Note: Hey everyone! Thank you for your patience! Like I had mentioned in Chapter 1 this story will take a while. Thanks for understanding.
I am a believer in the Tsukuyomi Theory and will indeed be incorporating that into this story. Although this story is more "T" rated right now, I gave it an "M" from the start because down the road you'll get a taste of what I do best. *ahem* see ref: any of my other M-rated stuff.
I love hearing your feedback, about both what you liked and even any mistakes you think I've made. Both Cheers and Constructive Criticisms help writers grow.
BTW:"megatsukami" = "god of calamity"; "Takamagahara" = Shinto's version of 'Heaven' or 'Mount Olympus' where the gods live; and "Oi!" = "Hey!" You've got to understand I study Japanese. I watch in Japanese. That shit just permeates your brain after watching it a dozen times, so it's slips in there.
Now have 5.4k of Yatori fluff and angst. With a dash of Kofuku. Always Kofuku.
Ja Ne! ^_^
Chapter 2: "The Tangled Web of Destinies Entwined"
Violet eyes fluttered open to the warm morning light. She lay still as the memory of their exchange came back to her in a flash. A small smile crept onto her face as she blushed and buried her face in the pillow, going over the events of the previous evening:
It had gotten late, as it was already after dinner when Yato had come over, and Hiyori needed get some rest.
"Can I...stay with you?" He had asked with hopeful hesitation. "J-just until you fall asleep?"
Before she could respond, the quirky god had crawled onto the other side of the bed behind her.
"Yato!" She began to protest. "What do you think-?"
She stopped herself mid-query, when she saw the confused and hurt look in his eyes.
"I just...I thought..." His eyes dropped to the comforter on her bed as a blush painted his face, fighting with his words. "I've never had someone to cuddle before. Not like this."
Something in Hiyori's heart burst. This god, who had seen centuries of bloody terror and death, just wanted to cuddle. She patted the comforter beside her and he lay innocently on top of the blankets as she enveloped herself within them, leaving her arm outside of the cocoon. Yato spooned up to her, nuzzling her hair as he wrapped one arm around her. Taking her hand, their fingers entwined. He tucked the other arm under the pillow, getting cozy. The warmth, coupled with the god's unique and enrapturing scent, sent Hiyori swiftly into dreamland.
Even Yato himself had dozed off for a bit, caught up in that new-found closeness that felt like heaven itself, when his cell phone rang. Quickly, he had fumbled his way to silence the ringer and check the Caller ID. Hiyori rustled slightly having been woken and mumbled the word, "Noisy."
"Looks like I have a job. I've gotta go get Yukine," Yato said quietly to a half-awake Hiyori, leaning in to give her a soft peck on her warm cheek. "See you tomorrow."
And on that note, the blue-eyed boy slipped on his boots and disappeared in a flash, leaving Hiyori to quickly slip back into slumber.
Now what? Hiyori wondered as she stretched from head to toe, soaking in the sunshine of the new day flooding in through her bedroom window.
When she looked at her phone, she found her answer. There was a text from Yato.
"Good morning! ;-* Job went well last night. Wish I didn't have to go...but can we talk more later? Haven't told anyone yet, even Yukine. Let's keep this hush-hush until we figure out what to do, OK? See you when you when you get out of class. I'll be waiting in the usual place."
Yukine, she thought. How is he going to handle this?
With a sigh, she got up and began her day.
It was hard to concentrate in class. The teacher called on her during algebra, and she solved the wrong problem. During English class, she translated the wrong page.
Mou, what's wrong with me? Focus, Iki Hiyori!
Yama saw Hiyori slap her cheeks in attempt to snap herself back into the right frame of mind. Leaning over she whispered to her distracted friend.
"Oi, what's up with you today? You're totally not with it!" she pointed out, eliciting a blush on her flighty friend's already agitated cheeks.
"I'll tell you later, Yama," she whispered her reply. It seemed to satisfy her curious pal. At least enough to hold her off from pressing further.
Intermittently, thoughts of Yato's kiss, ponderances of the possible future, and the overwhelming dilemma of a romantic relationship between mortal and immortal beings interrupted her mission to salvage her air of scholarly competence. The bell could not have rang soon enough.
"So what's go-?" Yama started instantly.
