kofuku, Yukine smiling quietly to himself. They chatted for most of the day, Kazuma coming with Bishamon a couple hours later to cause a ruckus. Yato's ear was given one last medication treatment and they were sent on their way by dinner time.
Two floors up, Mr. Tajima came too after about a day, and another one to be considered in the right mind to sign a contract. With everyone's help, Yukine officially became Yukine Ayakashi by the next month. It was nerve racking for Yukine to have to appear before a courtroom, standing only a couple feet away from his bruise-faced father. But, knowing all the cops in the courtroom made things easier. So did having three clubs of motorcyclists standing in the room, armed and ready to defend him. Turns out BACA was as nice as they sounded and, as promised, Mr. Tajima skipped town practically the night after. Kouto faded into the background to plot, having opted out of going to the hospital and escaped questioning.
Most of the club members' injuries were healed by then. Yato concussion fading away after a week and his ribs healed before the court date. His ear was left with a large, jagged slice near the top while his ruptured eardrum also healed on its own. Yukine having put him on strict bed-rest that The King labeled "castle arrest".
With everyone's collective effort, all the broken glass and furniture was cleaned out of The Lucky Lady and the tavern was prepped for renovations. Not being the first time this happened, the club decided to go on a road trip while their homebase was under construction, leaving it in the hands of the police- Kazuma- to watch over.
"Oh I can't wait! It's been forever!" Kofuku squealed, "Your first road trip, Hiyori! Are you excited?" She beamed over at the teacher. The three of them were seated outside Pit Stop, camping chairs set up in the sunshine while they waited for Yato and Daikoku to bring Yukine's present. Sitting neatly in her lap, Hiyori held a small present for Yato.
"Yes I am! Thank you for inviting me but are you sure I can come on a club trip?" Hiyori tried to make sure. Her support in the battle against the masks earned her respect from the club members as an ally, but that didn't necessarily mean she could join in on their activities. Even though it was The King that invited her in the first place.
"Of course, Hiyori! We love you! Plus you're one of us now, leather jacket or not!" Kofuku gave her a sweaty hug that had Hiyori giggling too. Beside her, Yukine sipped on his cold juice, waving his hand to fan himself.
"Yeah, and if that were the case I wouldn't be able to come either," Yukine said, "And what do you mean 'it's been so long'? Don't you guys go on rides all the time?"
"We do! Most of the time we come back here, or go to one place like a vacation or a bike rally. But this time we're making a bunch of different stops and staying at different places for a couple days! It's been so long since we've had an organized road trip like this!" Kofuku explained, "And it's all thanks to you two!" She beamed at them as they sputtered out denials with great humility.
The ordeal had shaken up Hiyori a bit more than she realised, no matter how much Yato tried to distract and comfort her. So, Yato recommended she take up her mother's suggestion and visit home for a while. From there, Yukine suggested that Yato take them camping after Hiyori is dropped off. Hearing this, Kofuku and Daikoku asked to tag along and go to the beach along the way, something a few others joined in on. Kofuku also managed to convince Yato to race this year and Hiyori didn't want to miss that. At some point, Yato decided to take Yukine and Hiyori to meet his sister. Plus Hiyori's brother asked to join and was allowed, wanting to ride with Yato as "Hiyori's boyfriend" despite her frantic- unclear- responce. More plans got added on and the trip ended up taking the rest of the summer. They planned to come back about three days before school started for Yukine and Hiyori.
"So," Yukine glanced awkwardly at Hiyori, "who-who will I be riding with?"
"I can go with someone else!" Hiyori quickly comforted him, despite her knowledge of what's to come. They needed Daikoku's sidecar to hold all their luggage so Yukine would- theoretically-have to ride with someone. Yato had immediately volunteered without a second look at Hiyori, earning her a pat on the back from Kiun and an offer to go with him.
"It'll be okay," Kofuku winked at them, "I'm sure Yatty will work it out." The way she purred at him had Yukine giving her funny looks. He missed Kofuku's quick glance over their shoulders and her smile hidden by biting her lip.
"Yuki," Kofuku leaned forward with a small smile, "would you be okay riding in a sidecar?"
"Huh? Y-yeah! I like them."
"Either way, you're probably going to need some leather," Kofuku grinned despite Yukine pouting.
"Yeah. I keep telling Yato that so I don't have to keep borrowing his bulky jacket!" Yukine crossed his arms with a huff, "But he keeps saying that it'll happen eventually. Even though he's already taken my measurements!" He rolled his eyes, blushing when Kofuku giggled and glanced up again. This caught Hiyori's attention and she noticed the sound of wheels behind her. Looking over Yukine's shoulder, her mouth popped open and Yato quickly put a finger over his smile. Turning back around, Hiyori put her hand up to hide her growing smile, pretending to cough when Yukine looked at her. Lady Luck swooped in with an even wider grin.
