"He's the human that wished me into existence."

Yato averted his gaze from the rest of them. His eyes were far away, staring into nothingness. His thoughts were instantly louder than the present moment.

Just two seats away from him, the young man scoffed as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "If he's so human, then how is he still alive?"

That was when he caught his sister's impatient glare from across the table. He only shrugged in return, seeming unbothered.

Yato sighed, already feeling his energy depleting. "He's managed to live on by body-hopping between people. And he's able to wield Regalias as well. I'm not sure how though. They're abilities only gods possess. Right now, he's…-" the couple passed each other nervous looks, "posing as a high schooler."

Hiyori observed her brother as he let that information sink in. It took a moment before he was ready.

"But if that's all it is," Masaomi finally began, "then why all the secrecy? Couldn't you have just said that from the beginning?"

"It's not what you think, Onii-chan…" Hiyori muttered, lowering her head in sorrow.

"These injuries…- all the Blight, blood and bruises - it was all him," Yato confessed.

As he spoke, his voice turned a lower octave. His eyes sharpened and drained of their life, appearing emotionless as he stared blankly at the water inside the glass before him.

Masaomi had to adjust himself in his seat as he attempted to take in this new character sitting across from him. He glanced at Hiyori for reassurance, but she was too entranced by the god beside her to notice. She did not seem intimidated by his sudden change in demeanor.

Yato knew it was coming. The moment in which the conversation would switch to him. It was ultimately inevitable.

He knew he needed something to impress Masaomi, as well as something to ease his anxieties about him being his sister's lover. But even as Hiyori continued to so desperately vouch for Yato's greatness everyday, he never had anything to show for it. He had nothing to offer because he was a no-name god whose only talent was bringing disaster, whether he intended to or not.

And for a split second, Yato hated everyone who ever tolerated him or thought of him as more than just that.

Despite it all, the god continued in his dark state.

"My father…- he punishes me. Everytime I say something he doesn't like, or make a wrong move somehow, he threatens anyone around me…"

Hiyori felt Yato's hand loosening around hers.

"He uses the people I care about to keep me in check. So he hurts them. And he uses that to hurt the people of the people I love too... Because my father understands that when they're suffering, I'm suffering."

And with those last words, Yato drew away from his lover entirely. He turned away from everyone and refused to meet their faces.

Yukine remained frozen with no clear idea how to comfort his master. Hiyori seemed to panic when his hand left hers, and she opened her mouth to say something, but her brother beat her to it.

"Someone in high school who is capable of hurting others…?"

Why did that sound so familiar?

Finally, Masaomi's expression fell completely. His face was almost white as snow, the realization dawning on him.

"That kid you were with that night with your friends…" he said slowly as if it was still processing.

Then, Yukine nearly leapt out of his seat as he was aware of what Masaomi was saying.

"W-wait!" The boy pointed at his master, leaning over the table towards him. "Your father was there with her?!"

Yato sighed heavily, sounding worn out. He placed his elbow on the table and used a hand to rub his eyes, as well as avoid their stares.

"Yes." He answered, then directed his next answer to Hiyori's brother. "Yes, my father is currently passing as Hiyori's schoolmate. Fujisaki Kouto."

The silence that followed was deafening.

Hiyori immediately tensed up. She dug her teeth into her bottom lip, watching her brother's reaction very closely. Even Yukine was shrinking inwards on himself from immense discomfort.

Masaomi swore under his breath. He removed his glasses and pinched his nose, distressed.

The girl suddenly exploded, not able to control her overwhelming emotions. "I-I'm so sorry! I didn't know he would be there! I wanted to tell you, but I-"

He waved his hand, stopping her.

"I still don't get it…" he mumbled, then raised his voice enough that his questions were audible. "What's 'your father' want anyways? Why's he care so much?"

The brunette and her blonde friend followed the conversation. It was as if they were observing a ping pong match, their eyes switching back and forth between the god and the brother after each statement.

Yato never lifted his gaze from the cup in front of him. Suddenly, the water in his glass became infected. The clear liquid altered into red - a deep, rotten scarlet.

It stained his vision until nothing else could compare to its intensity.

Upon looking past the dark locks hanging over his fair face, Hiyori caught sight of it. A crooked grin creeping - a scowl wedged so far across his lips that it could only have been causing him physical pain to manage.

"Because it was his wish - why I was created; to rid the world of its dreadful inhabitants."

When he spoke, the god's tone was edged like his own two swords, leaving a bitter aftertaste in everyone's mouths. The depth of his voice intimidated anyone within earshot and sent chills down each of their spines.

When Yato spoke that way, he almost sounded like his father. That realization didn't sit well with Hiyori.

The three sat in appalled silence for a second.

There was no beating around the bush anymore. If Masaomi wanted to be swallowed by the truth so badly, who was Yato to keep that from him?

The hidden smirk was evident in his voice, almost making light of the words he spoke so intently. That alone was the spark needed to light the fuse and cause an explosion.

Masaomi slammed the palm of his hand down against the table. His cheeks were colored with fury. It startled Hiyori and Yukine, gaining their attention as they instinctively leaned away.

"You think this is funny?" The man cried. "Are you messing with me?"

The god scoffed. "Maybe you just have a plain sense of humor."

"Wha-?!" Hiyori blinked at her lover in shock.

