Yukine felt slightly sick.

It was like having a vortex of conflicting emotions swirling around in his chest, battering everything around itself. Anger, sadness, joy, resentment, loneliness, excitement, disappointment... The sheer chaos of it all made him dizzy with fear. What if Yato realized that Yukine had this many negative emotions about Hiyori's pregnancy? What if he thought that Yukine was too dangerous to have around her or the baby?

Breathe, don't let it get out of control, he warned himself. He knew, deep down, that in the end he'd have to come clean and tell Yato everything about his troubled soul, but thinking about doing it now was terrifying. Besides, Yukine understood that Hiyori needed Yato more than he did just now. He had to be strong and support her however he could.

Determined not to make a complicated situation even worse, he tamped down all his feelings as best as he could and decided to focus only on what he was able to do to help. As soon as he was sure that Hiyori was physically okay and that he wasn't needed for anything else, he excused himself from the chaos and walked three blocks to the nearest convenience store. He then counted out the handful of bills and coins in his rather forlorn wallet and bought as many cups of Hiyori's favorite pudding as he could afford.

I'm sure she could use something sweet right now, he thought as he made his way slowly back to Hiyori's house, slowly swinging the bag full of pudding back and forth. It was a small gesture, and he was a bit worried that maybe he should have bought her something healthier, but he really didn't know much about this sort of thing. Having been the little brother his whole life, Haruki didn't know any more than Yukine did.

Truthfully, he'd never really thought about kids before. He wasn't stupid, of course; even if Hiyori hadn't tutored him through the entirety of her high school curriculum, he had died in the middle of puberty, so he wasn't ignorant about sex or the consequences. Still, understanding how it worked hadn't really left an impression on his permanently 14-year old thoughts. In his mind, people grew up, got together, and eventually, far in the future, had or adopted kids. It'd never had anything to do with him, who, after all, was pretty much still a kid himself.

Hiyori is probably scared too, he thought. She had always been more mature than him, always the older one watching out for him, but truthfully they weren't that far apart in age. Even now, eighteen was hardly older than fourteen; no matter what society or the law said, it wasn't like she'd magically crossed a line that turned her from a child into an adult. Most likely, her understanding of parenthood was not much more evolved than his was.

Isn't this going to ruin her life? She was going to go to college, she was gonna grow up and be a normal adult. She has to be hoping it's all a mistake. She can't seriously want this.

He'd half-convinced himself that that was for the best, when a different thought struck him.

I wonder... did my mom want me when she heard she was pregnant? Wouldn't... wouldn't it have been better for everyone if she'd gotten rid of me too?

A knot formed in his stomach and too late he realized he'd probably stung Yato. "Shit," he muttered, taking a deep breath. Don't think about anything stupid, Yukine.

He tried to think something positive instead.

If she chose to keep the baby, Hiyori would be a good mom, he decided. She was kind and fun and always looked out for him. And she wasn't afraid to stand up to Yato when he was being a dick; that was important, Haruki agreed. Moms should protect themselves and their kids no matter what.

She won't need to though, not from Yato anyway. If there was anything Yukine had learned from his time as a shinki, it was that despite all his flaws and his rough exterior, Yato cared. More importantly, he wanted to care. He wanted to become a god that protected others, who would be remembered and loved. He had proven again and again that he was not the same, cruel god that had been born from a murderous wish. The Yato that Yukine served today would never, ever, maim his own child.

Hiyori's baby would be loved by both parents, safe and free to live a normal life. They would laugh, hope, and grow up. They would never have to learn to fear the dark.

Yukine stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, fighting the ugly resentment bubbling to the surface.

"Don't," he told himself, biting the inside of his cheek. "Not right now. Later, after Hiyori is okay."

Don't haunt me right now, Haru. Please... just go back to sleep.

Forcing himself to only think about Hiyori and her well-being, he soldiered on. A couple of minutes later, he found Yato waiting for him outside the gate with a distant, guarded expression. He looked worse for wear, with bruises and scratches on his face and arms, and for a second Yukine wondered if maybe he had been too preoccupied to notice getting stung.

"Y-Yato," he said, trying his best to fake innocence. "Where's Hiyori?"

Yato gave him a sad, knowing look, and Yukine knew he'd been found out. He tightened his fist, plastic digging into his palm, unable to look his master in the eye.