"Oh, well, I guess it's a good thing Yato managed to finish yours for the trip. I think he put it in your sidecar," Kofuku beamed at him and Hiyori looked to see his reaction. Yukine's eyes got wide as he stared at Kofuku, mouth opening a little only for him to blow a raspberry.
"Yeah, and he parked it in the garage next to his house," Yukine scoffed. Kofuku looked at Hiyori who pressed her lips together to hold back laughter. Yukine was a smart boy and the project was becoming too obvious to store in the Pit Stop. The image of the paint staining her garage floor came to Hiyori's mind.
The girls held their eyes on Yukine, who, at their lack of response and funny faces, let his dry laugh stop and hang in the air. He was looking between them, eyes darting back and forth faster the longer the two women beamed at him. Mouth dropping again, Yukine breathed out words like "what" and "no."
Deciding the boy had enough suspense in his lifetime, Hiyori leaned over and placed her hand over his. When he tore his eyes from Kofuku and looked at Hiyori, she looked over his shoulder, watching him out of the corner of her eye. Yukine's eyes held her deliberate head movement for a couple beats before finally turning to look behind him. Yato and Daikoku grinned at Yukine with equal enthusiasm, opening their arms to showcase a side car just for him.
Camping chair clattering to the ground, Yukine quickly caught his feet and sprinted across the pavement. Unable to take it anymore, everyone cheered as the kid tripped up to the vehicle and soaked it in. Yukine didn't know what to, trying and failing to come up with words as he alternated between hugging his new family and gesturing to the present. As Yukine circled it, Hiyori and Kofuku joined the group with identical smiles. Caught up in the excitement, Kofuku leaped into Daioku's arms and laughed with him as she was spun around. Hiyori smiled at them as she walked over to Yato, turning her expression on him as he happily pointed out all it's details to Yukine.
Unlike Daikoku's sidecar, Yukine's was rounded out with a silver bar going around the front. It lacked the door-shaped opening, instead being completely enclosed. After much deliberation, Yato decided to go with a temporary snow-theme. A small, silver snowflake was attached to the center of the front as a magnet. Three white stickers shaped as icicles appeared to be hanging off the end of the windshield and down the front. The middle was the longest and stretched down the navy exterior. To match, three smaller triangles "hung" behind the back of the seat. In addition, hidden behind the chair sat a blue dome helmet without any designs, nearly identical to the one Yukine had been using up until this point. A present from Kofuku and Daikoku. The seat itself was made of black leather, similar to the vest that rested on it.
Yukine gasped as he picked up the article, holding it up to look at. The vest was blank, save for the small Gods of Calamity patch on the left breast and an embroidered crown on the right. It was big on him now, but he would certainly grow into it. Yato grinned wide as Yukine tried it on, holding his arm out for Hiyori to walk into. Apparently, the Gods of Calamity didn't accept members without a license. Because of that, Yukine wouldn't get the rest of his patches until then.
"Only if you want too, of course," Yato tacked on, "you're family either way."
"Are you kidding? I'm practically a member already!" Yukine whirled around and glared at Yato who only threw his head back and laughed, the hand on Hiyori's waist tightening and pulling her in.
"I got you something too," Hiyori looked to Yato.
"Oh yeah? Is it that box?" Yato accepted the small black thing, "It looks like a necklace box." The weight was heavier than a necklace, the box a bit deeper. He looked at her when she shook him and coaxed him to open it, Yukine and the others doing the same. There was no tape, the box lid sliding off easily. Inside were two sheets of white wrapping paper that had to be moved aside.
A clean silver gleamed in the sunlight and Yato felt his jaw fall open. They were beautiful, two silver pocket knives with thick handles engrained with a crown. A matching set. His last two were mismatched. The first one was swiped from his father and had a thin wooden handle. His second one Yato picked up on his travels, a simple black.
His fingers tightly ran over their smooth side as he picked one up. The weight was steady but not too much and they would be even in his hands. He flicked it open, noting the sharpness of the blade and their subtle strength.
"Do you like them?" Hiyori tried. She looked nervous and Yato realized the group had gone quiet, watching him with smiles too. Ah how the tables have turned.
"Yes," Yato said, "I love them! Thank you," His voice was as wobbly as his smile, both full of emotion. He pocketed them with great care, peeking at Yukine when he krept forward.
"Yukine helped me pick them out," Hiyori smiled at Yukine, "He said you don't go anywhere without them but you lost them in the last fight." She left out the part that he had rushed to save her, not wanting to spoil the moment.
