Chapter 10: Inerasable Sin

Yato's POV

I sat in a dark corner of the room I was kept in; waiting for Nora to return so we could go on our next 'assignment'. I don't know where she went, but she took some masked phantoms with her and just left. I don't like the looks of this. I grabbed my head, staring at the floor with glazed over crystal eyes. What am I doing? Shouldn't I be thinking of a way of escaping not pitying myself? Dammit, Yato!

I stood up and took in a deep breath and trudged towards the door that led out the back of this forsaken shack. As I was about to open the sliding wooden door; the sound of the one across the room caught my attention. My grip on the door not faltering as I felt his gaze burning into the back of my head. I will not stay here, dammit!

Suddenly, the door in front of me opened and Nora came rushing inside and up to him. I just stared at the world outside where I was currently locked away from. I gritted my teeth in anger as I stared at the world outside. My world has always been like this. I had always been shut away from the outside world; to never fully comprehend it.

"Father, I got what you wanted," I heard Nora's excited voice as she stopped directly in front of him; my back not turning to face them. "I did as you said and took his eye."

My eyes widened at this. What did she mean by that? Whose eye did she take? I could tell Nora was having a private conversation with my old man since I couldn't hear a peep out of him. It annoyed me, but I knew they were keeping things from me to keep me here.

"Okay, Father!" I heard Nora's joyous tone as the sound of the door closing made me turn to face Nora to see her standing before me. Her dull eyes staring up at me with malicious intent as she held a small smile on her face. "Yato, do you know what this is?" She held in front of my face … an eye. The iris was dark blue and the white of the eye was stained with blood. I swallowed as I couldn't take my own eyes off of it.

"I…It's an eye," I sputtered out; sweat forming on temple as stared at the human body part. I couldn't think of anything else to say. I was shocked that she had willingly taken someone's eye in this day and age.

A giggle was my answer as she waved the eye back and forth in front of me; my eyes couldn't help, but follow it as I got a twist in stomach. There was something not right about her smile. "Yes, but who's eye is it?"

"What do you mean? Lots of people have blue eyes. I won't be able to…" My eyes suddenly widened at what she meant by that. She was talking about someone that I know personally and I only knew one other person that had blue eyes apart from myself. "R…Rin…"

"Yes! The demon spawn! Good work, Yato!" Nora exclaimed, a cheerful glint in her dark eyes.

I stared at her in shock. I couldn't take my eyes off of the eye that had once been Rin's. I…I failed. I failed to look after the kid. I failed Shiro's wish. I can't believe it. I failed to protect him … and from my own regalia. "H…How could you…?"

"Why, Yato?" Nora's eyes suddenly held a menacing glint to them as she took the eye out of my view and glared at me. "Because Father ordered me to and also because … you don't need people like that. They're weak."

"He's not weak!" I shouted at her.

She just covered her mouth, trying to stop from laughing which made me angrier. "If he's not weak then why couldn't he stop me from taking his eye? He couldn't call on those flames of his in time to. Sad, really…"

I growled at her as she headed over to the other side of the room and I turned around to look outside once more. I can't believe she did that. I can't believe he did that! I clenched my eyes shut as I clenched my fists in anger. I have to get back to them. I have to see if Rin's alright! I have to see them again! I have to! Though before I could think of going outside the door suddenly closed on me and I tried to open it. This made me even angrier as I tried to kick the door down. I had had enough of being here. Nora had injured someone I was meant to protect, so I was not going to stay here any longer!

I noticed a few phantom wolves phase through the walls and charge at me. I kicked one across the room and punched another in the jaw. I was not going to stay here! I wanted to get out! I wanted to get back to them! Back to Yukine and Rin! Back to … Hiyori. "LET ME OUT OF HERE!"

"Oh my. This won't do," Nora muttered to herself as the door across the room opened. I froze up as Nora approached him. I could tell that they were talking and it was something I wasn't allowed to hear again. It must be important. "Good news, Yato." I turn to look at Nora from the corner of my eye, anger still held deeply in them. "We're going to go searching for a conjurer … in the Underworld."

My eyes widened at this revelation. W…What? Why are we going there? What could my old man possibly have to gain out of this? "T…The Underworld?"