"I'm sorry, Yama. It will have to wait," she interrupted, pretending to check her phone. "I forgot that I've got to get back home right away today. I'll call you later, okay?"
The little white lie was just enough to get her out of the hot seat and out the door. She hustled as hard as she could without breaking into a run to get to her locker. It was probably the fastest she had ever made it out to the gate.
And there he was, his sunny smile holding a softer nuance that she had never seen before.
"Hiyoriii!" He called with a wave.
She trotted over to him, returning the smile. It felt good just to be in his presence. The two of them were ahead of the fray, so they made their way to the shrine grounds where Kofuku and Daikoku's place was.
"Daikoku took Yukine out to get groceries, but Kofuku is home," he explained. "And I wanted to bring up some things and discuss them with her, as she and Daikoku have been together for a couple centuries. Maybe she would have some insight."
"Insight?" she asked, her rosy gaze meeting his. He stopped and took her by the hand.
"Listen, Hiyori..." he began, trailing off as he collected his thoughts. "This...you and me...together? It's not an easy path. I mean, I've lived centuries. I'm practically immortal, and you..."
"I'm going to live less than a century," she interjected, finishing his thought. "I'm going to grow old and..."
...And die.
The reminder that Yato would live on centuries beyond her, carrying the weight of losing her, hit her hard. A gasp escaped her lips as she looked, horrified as she recalled Fujisaki's words that day in the hallway as he spoke of living 'tens of hundreds of years.'
"But by that time, there will be no Iki Hiyori."
Yato knew she had made the connection between their lifespans, and how a relationship would be problematic. He squeezed her hand empathetically.
"Yeah, but," Hiyori spoke up. "Kofuku-san tied our plaques together at the gathering in Takamagahara. So, that must count for something!"
Yato just stared at her for a second, processing what he'd just heard.
"She WHAT?!" he exclaimed, before swearing under his breath and taking off with a start, dragging Hiyori along with him.
Up the walkway they bolted, Yato leapt onto the porch and slammed the shoji door open.
"Kofukuuu!" the infuriated deity called as he scanned the room, spotting the open door to the kitchen. "Get your ass out here, Kofuku!"
Hiyori couldn't understand what had suddenly gotten into him. She grabbed his sleeve trying to stop him for a moment.
"Yato! What's wrong? Why are you so mad all of a sudden?" she begged, desperate for answers.
"Hiyori, if there is anyone in all of Takamagahara that should not be tying people's fates together it's a god of poverty," he tried to explain. "Especially Kof-"
"You called, Yato-chan?" Kofuku chimed, poking her head in the doorway.
He thrust an angry finger in her direction.
"Did you tie Hiyori's plaque to mine behind my back?"
The cheery goddess froze, her her smile cooling as she looked between her two friends.
"Maybe?" she admitted half-heartedly, a guilty wince accompanying her unconvincing shrug.
Yato gave Hiyori a strained look and gestured toward the table with an exasperated sigh. All three sat in silence a moment.
"You know what that means, right, Kofuku?" Yato asked the binbogami rhetorically. "You are a harbinger of bad luck! Why would you do that to us?"
Kofuku had been hoping no one would realize what she had done. But somehow Yato had found out. The only person who had seen her tie the plaques had been...her. The disastrous deity turned to her human friend.
"Hiyorin, did you tell Yato about the plaques?" she asked, a hint of guilt marking her question. When Hiyori nodded, she knew she had to spill the beans. She looked at her long-time partner in mischief and mayhem. "Yato-chan, before you yell at me any further, please let me say that I love you two. I have always known how much you mean to each other. And I've been cheering you on from the sidelines."
Yato knew that her intentions had been good. Good, but reckless. And it could cost one or both of them their lives.
"Well, Kofuku," he said humbly, "as much as I didn't want your interference...It seems you are getting your wish." He caught the goddess's shock as he gave her a glance before turning to Hiyori and taking her hand. "Hiyori and I had talked last night..."
"I love Yato, Kofuku-san!" the brunette blurted out.
Kofuku's jaw dropped, not knowing whether to hug Hiyori or cry, ultimately choosing neither to let the girl finish her thought.
"I know it's not an auspicious match, a god and a human, but...but-"
"She wished to be together forever a while ago," Yato reminded the goddess. "It may be a difficult path for both of us, but," Yato looked from the love of his life to his best friend, "I have decided to find a way to grant her -our- wish."
