Hey there!

Sorry this update took a while. Anyway, this chapter is some re-hashing of the beginning of Noragami with some Yato introspection, but I think it is important to get Yato's first impression of Hiyori. Next chapters will have more original material mixed in with manga material. So tell me what you think, okay? ;)

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NORAGAMI.

[PART II- WORLD'S COLLIDE; REACTION]

Not too long ago, Yato awoke from his dream. His world that had turned two-dimensional and grayscale had gained depth once more. Maybe it was that word- "save"- and maybe it was the aftermath of fulfilling that shinki's wish, but for once his deeds had not resulted in total destruction and he couldn't shake that feeling.

All he had ever known was what his Father had taught him...and then Sakura taught him something different, but now he wanted to find out for himself what was right and what he was capable of doing.

All he had ever known was killing, but that couldn't be all he was good at; he wanted to prove it.

Yato had always been a curious child and he supposes that it was his curiosity that had always led him down a more difficult path. He was driven and once that spark was ignited, he'd move forward, but it became hard to move forward when unforeseen factors came up.

He'd chosen a difficult path. How many gods of calamity had changed their ways and been recognized?

His Father and Nora were something that he was bound to, and despite the distance he created, they were a constant voice in his head telling him to return. That voice always appeared when Yato was at his weakest and it served to crack the earth beneath his feet.

Despite his outward appearance and the smiles he'd put on for Kofuku or even his shinki, he always held doubts and he was anxious because he was fighting against a clock. Father was allowing him this freedom and Yato needed to make something of himself so that he could no longer be bound to them.

It was like starting from zero; Yato had nothing and he tried to make connections, but he couldn't get his message across. Shinki would leave and he'd make a big show and tell them how they'd regret leaving such an "awesome master", but then he'd just smile as he release them. Every time a shinki left, he realized that he was lacking. He didn't have authority and there were also those times when he would leave suddenly- to help Father and appease him. His life was unstable and those shinki deserved stability.

His life was made up of constant interruptions and his sake bottle that housed all his earnings rang with emptiness. When the night would settle in and he'd lay with his back on his bench-yeah... he liked to think it was his- he realized that at five yen per job he'd have a long way to go.

The shrine and followers he dreamt of, it all seemed rather greedy, but they were just an added bonus. What he wanted was to be someone that did more than destroy, he wanted to create something... but then he thought of his Father.

"You have no need for a shrine...you have me, Yaboku."

Like molding wet sand, whatever he could make would dry out and fall apart.

He wondered if he made the right choice. He would not exist if it was not for his Father. He knew that truth...he resented and feared it.

Yato had once found an abandoned book on the floor and out of pure curiosity and also the fact that he didn't have anything to, he picked it up and flipped through the pages. It was then that something stuck out to him, a line in the book that kept being repeated over and over: "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." *****

He had thought that they were pretty words, but they seemed to ring empty in that moment and they stung. He was a god of calamity and that's all he had ever known: destruction, manipulation, and loss. What he wanted...he didn't think the universe would grant it for him, but he still held onto those words.

The cycle of Yato's life: gaining a new shinki, doing jobs for Father, doing jobs with his shinki, having his shinki leave, and then being on his own- it was suddenly interrupted by something that Yato could not control.

From the beginning, Yato felt it...a pull and a buzzing that surrounded her. She woke up a part of him that laid dormant… it was her eyes and how they seemed to burn with conviction and honesty. It was hard, but against his better judgement, Yato reacted to her existence and then there was no turning back.

From the start, her existence was unsettling. With Tomone's recent departure, going through the town felt eerily silent- he was like a ghost to the world and he tried to fill it with his own noise to drown out the doubts that lingered.

Silence was deafening and as if someone had heard his innermost thoughts, one day he was finally noticed and his breath caught in his throat. Red violet eyes met his own and embarrassment prickled at his skin when he realized he probably looked a bit odd calling out in the crowd as he looked for a boy's cat.

