Hi all! Shoutout to paulavara140 for reviewing! I don't own the world of Noragami. It belongs to Adachitoka sensei!

I slowly opened my eyes, the afternoon sun rays blinding me for a moment, causing me to shut them once more. I groaned as I tried to sit up, my body feeling bruised. "Please don't move, my lady," the physician said as he gave me something to drink. "You're awake," Bishamon said as she leaned against the door, her purple catlike eyes staring at me. "How long was I out?" I asked as I tried to sit up, the physician gently fluffing my pillows for me. "About three days," she said as she entered.

"Three days…" I mumbled when I remembered Akito lying in a pool of his on blood, barely even breathing. "Akito…" I muttered as I tried to get up. "Easy. You're body is still healing from the blight," the physician said as he rubbed some herbs on my back. I winced, the medicine seeping into my bones. "I need to see him," I said as I tried to swing my feet over. "You're one stubborn goddess," Bishamon sighed as she wheeled out a wheelchair for me.

"Get on," she said and she and the physician gently helped me onto the chair, the chair creaking slightly as they wheeled me down the hall. Yukine was standing outside, his hands in his coat as he paced up and down the hall. Daikoku looked worried as well, puffing away at his cigarette until it vanished before replacing it with another. "Aiko-sama," they said as they saw me approaching. "I'm sorry to make you worry about Akito. How is he?" I asked. "He's been sleeping for days now. The old doc said he should be fine," Daikoku said as he opened the door for us to enter.

The inside of the room was flooded with sunlight, its rays falling on Akito, who lay peacefully on the bed. His chest rose and fell slightly, his breathing soft. "Ayato barely missed his heart. He ruptured a few organs but he managed to heal fast," the physician said as he dabbed some medicine on Akito, who flinched slightly in his sleep. "It's a wonder how a Shinki could love his master so much as to sacrifice themselves for them. You truly have a good Shinki, Aiko," Bishamon said as I watched him sleep.

"Can you leave us for a moment," I whispered, my hands shaking as I tried not to cry. It was my entire fault that Akito was in bed like this, his life barely scrapping through the incident. "Of course," they said as they exited, closing the doors behind them. As they talked to the Shinki outside, I slowly wheeled myself to Akito's side, touching his hand. It felt so cold…

"Akito… I'm so sorry you're like this," I whispered, stroking his hand. He breathed softly, his breath filling the room with calm. "I had a Shinki like you once, a long time ago. His name was Haruto," I said, feeling it was time to confess. "He stayed by my side when no one did. He guided me and molded me to become a goddess of love like never before, always there for me even at the darkest of times. That was when I fell I love with him," I whispered as the tears slowly came.

"I… I know that it is wrong for a god to fall in love with a Shinki. But I did it anyway. He was so kind and special… I loved him with all my heart. I never questioned his loyalty, for he never stung me even once. However, one day I found out he was a Nora…" I said as the tears dripped onto the bed sheet. I gripped it, my nails digging into my palms.

"When I found out, I revoked his name. He didn't even flinched, saying he was glad to be free from me. I was so heartbroken and since then, I couldn't bring myself to love anyone or trust them. I felt if I were to trust or love someone, they would leave me like Haruto did… and looked what happened to them now," I said as I wiped my face. "I am truly sorry. I really am. For putting you in this position, I know the burden you have to carry for having to be my guidepost when there is no other Shinki with me during my banishment. I caused you to get hurt! I am truly, deeply sorry!" I sobbed as I buried my head in the sheets.

"That's why… you have to come back. Akito, please come back to my side. You're the only one who has made me feel safe all this time. Please… I need you. Please…I love you," I whispered as I lay my head on his hand. As I closed my eyes, I felt his hand twitching beneath me. "What a nice story to tell someone who had just woke up from being unconscious for days," he mumbled as he smiled at me. "Akito you moron," I said as I lay my head down, letting myself get taken away to dreamland.

….

Akito watched as Aiko ran on the sand, her black bikini wrapped tightly around her body. It fitted her perfectly, showing all her curves and her chest. He slapped himself, chasing away any impropriate thoughts. "You're Lady Aiko's Shinki, right?" Kazuma asked him and he nodded. "Yeah. I'm Akito," he said as they shook hands. "Kazuma," he replied as they sat down. "I heard your goddess can be a bit of a mood swing person," he said as Akito laughed. "Yeah, its true. But other than that, she's fine," Akito said, remembering how she had fought with Yato during their missions sometimes over how many kills they had.