"Upstairs," Yato said quietly. "She's locked herself in her room, crying. I'll go to her in a minute. I just needed to make sure you were alright first." He put a hand on Yukine's shoulder, a paternal, worried gesture, but his kindness only made Yukine feel worse.

"I... I'm sorry," he muttered, hating how much his voice trembled as he avoided Yato's gaze.

"It's okay," said Yato. "I understand, Yukine. I'm the one who's sorry. I know you need me right now, and I want to talk with you about it as soon as possible, but Hiyori..."

"Yeah," Yukine said bitterly. "Hiyori comes first."

"That's not it, stupid," Yato scolded. "You're not second place, and you never will be. I don't know what the hell is gonna happen from now on, but nothing is gonna change the fact that you're my kid, alright? I'm never giving you or Hiyori up."

"... Yeah, whatever," muttered Yukine, unconvinced. I'm just your stupid Regalia, after all. You can play family all you want, but it doesn't really mean shit.

Yato flicked him between the eyes, hard.

"OW!"

"Dumbass, you're not fooling anyone," Yato said angrily. "Your heart is crying, right here," he said, hand on his own chest.

"Yeah?! And?!"

He was suddenly yanked into a rough, one-armed embrace. Yukine stiffened, caught between the need to cry and the petty desire to fling Yato off.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Quit bottling shit in! I'd rather get stung than see you hide how your really feel and get all fucked up over it," Yato said firmly. "You're only human, Yukine. It's natural to feel confused and upset right now. Stinging me ain't a problem. It's my fucking job as your master to accept your pain and learn from it. I won't die over something like this, understood?"

"..."

"I said, understood?"

Yukine sniffled. "Y-yeah... I got it."

Yato let go.

"C'mon," he said gently, ruffling Yukine's hair. "Let's go get Hiyori."

Yukine shook his head wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "Nah, it's okay," he said. "I think I might feel worse about it if I stay. Besides, you two should get the chance to be all gross and clingy without me there throwing up in the corner. I'll go home."

"Don't be stupid," Yato frowned. "Hiyori and I both want you there. You're a part of this family."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," said Yukine hesitantly. "But... I really don't wanna be there right now, if that's ok. I think I gotta calm down and get shit off my chest first. I don't want to make Hiyori worry about me."

"She always worries."

"Exactly. Let her worry about herself for a little while."

Yato sighed.

"As long as you promise you won't hide anything from me when I get back."

"... Yeah, I promise."

Yukine suddenly remembered the pudding and thrust the bag at Yato.

"Here, give this to her," he explained. "I got a lot, just in case. It's her favorite."

Yato took the bag and raised an eyebrow at the contents.

"Did you spend all your money on this?"

Yukine shrugged like it was no big deal. "It's Hiyori," he said, by way of explanation.

Yato gave a small chuckle.

"Yeah, it is." He reached over to give Yukine's hair one last ruffle, and Yukine closed his eyes, comforted by the gesture. "I'll see you later, kay? Hold down the fort."

He turned to go back inside.

"Hey... Yato?" Yukine said, before his nerve deserted him.

"Yeah?"

"D... don't make any big decisions without me, ok?"

Yato grinned at him.

"Yeah, no worries. Big brothers get a say in this too," he said, clearly teasing. He hopped on top of the fence and vanished onto the other side.

"S-stupid old man!" Yukine shouted, blushing. He could clearly hear the sound of Yato cackling as he went indoors.


"Yasumi, you alright?"

She blinked, brought back to attention by the sound of her name. It took her a moment to recognize the street they were on, a bustling thoroughfare loud with evening traffic. It was a bit out of the way, but Yukine hadn't been lying when he said they would take the scenic route. If a more direct street was poorly lit, he refused to go down it.

"Ayakashi and other bad things lurk in the shadows," he'd said curtly. Yasumi got the impression that it was more than that, but decided it was best not to ask. She didn't relish the thought of walking down a dark road after everything she'd seen and heard that day anyway.

"Oh... yeah," she said. "Sorry, I'm tired. I guess I just kinda spaced out again."

Yukine leaned forward to get a good look at her face, his unusual golden-brown eyes lit by the brightness of the neon signs and store windows. He was being oddly friendly, and Yasumi suspected that he was making an effort as an apology for Yato's behavior.

"Again, huh? So you're the spacey type," he said, obviously suppressing a grin. "Figures." The smile faded. "Still... you do look kinda pale. I guess today was... a lot."

She shrugged. "It's okay, I'd rather know the truth. And it wasn't so bad; I got to meet a real god, after all."