"But I've gone and probably messed things up, haven't I?" Kofuku began to whine. "I'm so sorry, Yato-chan, Hiyorin! I couldn't stand to see Yato upset over you ending up with all those other awful guys. I just wanted to see you two happy together! WAHHH!"
After a moment, Kofuku wiped her face and saw Yato hand still clinging to Hiyori's.
"Kofuku, it's partly because you showed me what you did," the blushing girl explained, "that I was able to consider my feelings. I want to be by Yato's side more than anything else. It's been like that for a long time now."
The perky pink-haired poverty goddess launched herself over the table and hugged Hiyori, just like the day they first met.
"Hiiiyoriiiin! I knew you were special! Yato found someone he doesn't want live without. You, Yato and Yukine are like a little family! Wahhh! So CUTE!"
She took an arm and pulled Yato into a group hug. After much giggling and smiles, they settled down over a cup of tea to discuss more serious matters.
"As we all know, I am generally still here because of my asshole dad. I don't want to be chained to him anymore. I made that clear a while ago, and I have started on my own path. So if I always have Hiyori, she can't forget me...but how?"
"Well..." Kofuku began, "There are three types of beings in the realm of the heavens: gods, regalias and familiars, with various rankings and forms of each." She paused a moment looking at Yato, then turning back to Hiyori. "We wouldn't want you to become a regalia, for sure."
"Because then I would forget my human life, right? I would surely forget Yato, totally negating the purpose of us wanting to be together. Never mind that my soul would be at high risk! So many citizens of the Far Shore know and have used my real name for so long," Hiyori expressed, showing her foreknowledge of the situation much to Kofuku's surprise.
Kofuku and Yato gawked at her a moment, realizing that someone must have actually told a human about their greatest secret.
"How...? How could you know about that?" Yato asked, stunned. "I've never mentioned it, that's for sure!"
Hiyori went on to explain about the day she fell asleep next to Yato, and the dream she had about Sakura and the whole ordeal. Recalling the job that involved Tomone's daughter, she explained that she put two and two together, conveniently leaving out Tsuyu's involvement in her information as not to incriminate her.
As the two baffled gods absorbed her surprising account, Hiyori swore on her honor.
"I promise you both, I would never speak of it to anyone," she vowed, right hand raised. "But with that said...I know that ever making me a regalia is probably the worst idea."
The two resigned deities nodded. Nothing could be done. The girl was absolutely right.
"Could her spirit become a familiar?" Yato asked, pondering Tsuyu, the plum tree spirit that stood by Tenjin's side.
"Possibly," Kofuku replied pensively, her finger tapping her chin. "She would have to have her spirit permanently bound to you and separated from her body without going through the transformation of death. Hiyori would somehow have to retain her spirit form...and pledge to you of her own free will."
"So I'd have to 'die' without technically dying? How would that work?" Hiyori mused, totally puzzled by the conundrum.
"I don't know that is even possible, nor do I know the rules of having/creating a spirit familiar. Never had one before. Besides, you're a human spirit, and not a native spirit of nature. Never mind that you are already able to freely move between spirit and corpreal form, but..can a human spirit even become a familiar and not a regalia? " Kofuku asked rhetorically, as she wondered aloud. "Tenjin and Okuninushi are the only two gods I know personally with familiars. We would have to ask them, but that would definitely make them suspicious."
"Well, we'll have to look into it because seriously...there's no way I could become a god. That's impossible," she said, dismissing the last option.
Yato suddenly recalled a dream he had where Hiyori had been the deity who saved him.
"Or is it?" the thoughtful god finally uttered aloud. "We all know a few gods who were formerly human: most famously, Tenjin. Or should I say 'Sugawara-no-Michizane-sama?'"
They all sat for a quiet moment, considering the idea. As far fetched as the thought seemed, just the fact that it was possible had created hope. Suddenly a light bulb went on in Yato's mind. The rebellious megatsukami had been questioning his father's 'humanity.' Father was powerful, no doubt about it... like a god. Yet somehow, Yato was born of one of his wishes.
Is it actually possible for gods to create other gods from their own wishes?