"You wanted to see me?" Kazuma asked as he adjusted his specs with his fingers. "Yeah, I do," Akito said as he twiddled with his fingers. Oh, was this a good idea to tell him? Even the mere idea was preposterous! "I, uh, I heard you like Bishamon-sama," AKito began as the heat rose in Kazuma's face. "Where did you hear that?!" he demanded as Akito held up a copy of "Shinki Gossip Magazine", Kazuma's face at large. "She loves me or she loves me not? Find out the secret behind this love story of Kazuma, Blessed Regalia to Bishamonten and how their relationship progressed from Master and Regalia to something else. More to be told on pages 4to 7!" the small lettering read beneath the picture.

"Eh?! Where did they get that kind of information?!" he gaped as he snatched the magazine from Akito, tearing it to shreds. "I didn't know they were true…" Akito muttered as Kazuma became more flustered. "Anyway, what does this got to do with me?" Kazuma asked as Akito turned red. "I, uh, I kinda like Aiko-sama as well," he muttered as Kazuma looked at him with pity.

"You poor boy. And you've only been a Regalia for a few months, am I right?" he asked as Akito nodded. Now that the secret was out, he felt his chest deflate ever so slightly. "But you do know of the rule?" Kazuma asked. "I do! Which is why I want to ask how you pulled it off with Bishamon-sama!" Akito said as Kazuma's ears turned red. "Eh?! What do you mean pull it off?! You make me sound like I have done some indecent things with her!" he snapped as he tried to cool down. He cleared his throat and look him dead in the eye. "I know how it feels like to be in love with your own master. The pain, the guilt, it will never go away," Kazuma said. "For me, Bishamon-sama cares for me as well so we're fine with it. We don't do anything but we remain as close acquaintances," Kazuma continued.

"Have you told her about it?" Kazuma asked. "No. I won't know how she will react…" Akito replied, his gaze turning to face Aiko, who was playing volleyball with Hiyori and Yukine. She slammed the ball into the ground, making Yukine curse and Yato laughing like mad. Aiko caught sight of him and waved at his direction, a big smile on her face. "I can see that she is fond of you as well," Kazuma said as Akito blushed. "Maybe not in that way," Akito mumbled as Kazuma put a hand on his shoulder.

"If its bothering you so much, why don't you just tell her? You're her only Regalia to begin with…" he said as Akito looked flustered. "I can't just waltz up to her and say 'Oh, Lady Aiko. I think I'm in love with you!" and voila, problem solved! I don't think it works that way!" he said as slammed his head into his hands. "Dammit, why did this have to happen?!" he moaned as he tried to make sense of his feelings. "As long as you're not stinging her, I believe it should be fine to tell her…" Kazuma said as Akito slammed his hands on the table.

"It's no use… I'm a Regalia and she's a goddess. We can never work it out together," he whispered as he tried not to cry. Akito hated it when his emotions got so out of control. Kazuma sighed as he stood up. "If you really like her, as your master she will come to terms with it eventually," he said as he walked to Bishamon, who was drinking sake with Tenjin and laughing at his lame jokes. As Akito watched Kazuma take his beloved's side, his mind raced in wondering what to tell to Aiko.

….

"Aiko!" he yelled as he threw himself in front of her. His body moved on its own accord, letting the claw pierce through his body. Akito coughed as Ayato retracted the claw, blood dripping from it. Akito slowly turned around, glad to see Aiko was all right. Aiko-sama, he thought as he collapsed on the ground, his blood pooling around me. So I am going to die again, huh? I wonder what happens if a Regalia dies… will I go to heaven or would I go to another void of darkness. Where I can never see Aiko again… Akito heard some noises from nearby as Ayato was trapped in the ablution triangle and he heard Aiko shouting some words he couldn't make out.

"Akito-kun! Hang on!" Kofuku said as she lifted him to the couch and started to bandage him. His conciousness was barely holding on and he winced as the bandages touched his wound. "Is Aiko-sama alright?" he wheezed, grunting with every word. Kofuku smiled weakly as she tightened the bandage. "She's fine," she said as she patted his hand, tears falling from her face. "Because of you, she's alright," she whispered as she stroked his hand. Akito smiled as the darkness carried him away.

Akito spent the next few days drifting in and out of consciousness. When the third day arrived, he felt Aiko enter the room with Bishamon and the physician, talking in low voices as not to wake him. When they had left, Aiko had sat next to him and told him about her ex-lover, a Shinki named Haruto. The way she spoke, the reason she gave for not being able to love anymore, it ripped Akito to pieces. "Akito.. please… don't leave me… I… I love you," she whispered, the words seemingly reaching him and pulling him from the darkness. I love you too, he thought to himself as he slowly opened his eyes. But instead of saying he loved her, he said, "What a nice story to tell someone who had just woke up from being unconscious for days." He watch her smile and fall asleep, their hands clasping onto each other for dear life.