Yukine didn't question it when the couple returned hand-in-hand. He retreated from the living room, leaving Yato and Hiyori open for the couch. They were both consumed by their own little world, too giddy to notice their blonde friend. Deciding he didn't want to pop their bubble of joy, Yukine isolated himself in the guest room down the hall where he wouldn't interrupt. The last thing he saw before exiting was Yato helping Hiyori settle on the couch and draping a blanket over her.
The god laid down with her, finally feeling at ease. His lover sighed peacefully as she felt his arms wrap around her delicate frame. When she did, her nose filled with his wonderfully delicious scent. Her head felt fuzzy, and her heartbeat slowed to a gentle beat as she relaxed against him.
He rested his head against her shoulder and pushed some hair out of her face. Hiyori felt Yato's hand just shy of her bump, as if avoiding touching her there. His mannerisms were still lacking in certainty.
"Don't be afraid, Yato," she spoke quietly.
The half-Phantom reached behind her to find her lover's hand. Once she had, Hiyori placed it directly against her swollen belly.
"She should know you're here - that you're back."
A heavy sigh left Yato's lips, draining in Hiyori's ear. He hadn't realized he was holding his breath. He sunk deeper into the sofa, and his unfiltered weight surrounded the girl.
Seemingly having gained his courage again, Yato dared to ask.
"Hiyori…?" He whispered.
"Hmm?" She hummed back.
Hiyori turned her head to catch his expression, but she was suddenly caught off guard when he'd reached all the way around her, allowing himself to slip over and on top of her. Hiyori was now laying flat, able to view him entirely. She blinked up at him in surprise hovering over her. Soft blue eyes filled her mind, vaguely aware of his hands on either side of her head.
"Can I…-?"
His sentence trailed off, but Hiyori gave him no signs of refusal. Whatever he was proposing, she determined that his tender eyes hindered no ill intentions. She nodded once and observed while he carefully placed a hand to her stomach again.
This time, Yato's fingers grabbed the bottom of her shirt. He used one hand to gingerly pull it up enough, revealing her rounded bump. Hiyori felt her cheeks warm as she watched him carefully.
The god paused in awe at her plump and perfect stomach now bare before him. He then delicately placed his forehead to it, almost nuzzling.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered, stroking her. "I'm here now. It's okay…"
Yato pressed his lips to her bump. He raised his head up when he felt Hiyori's hand come to rest over his dark locks, gently combing them through her fingers. She stared down at him with a bittersweet grin.
Hiyori had suspected he was still hurting. Despite no one harassing him about his mistakes, he was the only one remaining that couldn't forgive himself.
"You should get some sleep," she told him.
He responded with half a smile, still unable to produce full contentment in himself. "You should too."
Hiyori scoffed and - while she intended it to be a joke - she couldn't help but speak with underlying worry.
"Really?" She teased. "You're not going to disappear when I wake up again, are you?"
Even though she was smirking, Yato could sense a hint of uneasiness in her voice. The seriousness was hidden behind her joking tone. He stared at her with eyes of earnestness and shook his head.
"No. Never again. I was completely foolish to do it the first time."
The tension upon her features ceased as the words hit her. Yato came to eye level with Hiyori. In a moment's time, he had lowered his face down and captured her lips.
Hiyori could feel it in the way he kissed her; he was sorry - he was apologizing. However, she didn't want it to be a pitiful kiss. She desired his love.
All it took was redirecting his attention, and Hiyori was capable of doing so. She wrapped her wrists around the back of his neck, tugging him down closer, deeper.
His mind had to be able to comprehend her and only her. He would have to be so overwhelmed by her all that there was nothing left to mentally or physically handle. He had to understand that there was more to their relationship than sorrow and tragedy. He had to know how much she loved him - even if he absolutely despised himself.
Yato gasped between their mingled lips, his lungs reaching for air. With his mouth left ajar, Hiyori took the opportunity to find his tongue with her own. He didn't make any complaints about it and invited her in eagerly.
Hiyori's ears caught the rumble of a strangled groan before Yato withdrew completely and sat back beside her. It was rather too quickly, as Hiyori was unsure what had happened. He was suddenly wincing and rubbing his arm.
"Y-Yato? What's wrong?"
The god yielded from her when his lover attempted to reach out towards him. That only caused more concern from the brunette.
"It's fine," he answered, flashing her a weak smile.
He pulled down the sleeve of his track jersey to check his bandages, and it was then that Hiyori remembered his injuries.
"It's nothing. I'll be alright," Yato tried to reassure her.
"Please, get some rest, sweetie…"
"Okay, okay…"
Yato sighed in defeat as he lay down next to her once more. His scent once again calmed Hiyori's nerves. The god readjusted the blanket over them, placing his good arm over Hiyori's still exposed belly. She hesitated, worried she might bother his wounds, but then buried herself into his chest.
"G'night, my love…" he murmured as he closed his eyes.
Hiyori giggled, knowing the sun had just risen an hour ago.
"Good night. My god…"
. . . .
Yato rubbed his eyes with his arm as he straightened up. He turned, allowing his legs to make contact with the floor. When he did, he realized his lover was no longer on the couch beside him. He sat for a moment to adjust to his surroundings.