A Week Later – 10:00am~~~~

It had been a week since I was told to go into the Underworld with Nora. I don't know how time flows in the Underworld, but I know it flows the same as it does in Takamagahara; differently from the near-shore. I covered my nose as I stepped through the dark cavern, carrying 'Hikki' in my left hand. Damn, it stinks down here. Nora had told me to put some of the water on me to make sure the phantoms don't notice me. I don't know whether that'll work or not.

I hadn't really spoken to Nora since she showed me Rin's eye a week ago. All I knew was that Yukine had found out as soon as I had as I had felt a large sting in my chest. I could tell he had been angry and then suddenly became extremely distraught. Damn, I wish I had been there. I could've stopped this from happening. Poor kid. Rin's probably in so much pain right now … I don't even know how to say it. Just … I'm sorry I wasn't there…

"Yato…" Nora's voice brought me out of my thoughts when a swarm of bats came right at me. I held my arm up to protect my face and started swinging my arm that was holding my sword; slashing the bats. When I saw one with a white mask on it; my eyes widened and I froze. A mask? Is the conjurer here? I was about to slash that one too when a pair of gloved hands stopped me.

"Ebisu?" I exclaimed; shock on my face as I stared at the God of Fortune before me.

"What are you doing here, Yato-God," Ebisu asked, sounding unusually calm. I couldn't tell whether he actually was calm or was actually surprised to see me here. You can never tell with some of these people.

I lifted a brow at his question as I put my arm down by my side; the swarm of bats had now settled somewhere else in the cavern. "Just what I was wondering. What brings you to the Underworld?"

Ebisu's eyes drift to my sword. Great, he's going to ask about Nora. "Is that Yukine you wield?"

"No, this is Hiiro," I told him as I lifted the sword up and it glowed; changing back into Nora. Just as I predicted.

A look of surprise crossed Ebisu's face for a brief moment once Nora had regained her human form, "What a relief. I was hoping we'd catch up to you." It was my turn to stare at Nora in surprise, but at what she just said instead. "Now we can fulfil Father's request. You're the conjurer we were sent to rescue." I gazed to Ebisu with a light gasp escaping my lips before I closed them.

A frown crossed my features as I finally heard everything that Nora had said. "Hold on, the old man's connected to Ebisu?" I was now questioning this little mission he had sent me on. What was he planning to do exactly?

"What old man? I'm lost." Ebisu looked between me and Nora; his expression not changing much, but his tone did hold a hint of confusion to it. Well, at least I can tell now he's got no connection to him. Why have I got the feeling Ebisu is just a pawn in his little game ... like me? "I'm afraid I don't know what the two of you are talking about. Is the man you speak of your Father, Yato-God?"

At this moment I looked away from Ebisu; a frown still on my face. I hate talking about him, but whenever Nora's around the conversation always goes back to him. Now Ebisu is asking about it which I am not in the mood to right now! I just want to get this over and done with and get out of here! I just … want to make sure Rin is alright and that Hiyori … still remembers me…

"Hmm, your refusal to answer only makes me more curious," I heard Ebisu say to me which I just ignored. "And when I'm curious about something I can be very difficult to deter." He looked away from me; hand over his mouth as if thinking. "Regrettably, I don't have time to spend on this now." My gaze went back to Ebisu as he continued on. "Ah! I know we can talk more on the outside." Ebisu took out a pen and small notepad from one of his pockets and held them in his hands; ready to write. "When would be a good time for you?"

I slumped my shoulders at his reaction and pointed at the other God. "You're missing the point. I came down here to rescue you."

"You came all this way to rescue me? Well, that's very kind of you," He said, sounding incredulous. What is it with Gods of Fortune that makes them think their superior? Ugh! It makes me wonder at time why I want to be one. Oh wait, so I can have just as much glory as them! That's why! Lucky Bastard...

"Alright, well, I've had just about enough of this cesspool!" I exclaimed as I turned around; away from Ebisu. "Let's get out of here!" Before I could walk anywhere I hear Ebisu walking AWAY from me and I turned around to see exactly that. "Hey! Where the hell are you going?!"

"I can't leave just yet," he replied in that calm tone of his. Damn, it's annoying how calm he is being in a place like this! "The phantoms have increased in number."

I inwardly groaned after he said that. Please, don't tell me I really have to protect this guy? He's the exact opposite of who I'd want to be trapped with down here. "Don't make eye-contact!" I tried to warn him.

He turned around and looked above me and I suddenly got the feeling he was doing the opposite of what I had just told him not to do. "Oh, look at that. There appears to be one heading right for you."

