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Disclaimer: I do not own Noragami! Though I seriously wish I did...

And without much ado, we have the next chappie!

Ch 4:The Past Resurfaces:

"Crazy Chick," Yato nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Bishamon's eye started to twitch. "Dim-witted good-for-nothing bastard." Her tone was pleasant, but her eyes screamed murder. "How nice of you to drop by in such a tedious situation."

Yato sniffed in a dramatic manner. "But of course. I never thought that you would seriously thank me for anything I did out of my care for you. Finally you realize it. I am surprised indeed!"

"I thought Yato-san hated Bishamonten?" Ebisu whispered.

"He is not being serious," Yukine rolled his eyes as he whispered back. "He is just trying to piss her off."

And it seemed like he was succeeding, because Yukine could feel a dangerous aura starting to emanate from Bishamon. She smiled tightly before turning her attention to Ebisu (Smart move, Yukine thought.) "Well Ebisu, it has been quite some time since I last met you. Are you doing well?"

"I'm fine," the six-year-old smiled in response. "Even though I am the owner of the Academy at such a young age, Yato-san helps me out in my duties often. And hence I do not encounter any problems most of the time. Despite how he looks, Yato-san is a very reliable person."

"I see," Bishamon forced a smile onto her face. Some feet behind her, Yato mumbled something like 'What do you mean by how he looks?'

"That boy sure uses some big words for his age," a voice came from behind.

Yukine turned around. The brunette girl was looking at the scene in front of her with curious eyes. Iki Hiyori, he reminded himself. The musical prodigy. "Well, Ebisu is real smart for his age. That might have been the effect of becoming the owner of Takamagahara at such a young age."

Hiyori glanced at him. "I remember that his father died not more than a year back. It was all over the news. But they never knew what caused the Sr. Ebisu's death." She raised her eyebrow. "Then, do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Do you know how he died? Or does any other person of the Japan branch know?"

Yukine stared at her. "I'm afraid not. The death of Ebisu Sr. was clouded in mystery. It's always the popular people who die such mysterious deaths."

Hiyori stiffened. "What exactly are you implying?"

Yukine realized what he had just said. "Oh no, I'm not saying that you are going to die in the same way. I just meant… Ah, you know…" he trailed off, making unintelligible gestures with his hands. The girl's smart, he mentally noted. Seems like I have to watch my tongue around her.

"Hey, just why did you lie to me?"

"Hmm?" he asked absent-mindedly. "Oh, you mean about my name? Well, I guess that I just didn't want to take any chances of you recognising me. Actually, there was no way you could have ever recognised me beforehand," he shrugged. "I am pretty much invisible to media."

"Now that I think about it, I have heard of a few guardians helping Ebisu with his work. I assume you are one of those?" Hiyori asked.

"Yato is Ebisu's one and only guardian. I, on the other hand, am Yato's guardian."

That caused her to smile. "You're Yato's guardian?"

Yukine was tempted to smile back. "It's just like what Ebisu implied when he was talking to Bishamonten. You shouldn't judge a person by how he looks. Sure, Yato does prove to be efficient at times, but other than that, he is just a massive, silly dork."

"You two seem close."

He closed his eyes. "We are." Yukine tried to focus once again on Ebisu's and Bishamon's conversation.

"Kazuma will lead you to your living quarters. Unfortunately, I would not be able to accompany you because of a few problems. I hope you excuse this," Bishamon was saying. "I hope you like your rooms. Also, Kofuku will show you to the dining hall when the time for dinner arrives."

"Alright then," Ebisu nodded. "We'll meet at dinner."

Bishamon nodded as well. "Kazuma," she said once. Kazuma took a step forward. Yukine raised an eyebrow. Kazuma was there the whole time? He was so quiet that Yukine didn't even notice him.

Kazuma bowed to them. "Please follow me," he said as he started walking.

"Well, what are you waiting for, you two?" Yato grumbled. "Come on, my feet are starting to ache from standing for too long. It's a wonder that you are still working here Kazuma. I am starting to respect how you can handle that Crazy Chick-"

"But Yato-san, aren't we being rude?" Ebisu interrupted.

The black-haired man turned his head to raise an eyebrow at him. "What are you talking about, Ebisu?"

"I mean, you told me about it in the car remember? You said that one of Bishamon's students had died. So, wouldn't it be rude if these people are in such a grievous mood, and we do nothing but go to our rooms and relax?"

"I'm afraid, Ebisu, you don't have to pay much attention to this," Bishamon said softly. "It's better if you just rest. This is our problem to deal with, not yours. And you're not being rude, just to make it clear."

