"So you're following me now?" Yato called over his shoulder.

He came to a gradual stop in his steps, his hands in his pockets.

"Why not? Father told me to keep a close eye on you."

Yato scraped his teeth together, causing his skull to vibrate. "So? What's he got against me anyway?"

"I'm not sure. Should I pass on a message?" The young Nora taunted, hiding her smirk behind the heavy sleeve of her white and red kimono.

"Maybe. In fact," Yato sent the Regalia a sharp glare and turned around so that he could face her, "tell him to go fuck himself. If he doesn't have the balls to do shit himself instead of sending someone else to do his bidding, then he should quit playin' games."

Yato wasn't aware of what suddenly came over him, but the brutal words slipped from his mouth. He only knew that his fury was boiling over. However, he didn't appear to regret his freedom of speech. To a point, what he was saying was even necessary, as his father never knew how to mind his own business.

"Father wouldn't like that."

"Good." Yato smirked. "If he has a problem with it, tell 'im to stop beating around the bush n' actually put some truth behind those threats."

His words - they wouldn't quit.

The god rolled his eyes and laughed to himself, shoving Nora aside and continuing forward.

"That's quite a risky move. Especially with what's going on with you and Hiyori."

Yato came to a sudden halt. He froze and slowly turned to look at her, shock evident. Then it faded to that of kindling rage as his eyes sharpened like a hunting cat.

"What do you know…?" He asked, his tone dark and intimidating.

"Just what Father's told me about you and Hiyori being together," Nora answered.

A somewhat wave of relief washed over the god.

"Don't follow me," he replied sternly before he resumed his steady pace back to the apartment.

. . . .

Yato entered when Masaomi and Hiyori were eating. A flash of light, followed by a bell-like ring, announced the god's arrival.

"Yato! You almost missed dinner," Hiyori exclaimed as he approached her.

Masaomi nearly leaped out of his chair. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "I-I thought I locked that door!"

Yato, who pulled away from a hug with Hiyori, glared at Masaomi. "You did. Thanks for that."

Hiyori's eyes flickered, and she turned to look at her brother.

"W-wait, you locked him out?" Hiyori asked, genuinely confused. "Why...-?"

"Because I obviously don't trust him, Hiyori," Masaomi blurted, dropping his chopsticks on the table. "First, you keep the whole 'father' thing a secret, and then, I finally get to meet him, n' you tell me he's a god?"

"I told you to trust me, didn't I?" Hiyori fought back.

"That's not the point." Masaomi threw an accusing hand towards Yato. "No sister o' mine is having a baby to some damned guy! It would only cause disaster!"

He heard it - his trigger word.

Hiyori stood in shock, unable to believe her ears. "Onii-chan, wha...-?!"

His fierce blue eyes honed in on the predator, and he immediately pounced. In an instant, Yato pinned Masaomi against the wall. The motion sent a loud thump through the air, and the man groaned under Yato's grasp.

"You wanna say that again, kid?" The God of Calamity intimidated as Hiyori's brother squirmed against the wall.

"Wh-who you callin' 'kid'?" Masaomi spat out between his struggles to break free.

"The one that's old enough to know how to handle immature punks like you."

"Yato, stop! What're you...-?!"

Hiyori tried prying Yato off of her brother, but he shoved her away. Without thinking, he flung his arm backwards to prepare himself to throw a punch at the man in front of him. Instead, his elbow made contact with Hiyori's face, as she attempted to separate the two of them. Hiyori stumbled backwards and fell to her knees with a loud gasp. Her hand quickly came up to hold her throbbing cheek.

Yato suddenly realized what had happened and turned to look over his shoulder at his injured lover on the floor by his feet. "Hiyori!"

He let go of Masaomi, setting him down on his feet again before he knelt down and helped Hiyori up.

"I-itai…" she murmured to herself.

"I-… I'm sorry..." Yato apologized softly, his whole demeanor instantly changing. "Are you alright…?"

Yato felt himself tense up.

Fucking idiot! He scolded himself, grimacing. You hit her. You... dumbass!

"I-it...- it's nothing. I'm fine," Hiyori excused it, but she flinched in pain.

"I don't know about you," Masaomi piped in from a foot away, "but hitting your pregnant girlfriend is reaching quite a low."

Yato scraped his teeth. "I was aiming for you!"

"Stop fighting!"

Both the men turned and looked at Hiyori, who now had a bruise across her cheekbone. She stared at them with utter disbelief.

"What is wrong with you two?!" She cried. "I know you both love me, and you're just trying to protect me, but I'm perfectly capable of doing that on my own. I don't need either of you behaving like this right now. I-I'm pregnant - not helpless!"

There was an awkward silence. Masaomi adjusted his disheveled shirt, and Yato ran his fingers through his dark hair with a blush across his cheeks.

"I'm... sorry," her brother answered finally.

Yato seemed to want to say something, but quickly bailed on it and headed to the apartment door. Hiyori quickly whirled around to see him.

"Y-Yato? Where are you going?"

His hand rested on the doorknob for a silent moment before he finally turned to look at her with an apologetic expression.

"I just hafta go, okay?"

"Y-you'll be back, though, right?"

Yato froze, and he thought for a long moment.

"... I'm sorry, Hiyori..."

He closed the door behind him. Instinctively, Hiyori rushed after him, but as soon as she opened the front door, he had disappeared with the wind.

"Yato…"

She bit her quivering lip, but a strangled sob escaped her throat. She felt her knees weaken, and her pink eyes filled with hot tears.

As he watched his sister break down, Masaomi was unsure how to comfort her.

"H-Hiyori…-"

"You don't know him like I do, Masaomi! Why can't you trust me?"

Hiyori fled, retreating into her brother's guest bedroom, where she continued to cry and yearn.

. . . .

"Where the hell have you been the past two days?!" Yukine blurted out, watching his master come through the shrine door.

"With Hiyori," he answered vaguely, not lifting his head to look at his Blessed Vessel.

"Wait, what? The whole time?" Yukine asked in surprise.

"Yeah, so?"

"Di-... did you guys get in a fight?"

"No."

"Is... she upset with you…?"

"I wouldn't doubt it."

Kofuku and Daikoku walked in to see the scene. However, Yato brushed past both of them.

"Oh. Yatty's back!" Kofuku clasped her hands together happily.

"Uh - somethin' happen? You don't look so good," Daikoku said to the god.

"Thanks for noticing," Yato replied sarcastically as he was heading upstairs. "I'm not having dinner. I'm going to sleep."

With that, the god finally slumped up the stairs to the attic bedroom, sulking.

Once he was finally alone in his own room, he lay down on the futon. He stared up at the wall in deep thought for a minute before he reached his hand under the pillow and pulled out a small, folded sheet of paper.

Yato sighed heavily and unfolded it, already knowing what it would be. His eyes fixed on the uncolored image of his unborn child for a long, careful moment. He smiled sadly at it before he tucked it away again. His eyes closed, but once asleep, his rest was anything but peaceful.