It hit Yato, for the first time, that maybe, just maybe, Hiyori actually could become his 'lovely goddess'. He blushed and swallowed hard. At first his ultimate dream was to have his own shrine, which Hiyori made reality. His second dream had become companionship. It was a newer dream, but a dream nonetheless, that had come to light after having a taste of what true friendship, companionship and love was like. And after centuries of isolation and cold relationships with an abusive 'family,' Yato finally believed himself to be worth more than a harbinger of death, used as a tool for calamity and strife.
He thought about Bishamon and Kazuma, and just how clueless the goddess was to the extent which Kazuma loved and cherished her. They could be like Kofuku and Daikoku, if only they could take that step. He thought of Tenjin, and how Tsuyu loved Michizane-sama so much, she left her forest far away to stand by his side. Yato had found his companion, but it came with a grave taboo and one hell of a dilemma for them to solve.
"But he became a god postmortem, because he was so well-known and his death was tragic," Kofuku pointed out to their dismay.
Every one sighed. They had good ideas, but nothing solid.
"Until we decide how to proceed, we need to keep this quiet," Yato pointed out. "If any of the big wigs find out, the Heavens may just decide to target us."
Everything was quiet for a long moment. As she thought intensely about their predicament, Hiyori felt a wave of guilt. All of this craziness: the plotting, the secrecy, was just so her and her sensitive god can realize their wish. Her whole demeanor changed in the matter of a minute. She felt selfish for burdening so many others with a potentially dangerous situation that wasn't their problem. Tears welled, and the somber half-spirit lifted her head to speak.
"What if all this is just not meant to be?" Hiyori choked, panic ripping through her. "It's all so dangerous. I mean, what if this all fails, and we lose our lives just because I am being selfish?" She stood up, unable to sit still, and looked to the two gods sitting before her, an anxious look in her eyes. "What makes me any different than any other human, really? What makes me worthy of Heaven itself?"
Yato stood up and took each of her hands in his. He knew he needed to make her understand. His look was firm, but loving. It quieted her, giving him her rapt attention.
"Close your eyes," he calmly commanded, and she did as she was told. He let go of her left hand as he explained further. "When you open your eyes, I want you to look at what I'm holding in my hand."
She waited a beat and slowly opened her eyes, looking directly at his right hand, which was held out between them. At first, there was nothing there, but as she looked harder, something appeared.
A small red thread, shimmering in the daylight, draped over his palm. Her eyes began to follow it and realized that on either end it extended farther and spiraled its way up their arms, down around their torsos and other arms. The thread seemed to have a life of its own, twisting, swirling, tightening, loosening with every motion Yato or her made.
"Do you see it, Hiyori?" Yato asked gently. She hummed in affirmation, marveling at the sight.
"The legendary red thread of fate," she murmured, "It exists...are these what bonds look like?"
"No, not all bonds," he replied with a bit of nostalgia. "I have been blessed with the power to see and cut ties of all kinds. Many look like fishing line or silken strands, but the red thread...is something beyond even the power of a god. It is dictated by heavens, and ties not only people, but souls together. Red threads bring them back together lifetime upon lifetime."
Hiyori wanted to take back those words she had just spoken a moment ago.
"How long...Yato? How long have we had this red thread binding us?" she asked, still enthralled with the winding, spooling red around her wrists and fingers.
"I first noticed it that night on the bridge...when you made your wish," he replied, sheepish and blushing as if having let out a big secret. "But who knows...I wasn't paying attention before that moment. And the more interwined you are in another's fate, the more the thread is wrapped around you. It hasn't been like this for too long, but-"
Kofuku cleared her throat, blushing. "Um, that's probably my fault."
"That's likely," he replied before continuing to Hiyori. "Back when you stopped me from cutting them back at Tenjin's place, they swirled around us like infinity, holding us in close proximity. No one else could see what I saw. I knew then that I shouldn't cut them. And now..."
He stepped in toward her, closing into her personal space.
"Watch."
He hugged her and the red once again danced around them, multiplying, and vining down their legs.
"Amazing..." she whispered into his shoulder.
He released the embrace and her hand and suddenly it all disappeared.
"Eh...? What happened?" Hiyori asked.
"You were able to see the bonds under the influence of my divine power," he responded, chuckling. "Don't worry that tangled mess isn't going anywhere."
She smiled up at him and nodded.
"So then... this is meant to be. One way or another," she said recanting her earlier statement. "I'm sorry I panicked."