"Bu-"

"She's right, Ebi," Yato interrupted. "It's none of our business. So let's just go, okay?"

Ebisu bit his lip before following him. Yukine sighed. What a tense situation, he thought. It's a wonder that Yato and Bishamon did not jump at each other's necks. He noticed that Bishamon was sending glares at him. So, she still remembers me… Ah well. He glanced at Hiyori one last time before walking off.

'''''''''''

"Hiyori," Bishamon said once all three of them had went after Kazuma. "Stay away from Yato as much as you can."

Hiyori stared at her. "Stay away from him? Why?" she inquired. "Is he a serial killer or something?" she tried to joke.

"No," Bishamon replied and her eyes darkened. "At least, I don't think so. You should never judge a person by how he looks, Hiyori. But just remember this. Keep an eye on that guy whenever he is around you. He is not someone to be trusted."

You should never judge a person by how he looks. That's the third time I have heard this today. "Alright," Hiyori said. "If that is what you wish, I'll do that." But honestly, she thought. Could Yato really not be trusted? I have no idea.

"Also," Bishamon continued. "Follow me," she said as she started walking.

Hiyori jogged to catch up with her. "Where are we going?"

"To my office," Bishamon replied curtly. "It seems like your father has finally figured something out. I decided that I would only hear the news with you. If I do it without you, I'll feel guilty." Hiyori had no idea why she said that.

"Otou-san," she said once she entered the office. "I heard that you've found something." Hiyori noticed that Aiha was sitting there as well. "Have you told her?"

Takamasa shook his head. "Not yet, but I was going to. You have perfect timing, Hiyori." He held up the packet of tablets. "It seems as if Miss Tsuguha had indeed taken the wrong tablets."

Bishamon blinked. "What nonsense! Tsuguha would never make such a stupid mistake like buying the wrong medicines."

"But she didn't buy the wrong medicines. No, I mean, she wasn't aware that she was buying the wrong medicine."

"What are you saying, Iki-san?" Bishamon frowned. "How can she buy the wrong medicine without buying the wrong medicine?"

"Do you see the name of the medicine? It's the same as the ones Miss Tsuguha always used to take. It seems that the wrong, similar-looking medicines were put into this packet by the pharmacist. This could have been deliberate or accidental. And if it was accidental, it would be a very serious mistake for the pharmacist."

Bishamon uttered a few colourful words beneath her breath. "How careless indeed! And that person has the nerve to call himself a pharmacist! Is that what pharmacists do? Kill others?"

"Bishamon-san, please calm down," Hiyori muttered while feeling irate herself. "Anger will do us no good in such a situation."

"Tsuguha has been taking medicines from that store for about two years now," Aiha's lip quivered. "The shopkeeper had never made a mistake like this before."

"Aiha!" Hiyori said suddenly. "You have visited that pharmacist's shop before, haven't you?"

Said girl nodded. "A few times, yes."

"Otou-san, please hand me the packet with the tablets. It seems like me and Aiha are going to have a little talk with this infamous pharmacist."

Takamasa nodded. "Take these reports with you," he said, handing her a few paper sheets along with the packet. "These are proof that he had given the wrong medicine. Make sure you interrogate him properly."

Bishamon scowled. "Wouldn't it be better if I went instead?"

The two younger girls shared a look. "Uh, no offense Bishamon-san," Aiha said carefully. "The thing is, you might strangle the pharmacist to death even before we have the opportunity to 'interrogate' him."

The blonde woman paused. "Fair enough," she nodded slowly. "Then, I guess I will just have to take my anger out by ripping some newspapers to shreds…"

'''''''''''

"Papa! Papa!" the little green-eyes boy shouted. "Look what I drew!" Ebisu grinned toothily, holding up a picture with one hand and a crayon in the other.

His father chuckled as he took the picture from him. "Well, isn't my little Ebisu a talented artist? Keep practicing and you may become a famous artist one day! And also…" he faltered. "By the way Ebi, what exactly have you drawn?"

Ebisu pouted. "It's a picture of you, Papa! You don't know your face?"

Realisation dawned on his father's face. "Oh, I see." Then he quietly added under his breath, "I had no idea my face looked like a sweet-potato."

"Did you say something?"

"Nothing at all!" his father smiled. "You should keep making drawings like this. You'll get better and better as time passes."

Ebisu looked down, flustered. "Really?" he mumbled. "As time passes, huh? How much time will that take, Papa?" All he got in return was silence. "Papa?" he looked up when he got no reply. Ebisu blinked. Why did everything around him suddenly turn dark? "Papa?" he asked again, fear creeping into his voice this time. "Where did you go?"