"Is that so?" Yato gave a wide grin to Yukine, "Nice touch, kiddo! You know me so well!" He noogied his kid's head with glee, letting him go after some laughter.
"How about giving it a spin?" Kofuku gestured to the sidecar.
"It's been a while since you rode, hasn't it?" Daikoku crossed his arms, "Later we should pig-out!" Jumping at the idea of celebrating, Yato decided to bring his kid to pick up a small cake, Hiyori tagging along. Daikoku headed upstairs to pull a slab of ribs out of the freezer, Yukine following to change. For a moment, Kofuku grinned at Hiyori as Yato worshiped his new toys then skipped her way up the stairs, looking over her shoulder to signal the school teacher. Watching them leave with a smile, Hiyori leaned back when she felt Yato's nose press against the side of her head.
"You sure you're okay telling your parents about your summer plans? About us?" Yato asked.
"I am," Hiyori let her hand cover his on her waist, "you guys are my best friends and I'm proud of that. Who cares about what they think? I told my brother everything and knowinging him I'm sure they're already aware."
"Daw, thank you Miss Iki. But -uh- I meant us, us," Yato grinned. His voice dipped when he brought it closer to her ear, getting a squeak out of Hiyori as a shiver ran up her spine. She would stay strong. After all, she was smart enough to know Yato was a push-over.
"Us? There's an us?" Hiyori fixed him with a baffled look, relishing in his gobsmacked expression before letting out a sigh, "I wonder what we are?" Hiyori tried to stop a giggle that came out as a snort when Yato whined.
"Miss Iki," his other arm wrapped around her waist too and he squeezed, "How am I supposed to tell your dad my intentions if I don't know where we stand? Stop dodging my affections!"
"I-Intentions! Don't-talk like that in front of my parents! And who's dodging what?" Hiyori squawked and started pushing him away by his cheeks. The summer heat had Hiyori sweating while Yato still had grime on him from the work-day. She noticed Yato seemed to have cleaned his face of any smudges, but her hands definitely squished against his heated face.
Neither of them noticed, trying and failing not to laugh at each other as they wrestled. Yukine would be down any minute but Kofuku flashed Hiyori a hand, giving the two five minutes alone. She needed to get Yato back on track, but it was hard with him placing light pecks on the soft of her hands.
"I know what we are," Yato said seriously, looking down her arm as he spoke into her palm.
"What?" Hiyori asked with big eyes, letting her body relax a little. Turning his hand in hers, Yato weaved their fingers together.
"We're not just friends," his face split in a grin, "We're best friends!" Yato intoned, drawing out the vowels as he used their hands to help dip her backwards like a dance.
"Yato!" Hiyori fumed at him, not truly angry but thoroughly embarrassed, "You know you're different." She mumbled at him through her pout and his grin softened. It would be easy to tease her again, but it was clear Miss Iki wanted an answer. Tugging her up straight, let her hand go and watched her rest them against the outline of his vest, looking up at him with a strong gaze. He loved her, Yato already knew it, but he decided to ride out that one secret as long as he could.
"We don't have to have labels. You're you and I'm me. I want to be with you and make you the happiest girl in the world because I think you deserve it. And because you make me happy too," Yato said. His heart pounded like there was a gun to his back as he watched all sorts of emotions flicker across Hiyori's eyes. Both their faces bloomed a deep red the longer Hiyori tried to say something. She wasn't good at flirty comebacks like Yato, or clever remarks like Yukine, but was good at speaking her mind. Taking a step forward, Hiyori planted her feet between his and steeled herself.
"Can I kiss you?" Hiyori asked. Her eyes dropped to his mouth when it fell open, his lips matching the color of his cheeks. Even as his own gaze flickered to her mouth, Hiyori saw the vulnerability. Swallowing, Yato gave her a shaky nod as he leaned in.
"Anytime," he breathed, "my queen." His not-so-subtle declaration was cut off as he was tugged down by his vest and his lips landed softly on hers. Air breathed through their noses like a sigh of relief, eyes slipping closed as they gently expressed their affection.
It was warm and easy, the kiss natural as they moved against each other and fought not to smile. Yato's fingers hooked the belt-loops of Hiyori's shorts and brought her against him. Bringing a hand up, Hiyori let her palm run along his jaw and cheek, the same one she punched. Her fingers passed his ear, carefully brushing his injury, and cradled his head. Yato kept holding her waist and keeping her close, letting his kissing do the work. The gentle and adorable probing turned to a force of gravity as his feelings grew stronger. Hiyori quickly, and gladly, matched him for before the two had to seperate for air.