I turn around and sure enough. A bright pink bull phantom was running straight at me through the air. I let out a cry of shock and extended my hand to my regalia. Ugh! Can't believe I said that. "Hikki!" Nora appeared in my left hand as the blade once more and I sliced the phantom in half.

"Oh, there's another one here," Ebisu said as he stared RIGHT AT THE EYE of a green liquid-like phantom!

This was really starting to irritate me as I ran up to him and slashed the phantom. "Stop looking at them, will you!"

Half an hour later~~~~

This is just not my day. After I defeated all of the phantoms that Ebisu had made eye-contact with he had collapsed due to some blight. I could only guess it was due to him naming phantoms. After that we were … I'd like to say DRAGGED into a room where the Queen of the Underworld resided. Izanami. Right now, we're sitting before her as she demonstrates the power of the phantom brushes that Ebisu is after. I still don't understand why he wants them or why he wants phantoms under his control. It sounds ridiculous in my opinion.

"Lady Izanami, I was told I could find a brush here. One that could control phantoms," Ebisu explains to the Underworld Queen. I still feel uneasy sitting before this woman; even after what Ebisu said. She has taken on the form of Hiyori … it's so freaky! "I have come to humbly request that you give it to me." She won't just freaking give it to you, man!

"How rude. I'm sure that you mean that you came to see me," the woman who took the form of Hiyori spoke while holding a smoking pipe. I can't see Hiyori doing that. Sorry, I just can't! "You are the second one to come asking for a brush though." This caught my attention as a light gasp escaped my lips. She looked away from a moment and brought out a small black box. "These are the objects in question."

She opened the box and inside were three brushes with a fine tip and red handle that looked as though blood had splattered along it. A gasp of surprise escaped both Ebisu and I as we stared at the brushes in question. "No way…" I breathed out.

She drew on a piece of paper the same eye that was on the masks I see everywhere. "Aanki," she said as the paper dissolved and a flying penguin phantom was in its place. "May we have some tea, please, Aanki?" The phantom nodded and flew away as Ebisu and I stared at what had just happened. How easy that had been for her to do. "I created these myself. I made them because I wanted friends; friends who wouldn't leave me. You see … everyone who looks upon my true form leaves. Always." Her eyes stared at the brush with longing in them as her voice had become more demonic and deep near the end; freaking me out in the process. She then, looked back up at Ebisu with a smile crossing her face; forgetting how her personality had changed just moments ago. "You want this badly? If I give it to you will you be my friend?"

"Your friend?" Ebisu please, whatever you do … don't piss this woman off. You know what she is, so don't piss her off! "Unfortunately being your friend is something I cannot do." You moronic idiot! We're done for! Izanami stared at Ebisu with shock in her eyes as she held the brush in her hands. We're in for it now. "However…"

Izanami leaned back as her hair started flying in the air as if they were attached to wires. A flash on the left side of her face revealed that it was … DECOMPOSING! Was she a skeleton! Ebisu and I leaped away from her; not knowing what will happen if we stayed close to her. "Yato, don't fight her." I looked at down at my blade hearing Nora's voice. I think I already knew that, but hearing her say it made me even more wary. "I mean it. She's on an entirely different level than us." Wait, she is? Just how powerful is she then? "Not even I am sharp enough to harm her."

"My offer is a simple one. I will give you the phantom brush in exchange one of you will stay here and be my friend. That part is up to you," Izanami explained her terms to us. What kind of exchange is that!? Who'd wanna stay down in this hellhole!? Her voice had turned deep and demonic once more. Ugh! Why does she have to look like Hiyori! "You should think hard before deciding. The agreement will be binding."

I stared at Izanami in shock; eyes wide as I held Nora in my hands tightly. Ebisu turned to look me not a shred of guilt on his face as he apologised to me before he a threw a punch at me. What the … hell! So, I came down here to save this guy and now in order for one of us to leave I have to fight him! Damn! I hate the Underworld!

I recently bought the whole first season of both Blue Exorcist and Noragami, so I re-watched Blue Exorcist to get ready for it's second season and I am currently re-watching Noragami to see if there's anything I can pick up that I left out/forgotten about. I'm gonna have to use what Yato says when he kills phantoms and severs ties for obvious reasons.

Anyway, this chapter is about Yato finding out about Rin's eye and then later heading to the Underworld (There may be some bad blood between him and Nora from now on)

Hope you enjoyed!

D0A OUT!