That was when he spotted Hiyori just down the hall, hunched over with her arms deep into her bag. Yato heard the rummaging of medicine bottles and plastic packaging as she searched for something with desperation. He also noticed her expression was labeled with that of pain. She was biting down on her lip, her eyebrows wrinkled together.
The sight of her was enough to kick-start his sense of awareness. He blinked a couple times to be sure of what he was seeing.
"H-Hiyori…?" Yato called gently as he stood up and approached her.
Her shoulders stiffened, and she came to a screeching halt. Then, after a long pause, she finally turned to greet him with a smile that bordered on pleasant and eerie.
Something was off. Yato couldn't place his finger on it.
"Oh, Yato!" She answered as she stood and faced him completely, using the wall beside her for support. She tucked her hands behind her back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
Yato blinked at her, attempting to gather his thoughts. "Uh - it's fine," he replied. "Are you okay? Are you hurting?"
The conversation brought its attention to Yukine, who appeared in the doorway of one of the bedrooms behind them.
"Is everything okay?" The blonde boy asked.
Hiyori nearly jumped at his sudden presence. "I'm fine!" She blurted to him, then turned back to the god. "I'm fine - really."
"But-" Yato pointed a finger behind her to where she had just been knelt over her bag, "what were you looking for in there?"
Hiyori was quiet and blinked at him. Then, a light turned on, and she quickly bounced back. She shot him a massive grin, her eyes closed.
The girl brought her hand out from behind her to reveal a half-filled water bottle. "Oh! I was just getting some water."
Yato appeared to calm down. At least only temporarily. He still didn't seem entirely convinced, but he decided to let it slide.
Hiyori headed for the door next to her. "I have to use the bathroom."
"-I'll come with you!" Yato exclaimed, immediately following her.
The brunette quickly paused in the doorway. She cringed at the god from over her shoulder. She glanced at Yukine just a few feet away from them.
Sure enough, Yukine was staring at his master with concerned disgust. Yato stood unfazed as if not picking up on the awkward atmosphere. She quickly shook it off, understanding he was only worried about her.
"I'll be alright, Yato."
Hiyori gave him a quick peck on the cheek and closed the bathroom door behind her. Yato turned to his Hafuri.
"That was weird, right?"
Yukine rolled his eyes. "If you're referring to you inviting yourself into the bathroom with her, then yes - that was very 'weird.'"
Yato sighed, ignoring his Hafuri's remark. "Forget it," he mumbled before retiring back to the couch.
Yukine curiously followed him to the living room. The god had been preoccupied checking his injured arm when the boy spoke up.
"S-so…" he began awkwardly, his eyes wandering, "you n' Hiyori…-?"
Yato suddenly paused and glanced up at him through his bangs before continuing to work on his bandages.
"Ah, right. We made up earlier."
Yukine scoffed at his casual answer. "Yeah, well... you still have to make it up to her brother before you start saying everything's fine."
Yato released a sour laugh. "What d'ya want me to do; take him on a date?"
"I'm being serious!" Yukine retorted, rolling his eyes.
His master only sighed and sunk into the couch cushions. "I'm just too concerned about Hiyori and our daughter right now," he answered honestly with fatigue visible on his face.
"I'm not even sure how I'd come across it without sounding alarms. Besides-" he glanced sideways and cringed, "her grandmother shot an arrow at me."
Yukine hummed thoughtfully. He became silent, not knowing how to respond to his master's shift in mood.
"If I were to tell the full, uncensored truth to him, I just may risk things between her n' her brother. What am I supposed to do…?"
As the silence drew on, Yukine found himself at a loss for words. However, Yato knew he couldn't expect his Blessed Vessel to solve all his problems in just a single moment.
While lying about who he was wasn't ideal, admitting to his gorey, traumatic past life was definitely not an option either. He knew he was between a rock and hard place.
Even the young boy knew. That was why - despite responding with a sarcastic or rude remark - Yukine bit his tongue. He sighed as he ruffled his own blonde locks.
"Does… your father know?"
Yato glanced at the bathroom door where Hiyori was before back to Yukine.
"No," he answered, his breath shuddering with anxiety. "But it's only a matter of time…"
Yukine was rendered silent again.
Yato leaned forward, resting his elbows against his knees and folding his hands together. His thumbs poised, flexing anxiously against his top lip as his blank stare caught the floor.
His and Hiyori's daughter would be welcomed to the world in just roughly three months. Time was something they needed more than ever, and everyone around them was working tirelessly against it. However, time - as they all knew - was fleeting.
Everyone and everything around them was tainted with it. Some more than others. And with this minimal time, there were also things to be done before it was too late.
Yato had to get his act together. Meanwhile, Hiyori had to focus on her schoolwork. And Yukine had to adjust to this new dynamic. Everyone was planning for and trying to support their new child. There was simply no determining how it would all work itself out. Each problem required a different solution.
Suddenly, Yato felt the weight of someone sitting beside him, resting their head against his shoulder. Surprised, he looked to find Hiyori making herself comfortable against his chest.
The god was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to have seen or heard her approach him.
His cheeks tinted pink, and he found himself immediately calm in her grasp. Hiyori glanced up at him through her bangs.
"Everything alright?"
The girl nodded.
A small smile played out across the god's face. His features settled. He lifted his head to see Yukine across from them, returning the gentle grin.
