Psh, god of war my ass.

Hiyori walked on the trail home. It was sunny, which varied greatly from the cloudy, almost stormy morning. Earlier, the atmosphere of the town had been dark, it seemed like gloom had been lurking over it. It was during that time she met Yatogami, or Yato, she assumed. Because she couldn't believe he was a god that easily. She wanted proof.

Hiyori had always believed in Gods. Such as Lord Tenjin, Bishamonten, Ebisu, and Okuninushi. There were even local shrines dedicated to other, more minor, local gods. But surely, if Yato, or "Yatogami" as he had said, were actually a god, wouldn't she have heard about him?

Hiyori shifted the bag of books on her shoulder and the raspberries under her arm. Her sandals clicked against the dry path, kicking up flakes of dust as she walked.

If I prayed, to this so called "Yatogami" would he grant my wish? How can I possibly prove something like this?

Hiyori continued walking down the path to her home. Once she was there, she set the raspberries delicately on the wooden table in the kitchen. "Mom!" Hiyori called. "I'm home with the raspberries!"

Hiyori's mom came running into the kitchen crying and hugging Hiyori "Hiyori, thank the gods you're alright!" She screamed through her tears.

"Huh?" She tilted her head, trying to calm her mom down. "Why wouldn't I be alright?"

"There's been a murder, said it was a young girl with long brown hair. I thought it was you! I was so scared." explained her mother, balancing her breathing while wiping her cheeks and eyes.

A murder? In town? While I was in town? How come I didn't know about this?!

"But how? There were no screams or anything... I never saw anyone rushing in a panic..."

In fact, Hiyori reflected, It was quite the opposite. Slow and gloomy.

"That's the thing." Her mother replied. "Once they found her, the samurai* had said there had been no evidence of struggle. And when they questioned neighbors, they'd said they heard no screaming. Now the small town is in hot debate over whether it's a person or an evil spirit."

An evil spirit.

Hiyori thought of Yatogami, and his cold eyes that seemed to be void of emotion. She remembered the girl, who'd been smiling over dead flowers. "Flowers are so pretty, too bad they die so easily." She had said.

Once Hiyori really pondered it, the phrase gave her a feeling of edginess. Now that I think about it, that's a really creepy thing to say.

"Who made the statement that it was an evil spirit?" Inquired Hiyori.

Her mom looked back at her from looking away, her frightened eyes trembling slightly. "The priest at Lord Bishamontens shrine."

"Oh" was all Hiyori could say. She huffed and decided to go out, leaving abruptly without saying goodbye. She could hear her mom saying her name, but she didn't care.

I need answers.

Hiyori ran out, hopping from one place to another, surprised at her newfound agility. Must be the adrenaline. She gave herself speed by pushing from tree to ground, and she felt lighter than she'd ever been.

"Look...one of...us...lets...her...lets ... take ...her."

Hiyori looked up and saw a giant ugly blob above her. It was littered with eyes that wiggled. Those things... She remembered the night, she'd seen them walking home for just a second. What are they?

The ugly blob stretched itself and swung at her, and she narrowly dodged and missed her footing onto the ground. She fell harshly, but she got up and took off in a sprint.

That thing is gonna kill me!

She kept running but her luck ran out and she tripped, hitting her head on the hard earth. Agh...

She felt something wrap around her foot, and when she looked she saw the aquamarine creature wrap itself around her ankle, pulling her in. She struggled, kicking her feet as hard as she could to try and escape. She tried gripping the ground, hoping the tension would make the creature release her.

"Someone help! Please help me, Please! Someone! HELP ME, Yatogami!" It was a desperate attempt, but she had tried it. The monster still sucked her in, and when she for sure thought she was going to die, she heard an ugly, distorted groan. She felt someone grab her hand, and begin running.

"Come on!" shouted the voice. "Run!"

She got up and ran equal to his pace, shocked of who was with her. Yatogami...

"Over here!" He heard him yell, and saw him running towards a shrine, "Wha...?" She hesitated.

"Do you wanna die?! Then, Come. Here!"

She ran to the shrine, diving into it before the creature could catch her with its huge mouth. It lingered for a moment, uttering sounds that would make any normal person want to die; before leaving as if they'd never been there.

Hiyori's breath was uneven, as she kept forgetting to breath and gasping as she remembered. She held her head between her hands, her mind was on overdrive.

"Hiyori-san. Hiyori. Iki Hiyori. Gods, you're an interesting one. This is the second time you've bothered me today" Yato spoke, snapping her out of her panic. Hiyori turned towards him, a fierce determination in her eyes that held an essence of fear. "Can you please tell me what in the hell that was?! And what in the hell are you?!"

Yato sighed, leaning back on the steps of tenjin's shrine. "That ugly thing? A phantom. Really bad news. They will try to kill you. Anyways. Me? I'm a god, like I told you. Now tell me, what are you, Hiyori-san?"

Huh? What am I? Isn't that obvious? "I'm a human, of course!" She retorted sassily.

Yato smirked and raised a brow. "Are you sure about that?" He teased, pointing to something behind her.

Hiyori brought her gaze behind her, and saw what seemed to be a slightly transparent but clearly visible pink tail that followed her. "Eh?! What the hell is that?!"

She swatted it, trying to make it go away. She even pulled at it, but it turned out, it was sensitive and it hurt. So that's how it is huh. I have a tail. But why?

"But wh-"

"I need to get back to my home. And you need to get back to your body. I'll escort you, let's go." He interrupted abruptly. He got up up and pulled Hiyori to her feet. Back to my body...? "Wait-"

"Let's go." He insisted, and she gave in, walking out with him. She pouted, taking back her hand and folding it in her arms.

He smells...nice.

/

In this chapter, by saying "samurai" i am referring to those similar to police in the heian era.