Yukine made a face. "That's hardly saying much, when it's just Yato."

Yasumi chuckled. "Well... he's definitely not what I expected a god might be like," she admitted.

"You and everyone else," Yukine scoffed. "He's got zero divine aura, and all he's good at is getting on people's nerves and slicing shit up. You wouldn't believe the trouble he causes. I'm always running around cleaning up after his damn messes."

Yasumi gave him a bracing pat on the shoulder.

"Hang in there, Yukine," she said seriously.

"Yeah, it's not like I can just quit anyway," he said, grimacing.

"Why's that?"

"Uhm... to be honest, not many gods would want to put up with my shit," he said, wincing. "I can't grow up, see. I'm stuck at the age where I died, no matter how many years pass."

When he died... she realized with horror. If that was true, then... Yukine had died when he was even younger than she was.

"Is... is being young bad for a Regalia?" she asked, hesitant.

"Well... sorta," he admitted. "Kids come with a lot of problems, but teenagers are kind of the worst. We've got too many half-assed thoughts and uncontrollable emotions. Not enough maturity to hold back when we should, not enough innocence to avoid temptation altogether. If a Regalia does something bad, or has impure thoughts, it hurts the god who named us. Thoughts and impulses turn to action and sin. They've got the potential to corrupt and destroy our masters."

He kicked at an empty can on the sidewalk in frustration, but a moment later he hurried forward to pick it up and throw it away.

"I'm not really a role model for good behavior," he said as he came back to her. "I'm fourteen years old. I fight, I hate, I care too much about dumb shit like what I wear and how I look. I lash out at people who worry about me. I like money and having cool things, and I can be an ungrateful ass. I notice cute girls on the street and think about stuff I shouldn't- hey! The hell are you going?!" he cried angrily as Yasumi immediately stepped away from him.

"I knew it, you did watch me get dressed the other day!" she hissed, settling into a defensive stance.

"No, I fucking didn't! I told you!"

"Liar!"

"LIsten to the rest, for fuck's sake!" he shouted, blushing. "I'm just a regular guy, alright?! I can't help being interested in shit like that!" He grit his teeth, avoiding her eye. "Look, even if I think about stuff like that sometimes, if I gave in and did something as terrible as peeking on purpose, it would corrupt Yato. But even just thinking it, for one tiny moment... that's still enough to cause my master pain. That's just how it is for us Regalia, and that's exactly why most gods don't want brats like me as shinki. I'm too unstable, too prone to thinking impure thoughts. Any other god would have killed or fired me for even stinging them once; that's how dangerous I can be. Being a strong weapon doesn't matter if you end up killing your own master.

"Yato... Yato is probably the only guy stupid enough, or maybe just plain desperate enough, to keep me around after all the crap I've put him through. I'm... I'm a burden. Nobody in their right mind would want to keep me," he finished, voice faltering. He leaned back against the street railing, withdrawn and clearly upset.

She hesitated, feeling bad for calling him out. It wasn't like she was a saint. Most of the things Yukine had admitted to really were just examples of normal human pettiness. Yasumi also had the impulse to steal or lie from time to time. She thought about sex too, and about how good it would feel to kick her cousins' asses, just cause they had the Sight and she didn't. She'd even wondered what it might be like to kill someone before. Just because she thought it, didn't mean she would do it. If she did give in and did something stupid, or caused someone a bit of trouble, no one was going to kill her over it either. It was just human nature. It seemed cruel to blame Yukine for moments of weakness, or for him to think he was a bad person, unwanted over them.

"I don't think it's like that," Yasumi said frankly.

"Huh?"

"I think... Yato, your god, really depends on you," she said. "He looked really pleased when he was bragging about how strong you are. It was like he was showing you off, like everyone should be jealous not to have you. I doubt someone who thinks you're a genius would think of you as a burden he has to put up with."

She thought that might cheer him up, but it only seemed to make him look even more guilt-ridden.

"That... it's not that simple," he muttered. "If you knew..."

He fell silent, and Yasumi realized that she'd gone too far. It wasn't her place to rip open his wounds just because she was curious, and it wasn't right to trivialize his feelings just because she, an outsider, thought she knew better.

"Sorry," she said, coming to stand next to him. "I'm an idiot, so just ignore me."

She leaned back against the railing, giving Yukine a moment to quiet moment to gather himself back together. The iron bars were cold against her legs, but she didn't mind too much as she watched the crowd ebb and flow around them.