Yato's forehead leaned against hers, both their eyes opening as they caught their breath. The kiss was nothing too heated, a sweet press of the mouths, but it meant everything. Hiyori's fingers still clutched his vest as they shook from the adrenaline, a giddy smile coming on her face with a huff of a laugh. Yato did the same, sweaty fingers squeezing her hips a bit tighter as his bright blue eyes focused on her and only her.
"You know what this means right?" Yato words hit her mouth, "people will talk."
"I know," Hiyori let her fingers spread to his patches, "but if it's you I don't mind." She glanced to the ground in embarrassment as Yato made a breathy noise of shock and happiness. Her hips were tugged closer as Yato cooed compliments, pressing kiss after kiss against her smile that she returned with some difficulty. The clumsiness of it all causing them to giggle between their makeout.
"Agh, really?" Yukine's outcry echoed suddenly from the Pit Stop, "Right next to my sidecar?" His glare contrasted with his face that was somehow redder than the other two. His construction boots stomped across the floor and he kept his head down, passing the two lovebirds without a glance.
"Y-Yukine," Hiyori gurgled out. There was still a chance that he would be her student next year and she didn't want to cause him trouble. Kofuku had reassured her Yukine was fine with whatever Yato and herself wanted to pursue, but still, she should have talked to him about it directly. Or made Yato do it since he was the dad.
"It's fine Hiyori. I already had the talk, I don't need another one," Yukine grumbled. He didn't sound angry, just embarrassed, only taking a glance at them as he started to push the sidecar. For some reason Hiyori still wanted to say something, making a noise as she stepped forward; glaring over her shoulder when she realised Yato had slipped his hands in her back pockets at some point and didn't remove them until they separated. She stopped when Yukine sighed and looked back over his shoulder with a less-red face.
"I mean it. I mean-it was super obvious, even though I don't know why you would even- what are you thinking? But, yeah, he already talks about you literally all the time and while normally that'd be super annoying," his snark subsided, "I like hearing and talking about you. And with you. I like having you around so, uh, yeah. Please take good care of my dad." With that, Yukine hastily pushed the sidecar around the building.
Hiyori turned to look at Yato with a touched expression only to see him watching the kid with adoration. The King turned the expression to her, smiling a bit bigger as he reached to hold her hand. They followed Yukine around the building, high on cloud nine while the kid pretended they didn't exist. Looking at the back of Yukine, Hiyori wanted to know more.
"You've been talking about me behind my back to my student all this time?" Hiyori said, watching Yukine's shoulders jump.
"Only good things, Miss Iki. Only good things," Yato glanced at Hiyori's stare out of the corner of his eye and gave an exaggerated sigh, "What can I say? I have a crush on the science teacher. And who better to gossip about crushes than with a middle schooler?" Yato grinned as Yukine sputtered.
"Yukine! Do you have a crush on someone?" Hiyori gasped.
"No!" Yukine shouted with red-tipped ears. He grumbled while he pushed the sidecar next to Yato's chopper. Yato squeezed Hiyori's hand and leaned in.
"He's in denial," Yato gave a fake whisper. Yukine threw out insults and rebuttals as Yato just struted past him to connect the car.
"Do I know them?" Hiyori came closer excitedly. Yukine ignored her, instead pretending to be paying close attention to Yato's work. She turned towards the latter who only hummed again behind a grin.
"I don't," Yukine said like he was trying to convince himself, "and if I did, I'd tell Hiyori first. Not you." He ignored Yato's aghast noise as he stood straight up. Hiyori giggled at Yato's whining as his son didn't give him the time of day. Instead Yukine went to pull two helmets out of the saddle bag.
"I'm kidding," Yukine hissed out as forced a helmet in Yato's hands. With a sigh, Yato tucked the bowl under this arms and straddled the bike. His kid was already settled comfortably in the newly-made sidecar, still thoroughly flustered, as Hiyori walked up. She coughed in her hand and Yato looked at her and groaned with a dramatic roll of the eyes. Sitting behind him, Hiyori smiled to herself as he plopped the helmet on his head. Maybe she would get him one like hers and Yukine's.
"You'll thank me when it saves your head from being crushed," Hiyori huffed. A click sounded when it was secured, jaring his goggles in an obnoxious way. Yato stuck his key in the engine and looked at her, their eyes meeting through the glass.
"I'll thank you when my head is crushed between your thighs," Yato said. Hiyori and Yukine's shriek of disgust and outrage was drowned out by the growl of the motorcycle's engine. It's heartbeat pounded all the same and echoed through the streets like it belonged there, blending in with The King's cackling as he skitted out of The Lucky Lady and took off. Hiyori couldn't help but squeeze Yato tighter as they chased the sun across Heaven, free as can be.