"The hell is going on with you?" Yukine demanded, gaping at him.

It was too much for him. Yato was plummeting inward on himself. And she couldn't bear to witness it.

The half-Phantom sucked back her emotions and reached her hand out to find his face among the hair concealing it.

"Y-Yato, just breathe…" Hiyori whispered gently.

As Hiyori helped to raise his head, Yato's features were revealed to her. She withdrew altogether from him, suddenly taken aback.

His eyes - with pupils slit - matched that of a feral animal targeting its prey. They were so frozen over with silent rage that it was impossible to turn away.

His gaze was boring into her soul, but somehow also looking right past her, missing the concern growing on her delicate face.

The person staring back at her was not Yato. It was Yaboku.

His promising, respectful attitude was not getting him his desired results, and so he had decided to surface his darker, crueler side in an attempt to shield the blows and lessen the wounds. All it took was one screw up.

It was Hiyori's fault - it had to be. Afterall, she had encouraged him to do it - she pushed him too far. It was the consequences of allowing him to be completely vulnerable to the memories of his shameful past.

Masaomi's throat ran dry. He swallowed hard.

"Just what kind of god are you…?" His voice shook as dread filled his stomach with lead.

The question was meant to be rhetorical - a remark to pinpoint the realization at just how twisted his true colors really were. It was not intended to be followed by an answer. However, it was provided to him either way.

"I'm a god of calamity," Yaboku replied with newfound confidence.

This sudden confidence was not at all reassuring. His ease with the words spoken was concerning.

Hiyori and Yukine gaped at him in utter shock and disbelief at his confession. It had been such a drastic turn. Yet, Masaomi only seemed lost to the god's response.

"Destruction and disaster. That's what I was born to do - that's all I do. It's the only thing I'm good at."

That appeared to startle the girl more than her brother at first. Hiyori frantically shook her head, refusing his claims. She immediately grabbed his arm with both hands as she tried to get his attention.

"N-no! It's not true! You're-"

"Hiyori."

His frighteningly unfamiliar tone caused Hiyori to pull away from him. She became speechless.

She nearly forgot that this wasn't her lover. This person was the distant version of him, the one without reason.

"Quit lying to yourself. That's always been who I am. Whether we like it or not…"

Yukine and Masaomi saw as Hiyori was at a sudden loss for words, stunned and insecure.

"W-what…?" She managed innocently. "What are you…-?"

"Alright, that's enough," Masaomi immediately jumped in. He practically leapt out his seat, the feet of the chair scraping against the floor as he quickly stood up.

"Get away from my sister!"

Yaboku remained seated for another few seconds, sending a venomous glare in the young man's direction. Then, he rose abruptly and turned towards the balcony door. Even the sight of the god's back descending away from him was enough for Masaomi's blood to boil.

Yukine caught Hiyori's eyes gesturing towards the door as well. Noticing her stern, yet worried expression, he knew what she was indirectly asking. Without questioning it, the Regalia stood up and followed his master to the balcony. The boy stayed by his side to ensure his safety while Hiyori focused on her brother again.

"Masaomi! What-?!"

"I need to know - are you safe…?" He interrupted her, already fuming at the use of his real name.

The sister was about to reassure him, but quickly shut up. Her gaze faltered, stumbling to the floor.

Memories of the Far Shore - of witnessing Yukine's Ablution, being spelled and kidnapped by Kugaha, dragging Yato out of Yomi, targeted during Fujisaki's attack on her family's hospital, crossing the line to the other side. All of it only screamed life-threatening danger.

But how was she supposed to explain that to her own worried brother?

"Hiyori?" Masaomi called louder.

She only bit her lip and decided not to respond.

"Please - tell me you understand how insane this all sounds. If Mother and Father heard everything I just did, they'd be losing their minds!"

"You scared him! That's why he was acting like that!" Hiyori argued back, finally standing up to meet her brother's level.

Masaomi shook his head in disbelief. "I scared him? Hiyori, at least try to think about someone other than your boyfriend for a minute."

Sometimes, it felt like Hiyori was the only one thinking about him. Sometimes, it felt like she was the only one who could see it - see him. As much as she noticed his mental anguish, she recognized his personal potential. Why couldn't others see it too? Was she just too forgiving?

"Maybe I'm thinking about my daughter. She needs her father, but you keep pushing him away."

"You've been pushing me away too! And you're right - I don't know him like you do," he explained, "but to me, Yato-san has only ever left and hurt you multiple times. I tried giving him second chances over and over - and I know you're not looking for my approval, but if you can actually prove me wrong and show me he's really a good person, I'd feel much better knowing you n' your daughter are gonna be okay…"

For the first time since her and her sibling's constant arguments, Hiyori stepped back to assess her actions. She was silent as she considered his words. The tension loosened in her shoulders, her arms dropping to her sides where she caressed her belly in thought.

"I'm sorry, Onii-chan…" she whispered, tears beginning in her eyes.

The conversation swirled around in Masaomi's head as he attempted to comprehend it all. He sighed heavily, seeming exhausted.

"I know…" he answered sympathetically. "Just…- let me rest and think about all this. You should do the same."

Hiyori nodded gently, and Masaomi retired to his bedroom.

She turned to see her lover sitting out on the apartment balcony, unmoving, with his Blessed Vessel standing by his side. The god remained slumped over with his head in his hands.