It was curious, she thought, how so many different people could all exist together at once. Men in fancy suits strode past, arguing loudly into their phones, touching shoulders with college students milling around outside a nearby bar, laughing at a dirty joke. A pair of office workers gossiped happily about a co-worker, while a woman in jogging clothes snickered at their conversation. Parents held their children by the hand, leading them through the crowd as high-pitched voices cheerfully recounted the day's adventures. Nearby, a guy with a menacing expression helped a pair of elderly ladies cross the street safely before jumping onto a motorcycle and roaring past.

Every one of them was alive, but they all had their own stories, their own lives. They had hopes, dreams, fears, pain... Just like Yukine did. He might be dead, but he was entitled to his fears and sadness. Yasumi too. After all, whether the servants or hosts of gods, the fact that they both held human hearts didn't change.

After a few minutes, she pushed away from the railing and dusted off the back of her shorts.

"Let's go, it's getting late," she said. He nodded and followed suit. "Oh, and I guess I forgive you for peeking on me," she said seriously.

"I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO THAT!"

She grinned, pleased that he'd taken the bait.

"Sure," she said lightly. "Whatever you say." She set off through the crowd, letting her school bag hit the back of her legs as she went. In the background, she heard him make a sound of frustration and he hurried to catch up.

"Sometimes, I really don't like you," he said through his teeth as he returned to his post as her guard.

"The feeling is mutual, don't worry," she said cheerfully.

"Bitch."

"Asshole."

They both glared for a moment, and then the tension broke and they both snorted, unable to contain a fit of laughter.

"By the way," Yasumi said once they'd both calmed down, remembering something as she watched a couple holding hands come toward them. "About Yato..."

"Yeah?"

"I was surprised," she said, thinking back. "He was a bit scary sometimes, but I definitely understand why he drives you insane. Knowing that someone like that has a girlfriend kinda pisses me off. No wonder the world is so unfair."

Yukine grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Right?! It's totally unfair. Where's the justice? Where's my cute girlfriend, huh?!"

"I'll let you know when you find mine," she scoffed.

He shook his head. "Man, I'll never understand how he managed it, or what she sees in him."

"And she's super pretty, even!" Yasumi noted jealously. "Is she a god too?"

Yukine blanched and turned to her in alarm.

"You saw her?!"

She took a step back, startled.

"I-I think so? When I saw him, he was walking and arguing with a girl. Long, dark brown hair, kinda old-fashioned? She looked like she could have been the daughter of an aristocratic family or something. Oh, but she was crazy strong too."

"Did she see you?! Speak to you?!"

"N-no," Yasumi stammered. "I was hiding, 'cause you told me to stay away from guys in black tracksuits."

Yukine sighed with obvious relief.

"Okay... good."

"W-why? Is something wrong with her?"

His mouth set into a thin line.

"She's... she's also on the bad side of Heaven," he said carefully. "If they found her, they'd kill her too. It's too risky to have you both in the same place, especially once the ritual is complete and you bond with Ame; you could bring unwanted attention to her, and she could also make it easier for Heaven to find you. If you ever see her, or Yato, again, do everything you can do avoid them. And don't ever talk to them without me around, got it?"

Yasumi remembered Yato's unnerving gaze and shuddered.

"Yeah... got it," she agreed. "Is... is Yato always like that?" she asked. "Like two completely different people at the same time?"

Yukine sighed.

"Not really," he said. "Usually, he's just his normal, annoying self. He's just... kinda stressed out right now. Yato hates the way Heaven does things on any normal day, but when people he knows and cares about are in danger... he can be fucking reckless. Sometimes to the point that without me around, he might do shit he shouldn't."

He suddenly tugged her aside, and a group of younger kids ran past, laughing.

"It's not that I don't trust him," he said a moment later. "Yato hasn't hurt humans in a long while, and he hates doing it. Still... I don't want to risk not being around to stop him if he ever feels cornered. If he has to choose between you and someone else..." he trailed off. "I'd rather avoid that situation no matter what. Just don't go looking for trouble."

"... I'm not going anywhere near him on my own," she said, shaking her head. "I can take care of myself just fine, but... I get the feeling that if he were serious, I'd never be able to touch him."

"Probably not," he agreed. "You've got good instincts, if you could tell that much just from meeting him once. He's pretty good at fooling people into thinking he's harmless."

"Somehow, that scares me more than it should."