Her eyes did not look past or through him and there was a reassurance in that. 'I still exist.' Although...he wondered why this human could see him when no one else could. Did she have a wish?

His eyes slightly strayed when he found the cat named Majesty. Yato could still feel her gaze on him as he rushed out into the street to claim the cat and his skin prickled. He failed to notice the bus that was coming his way; he only felt her hands on his back and a push.

That was the catalyst.

Things seemed to be moving too fast for his mind to comprehend. He'd been seen by a human, and being the only one to notice him, she had gone out of her way to save him. He was a stranger and a god who would have been unharmed, but she did not know that, and yet he felt surprise and an overwhelming warmth.

Something unusual had occurred. The girl sat on the ground before him and lectured him about pedestrian safety, but he could hear voices calling out a name and a crowd forming around a body in front of the bus; there were two of this girl. The one in front of him vanished before he could try to tell her anything and he watched as the ambulance came and took her body.

He lingered on that same sidewalk and looked at the street until he decided that he should go check up on her; her soul had split from her body. Sighing, he remembered that the cat had gotten away; he'd have to look for it later.

"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction"

Yato managed to catch up to the ambulance and he waited outside the building until those that were visiting the girl were gone. When he finally managed to talk to her alone, he noticed the slow recognition of who he was dawn upon her and his smile suddenly felt tight; she'd forget him completely soon enough.

The accident had given her a few interesting abilities, but for the most part she seemed fine. She was alive- he was thankful that "saving" him hadn't resulted badly. She saved him and he made sure she was alright, they were even now. As he prepared to leave she began to ask him questions and he didn't bother to answer because there was no point. They wouldn't be meeting again and she'd go back to her human life.

Except they did…and she still remembered him.

Oddly enough, as Yato faced the frog-looking ayakashi and felt the tug on his hand, he couldn't think of anyone else it could be, but her. Majesty trembled beneath his jersey jacket and Yato was starting to feel fatigue weighing on his body, but he couldn't stop himself from looking at this girl and asking 'Why?'

Why was she here? How did she find him? Why did she still remember him...and briefly seeing a swish of purple, 'Why was she in her phantom form again?'

This girl was stubborn. She'd managed to still remember him and had found him through the cat. Words were stuck in his throat and he wanted to tell her to leave, but then the ayakashi found them again and he just watched in wonder as she kicked it into unconsciousness. He could see her knees tremble slightly afterwards and he felt his lip twitch upwards, but he tried to hold it back.

He couldn't understand the situation. She came back and saved him again and he didn't know what to do with her. Her questions wouldn't stop and he didn't want any attachments. He'd screwed up when he went to visit her and had only ignited her curiosity, but he needed to draw that line again.

"Your phantom slipped out," he said drawing away from all of her questions. Shock filled her eyes as she turned to look at her tail and she asked, "What am I supposed to do?"

Shrugging and wanting to leave- her presence made his body prickle uncomfortably- "Nothing to do...might as well get used to it."

Her brow wrinkled and she grimaced, "Please there has to be something that I can do. Save-"

Her words cut off and she disappeared once again, probably into her body. He sighed and his chest felt tight. It was that word, it was this girl... she had saved him and a heavy feeling in his chest lingered. Tightening his fists, he went to go look for her body and he decided he'd help her.

He'd grant her wish and then they'd be done, this was just for her saving him again.

The words felt empty. Ever since he'd met this girl...ever since he met Hiyori he'd felt something inescapable. She was unpredictable and had remembered him and something about that made him feel that he couldn't write her off even if he wanted to.

Maybe it was too late already. He'd sealed a promise to her in the form of a wish and whether he liked it or not, they were already tied together- god and a half-phantom girl...what an odd pair they made.

...

Ties had been formed, and Hiyori...well, she'd make sure to double knot them.

***** This is a quote from Paulo Coelho's book, The Alchemist. It's really a lovely book that encourages you to go after your dreams. Re-reading it, I found that a lot of quotes made me think of Yato and Hiyori, and I could not resist, haha.

Thanks for reading. ^~^