"Ebisu…"

Ebisu perked up. "Papa!" he cried. Was his father trying to play with him? Ebisu had no idea. He ran in the direction from which the voice seemed to come from.

"Pap…a…?" he faltered as he saw a immobile body on the ground. Black hair, black suit, tall figure. It was his father no doubt. Ebisu sucked in a sharp breath. "What's wrong?" he shouted as he knelt beside him.

Only then did he realise that he was surrounded in a red liquid. Blood..? The little boy's eyes widened.

"Ebisu," his father whispered.

"Y-yes?" he sobbed as tears began to well up in his eyes.

"Tell… Tell Yato that… I'm sorry."

"No!" Ebisu shouted. "No, you can't leave me! This must be a joke! Wake up, Papa!" he shouted as he shook his motionless body vehemently. "You're not going to die, are ya? You're just acting! Tell me you're acting!" he cried as panic started to get hold of him.

"He can't hear you."

Ebisu looked up and through his watery eyes, he could make out the figure of a hooded figure. He had one of his hands raised. And in his hand, he was holding… A knife. A bloodied knife. Ebisu wanted to scream.

The man grinned maniacally as he etched closer. "Die, Ebisu."

Ebisu sat there, paralysed in fear. He could just keep watching as the man kept coming closer.

"Rest in peace, little Ebisu," the hooded figure whispered.

Die, little Ebisu…

Die, Ebisu…

Ebisu…

'''''''''''

"Ebisu!"

The little boy jerked up from his bed and looked around frantically. "What? What?" he managed to ask in his nervous state.

Yukine looked at him worriedly. "You seemed to be having a nightmare, so I tried to wake you up. Are you alright?" he pointed to his forehead. "See? You're sweating."

Ebisu wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Indeed, he was sweating, there was no doubt. "I'm fine, Yukine. I just… I just had a nightmare," he finished lamely.

"I figured out that much," Yukine replied. "You seem to be having a lot of those lately."

Ebisu bit his lip and didn't reply. "Where's Yato-san?" he asked to change the topic.

Yukine made a face. "That Tracksuit? He is off on his part-time job as a stalker. That guy really gives me the creeps at times."

"Stalker?"

"Relax, I'm kidding. He has just gone outside for a walk."

Ebisu glanced at him curiously. "I thought he was tired."

"Oh, you know Yato," Yukine shrugged. "That guy gets random bursts of energy out of nowhere."

'''''''''''

Hiyori was fuming on the inside. She was so going to give that pharmacist a piece of her mind. In fact, she was more tempted to inform the police. No, she shook her head. That would just mess things up.

She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for Aiha to change out of her uniform. The evening breeze hit her face and made her hair fly about. What's taking her so long? She thought mindlessly as she walked lazily around the Academy's lawn. Maybe she-

"Oomph!"

"Oi!"

Hiyori rubbed her now aching head as she stared at the black-haired guy she had just bumped her head with. "Yato-san? What are you doing here?"

"Same as you," he muttered as he clutched his own head. "Takin' a walk. And drop the san, will you? You make me sound like some old, married geezer. I don't even have a girlfriend yet."

Hiyori rolled her eyes at the unnecessary information. "Well then, Yato."

"Where are you going?" he asked, gazing at her casual clothes and the purse she was clutching tightly in her hands. "I think you are going to murder that purse of yours."

Hiyori glanced down and pursed her lips. Should I tell him? she wondered. He already knows about the death. What's there to lose? And with that, she told him everything, from Tsuguha's death to the case of the infamous pharmacist.

Yato looked horrified once she had finished. "That's terrible! And you're going to meet this dude right now? Sheesh, I hope you tell him off nicely!" He kept quiet for a few seconds. "Wait, let me go with you."

Hiyori blinked. "What? Why?"

Yato looked at her with a strange twinkle in his eyes. "I have my own reasons. I may be able to help you with this case," he said.

Hiyori stared at him. He's acting weird. She shrugged. "Fine, then." Bishamon-san did say to stay away from him, but there's a mystery about this Yato guy. I want to find out more about him and why Bishamon-san hates him so much. Besides, I won't be alone; Aiha will be there with me as well. And if Yato tries anything funny, she paused. I can just try out my Jungle Savate on him.

And hence, she resumed tapping her foot impatiently as she waited for Aiha to arrive.

-o-o-o-

And that's the end of the fourth chapter! What do you guys think? Please R&R!

Kudos~!