Yukine nodded. "Yeah, sometimes it scares me a little too."


Hiyori was roused from an uneasy rest by a gentle knocking sound. She stirred, reluctant to leave the comfortable warmth against her side. It smelled good, and made her feel safe. She nuzzled into it, meaning to go back to sleep, when someone spoke.

"You two really cried yourself out, huh."

She sleepily opened an eye, a bit cross at having been woken. Someone she knew well was standing over her, an exasperated look on their face. She groaned.

"I'm tired, Onii-san," she murmured, letting her eyes droop closed.

"I can see that," he said, and Hiyori wondered why he sounded amused.

Not right now, she thought. Right now, she was sleepy, and all she wanted to do was stay in Yato's arms until-

She sat up immediately, ignoring Yato's sleepy grunt of complaint as she left his embrace.

"M-Masaomi-nii-san!" she cried, blushing and tucking her flyaway hair behind her ear. "H-how long...?"

Her brother checked his watch lazily. "A couple hours. Mom wasn't home so I figured it was okay to let you guys sleep it off after all that crying. I didn't think you idiots had actually passed out in the doorway though, or I would've woken you earlier." He nodded at Yato, still asleep next to her. "I'm having trouble remembering the details, but this is him, isn't it? The Yato guy you're dating?"

"Y... yes," she admitted, to embarrassed to look up.

"I know him," Masaomi noted simply. "I hired him once, even. He's from the other Side, isn't he?"

Yato chose that moment to stir, groaning as he sat up sleepily.

"Hiyori...?" he yawned. "What...?" He frowned and squinted at Masaomi, who stared right back, definitely enjoying himself.

"We meet again, Yato-san."

Yato blinked once and then literally hissed like a cat, throwing an arm in front of Hiyori.

"Bastard, if you even try to hurt her-" he began, but then recognition hit him and he faltered. "Oh. Just the big brother, what the heck," he mumbled, all the tension in his shoulders dissipating. He yawned again, stretching his arms over his head. "I thought it was something important."

"Yato," she scolded, smacking him on the side of the head.

"Ow! Don't hit me," he complained. "I told you, he saw me earlier. If he was going to do something, he wouldn't have let me talk to you alone. Isn't that right, big brother?" he asked, getting to his feet.

Masaomi raised an eyebrow. "He's pretty cocky, isn't he?" he said, addressing Hiyori. She flushed with shame.

"Y-you're being rude, Yato!" she said angrily, yanking him back down to the floor, where he crashed face first.

"OW! THAT HURT!"

"SHUT UP!"

Masaomi gave an exasperated sigh. "As amusing as this is, Mom will be home in an hour or so. I'd rather have this conversation in private, without her prying, if you don't mind."

Yato looked up at him coolly.

"If you're gonna tell me to leave and never come back, don't bother," he said flatly. "That kid is mine, and I won't leave Hiyori behind for anything. If you try to force her to choose something she doesn't want, you'll regret it too. You've been warned," he said, eyes flashing dangerously.

Masaomi rolled his eyes. "Spare me the posturing, Yato-san. I only care about my sister's well-being. I have no intention of forcing her to do anything."

"Masaomi-nii-san..." she said, relieved, as Yato helped her to her feet.

"Come on," he said, gesturing for them to follow. "We'll talk in my office."

He led them downstairs and showed them to his clinic, where he offered the two of them chairs.

"I don't remember all the details," he began as he sat behind his desk, "but I know we've met before, Yato-san."

Yato nodded. "Yeah, it was a few years ago."

"I've seen you around my sister a few times since, but yes, that's right. I also remember that you're not from the world of the living."

Yato crossed his arms and scowled. "Don't say it like I'm some vengeful spirit or something! I'm a bona-fide god, damn it all!"

Masaomi gave him an incredulous stare and turned to his sister.

"Hiyori, please don't tell me you fell for that line."

She hid her face in her hands. "I know, he's unbelievably suspicious!" she wailed. "I also thought he was a deluded, dangerous weirdo at first!"

Yato made a noise like he'd been hit. "You too, Hiyori?!" he asked in a strangled tone.

"But..." she said, lowering her hands into her lap. "He might look like that, and say crazy-sounding things, but it's all true," she said firmly. "Yato is a real god."

Her brother scratched his head with a bemused expression.

"I've seen all kinds of things, all types of ayakashi and ghosts, but a god is still a little..."

Yato shrugged, putting his feet up on the desk even as Hiyori shrieked in horror at his bad manners. "Believe whatever you want," he scoffed. "It doesn't change the fact that I'm the Yato god, or that that's my kid inside Hiyori right now."

He and Masaomi stared each other down, a heavy tension settling over them all.

"Okay," her brother said simply, breaking it in one word.

"HAH?!" Hiyori and Yato both cried in disbelief.

"The hell you mean 'okay'"?!" Yato demanded, slamming the desk with his hand. "I'm a god, you know!? An actual god! And I got your sister pregnant! What the fuck's with the lukewarm reaction?!"

"He's right!" Hiyori insisted. "He's like this, you know?!" she said, gesturing at Yato furiously ("Hiyori, I'm seriously gonna cry, please stop," he said, hurt) "Be a little more upset, Masaomi-nii-san!"

He shrugged.

"What's done is done," he said. "I was upset at first, but it's not like me being angry is gonna change the fact that this is the guy you're sleeping with, or that you were careless-"

"Hold on," Yato interrupted. "You can say whatever you want about me, but Hiyori didn't do anything wrong," he argued. "I never even touched her-!"

Hiyori immediately clamped her hands over his mouth.

"You've said enough," she growled.

"You're saying you're not the father?" Masaomi frowned.

"No, I am," Yato declared, almost proudly, as he tugged her hands down. "But I'm saying she's still- MMF!"

"Ignore this idiot," Hiyori said coldly, shutting him up again before he could do more damage. "But... he's definitely the father. There's no mistake," she muttered, red-faced. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Onii-san."

"I'm not disappointed," Masaomi sighed. "I'm just worried. This is your life, Hiyori. You're eighteen years old, and you haven't even been accepted to college yet. Dating is one thing, but a kid at this age? Are you going to quit school? And you," he said, addressing Yato. "Whether or not you're a real god, do you have the ability and means to do your part in this mess? You look like you're barely in college yourself."

Yato drew himself up slightly.

"No matter what we decide, I'll do whatever I have to for Hiyori's sake," he swore.

"And you sis? Do you know what you want to do?"

Hiyori shook her head, fidgeting with her hands in her lap. "I... I don't know yet. But I want to properly talk it over before I make up my mind."

Masaomi nodded grimly. "Okay. When you do, come find me right away. I'd like to get this straightened out before Mom and Dad figure it out for themselves."


Yukine was working on some math problems to keep himself busy when a light knock came from the window in the loft. He looked up and was surprised to find Hiyori waving at him.

"Hiyori?!" he said, hurrying over to open the window. "What are you doing?! You shouldn't be climbing and jumping around in your condition!" She hopped in and smoothed her skirt.

"Which is exactly what I said!" Yato growled, climbing in just behind her. "What were you going to do if you fell, Hiyori?!"

Hiyori glared at him. "You fussed the WHOLE way here!" she complained. "I told you, I'm fine! I don't have any problems in my apparition form!" True to her word, Yukine saw her Cord dart irritably behind her.

"You say that, but your apparition form is literally how you got pregnant in the first place!"

"NOT IN FRONT OF THE REGALIA, THANK YOU," Yukine said loudly, blushing.

Hiyori acted as though she hadn't heard either of them, but the faint pink on her cheeks gave her away. "Thank you for the pudding, Yukine-kun," she smiled. "It was exactly what I needed."

Yato skulked toward the rolled up futons and fell back on them tiredly.

"Man, what a day! I'm exhausted," he groaned. "Is there anything to eat, Yukine?"

"Not for you," Yukine snapped, annoyed at his casual behavior. He pulled the window closed and followed Hiyori as she sat at the table.

"Oh, you got pretty far!" she noted, flipping through his notebook. "I'll have to bring you the next textbook later."

"It's fine," Yukine said, anxious after spending all day trying not to dwell on negative thoughts. He tugged the book out of her hands. "I don't care about that right now."

Hiyori's eyes softened and she reached over to rub the top of his head, echoing the same gesture Yato often made when Yukine felt insecure.

"Yeah," she said gently. "You've waited long enough, Yukine-kun."

A faint memory came to mind of another time when someone had tousled his hair like that.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Haru!"

The tears came unbidden, splashing onto his homework.

"I... I hate this!" he wailed. "I... I don't want to be left behind!"

Hiyori and Yato exchanged glances, and he got off the futons to join them.

"We're not leaving you behind, stupid," Yato said gruffly, tucking the boy's head against his shoulder and patting him on the back reassuringly. "When did we ever say we were?"

"B-but, you don't... hic... need me, if you... hic... have your own kid!"

"Who the fuck said that? That's fucking ridiculous, Yukine. Of course I need you, you are my own kid!"

Hiyori sat on Yukine's other said and took his hand.

"Yukine-kun, no one could ever replace you," she said gently. "Not another Regalia, or another child. Yato treasures you more than anything. You're my treasure too, you know?"

Yukine sobbed, clutching her fingers tightly.

"I'm never throwing you away," Yato said firmly. "I don't care if you hate me and curse me, your home is with me and Hiyori. Hell, just try to leave! I'll go drag your ass back here where you belong. I named you, didn't I?"

"I won't be your one and only... hic... anymore!"

"That doesn't mean you're not a part of this family," Yato said, sighing. "Or that you're not as important in it."

"I know I'm not that much older than you, Yukine-kun, and you probably don't think of me like this," Hiyori said, "But to me, you're like my little brother, my best friend, and my own child, all at once. It sounds weird but... It just means I love you three times as much!" she said earnestly. "Even if I have this child, and raise it with you and Yato, they're not going to erase how I feel about you! They'll just be your little brother or sister, and then you can love them like I love you."

He cried louder, and Yato gave him another pat. "You hear that? You have nothing to worry about, Yukine. I know you're scared, scared you're gonna resent the kid, or that we won't pay attention to you anymore. I also know that no matter what we say now, there are going to be times you'll feel lonely and jealous. That's okay," he insisted. "We'll listen to you every time you wanna cry."

"Yato... Hiyori...!"

Hiyori leaned against him and Yato adjusted his arm to pull her into the hug too.

"Tell us all about it, okay?" she said, stroking his hair. "And then, when you're all done, let's decide what to do, together."

"Just take it one feeling at a time," Yato added as Yukine struggled to find his words. "We've got all the time in the world."


Yasumi had never really paid attention to the little shrine in the corner of the parlor before. Every birthday and holiday, she'd been forced to bow and clap and pray to it, but it hadn't interested her in the least. Now though, she couldn't help but feel it calling to her, drawing her in with the same mysterious spell Yato had cast.

As soon as Hana had retreated to her bedroom for the evening, Yasumi crept downstairs and turned on the light in the parlor. Quietly, she knelt on the tatami in front of the shrine, held her hands together, and bowed.

Ame-sama, I'm sorry I never believed in you before, she thought. She mentally recited a few prayers, and then sat up to get a better look at the shrine itself.

It was a little wooden shelf, with several figurines laid carefully out over it. There were a couple of the usual gods, the ones that brought luck and good health, but the one that commanded attention was the centerpiece, a delicate carving of a small, young woman, hardly older than a girl, kneeling in prayer with marked concentration. She wore a beautiful white kimono embroidered with red lilies, and her flowing, dark hair tumbled over her shoulders like water. Across her knees lay a dagger with a curved handle.

That has to be her, Yasumi thought, her attention drawn to the lily pattern.

She picked up the carving gingerly and turned it in her hands. The flowers had looked red against the white paint, but now she could see that they were almost brown, as though they had rusted over the years.

"...as long as they have something with Ame's blood on it enshrined in their homes..."

Yasumi set the figurine down hastily, feeling a bit queasy. She wasn't afraid of blood, but something about seeing Yato's story validated by physical proof made everything seem somehow more real.

She turned her attention to some of the simpler figurines. Some were painted wood, like Ame's, while a few were made of porcelain or metal. There were two without any paint at all, and a wooden one at the very back that was crude and hard to identify. Behind the shrine sat a photograph of Yasumi's father as he had been in life, laughing and unfairly good looking. He'd been a bit of a clown, though, so Hana often said the scales balanced out. The incense tray lay empty, so Yasumi took a match from the box next to the shrine and lit a stick for him.

Hi, dad, she thought, letting the familiar, smoky scent fill her nostrils. I miss you.

She held her hands together and clapped as soundlessly as she could, directing her prayers back at her Guardian Deity.

Please watch over everyone, Ame-sama, until I can come and meet you myself.

She got to her feet, wondering if back on the family shrine somewhere, a god really was listening.

Notes: I just got my second vaccine dose so if anything in this chapter is total and utter nonsense, I blame my fatigue and headache. I have no excuses for the rest oTL