He lifted a hand to her cheek.
"It's okay, Hiyori. The path of Destiny is not always mapped out. Ours is obviously complicated... But it is absolutely certain."
Off in the distance came voices, both male in a lively discussion.
"Looks like they're back," Yato said letting his hand drop back to his side. "Let's tell Yukine after dinner."
Yukine caught sight of Hiyori and broke into a jog down the walkway.
"Oiiii, Hiyoriii! You have to correct my Geometry homework! I'm almost postive I got them all right! I need to know!" he announced upon his approach.
"Sounds good, Yukine!" she encouraged, chuckling at his enthusiasm.
The next couple of hours were filled with lively chatter about the shinkis' adventure, debate over what they should make for dinner, and rejoicing over Yukine's graduation from middle school math to high school level. After handing over new textbooks and beginning second-level Algebra, Yukine went off to help prep dinner while Hiyori cleaned up and set the table. Yato had helped do dishes earlier, but snuck upstairs as the cooking began. Kofuku went outside to do her evening watering.
The smell of beef udon permeated the air as the big bowls came from the kitchen and were set on the humble wooden table. Yato was last to join, taking a seat immediately next to Hiyori as he usually did.
But this time it felt different. The youthful god felt peaceful and loved. He had trusted friends, people who guided him. They were his family. Now, he had found love, in its truest sense.
He looked at his lovely companion, realizing how much Hiyori complimented him. Knowing the truth about his past, and knowing the danger his present situation potentially could impose upon her, the dedicated brunette remained steadfast. She had no problem telling him when he was wrong, nor did she hesitate to apologize for her own mistakes. She always carried herself as an equal, rather than a follower to their god. She praised him when he worked for the greater good, and honored him in so many ways that no other random 'believer' normally would. And no matter what, Iki Hiyori always put her loved ones' needs over her own.
The overwhelming need to honor her that he felt in return, it was worship in its own right. Hiyori had become his partner...and he loved her.
"Yato..." There came a voice. "Oi, space-brain!" Yukine gave the entranced god an odd look as he shook himself of his thoughts.
"Take a picture it'll last longer. Your udon is gonna get cold," the young shinki retorted with a snort of laughter. Those eyes like the sunset turned to Hiyori with a different but undiscernable gaze. It was as if he was assessing the situation.
She gave him a shy smile, and focused back on her bowl of noodles.
Don't be obvious. Try not to give anything away until after dinner!
Hiyori glanced over at Yato and his face was face was practically buried in his bowl, in attempt of hiding his nerves. A giggled bubbled its way to the surface without warning as she watched her immortal beloved behave like a teenaged boy. Yato stopped and looked at her. A raging red painting his cheeks.
"Yato, you didn't happen to sneak my sake earlier, you're as red as an apple," Daikoku pointed out with a raised brow.
"Yeah, you and Hiyori are being weird today...what the hell is wrong with you?" the young hafuri jabbed.
Yato sighed and looked to Hiyori, resigned. The moment of truth had arrived. There was no holding back now. They both put their bowls and chopsticks down as they addressed their friends.
"Yukine...Daikoku...There's something we need to tell you," said a suddenly reserved Yato.
The young-looking god stared into his lap, the furious blush burning hotter still.
Kofuku wriggled in place on her cushion, grinning almost painfully hard, trying to hold back and let them tell their big news. Daikoku gave his mistress a side glance and raised a brow before looking back at the the two painfully awkward people sitting silently.
"Well, then spit it out already!" the older shinki commanded gruffly. "If you don't, it looks like she will." He thumbed in Kofuku's direction. They saw the stars in her eyes.
Yukine's eyes grew wide in realization.
"Don't tell me you're..." the blond couldn't bring himself to complete the thought.
"Hiyori and I...last night..." Yato began to explain, utterly confusing the two shinki with what sounded more like an innuendo.
"We confessed to each other," he finally got out, reaching for Hiyori's arm and gripping it nervously.
Kofuku let out a squeal as she clapped her hands. The two shinki sat riveted by the revelation.
Yukine couldn't hide his surprise from Yato. The god felt a twinge in his chest.
Was it concern? Jealousy? Over-protectiveness?
"But...she's human, Yato. That's a huge taboo...interpersonal relations between the Near and Far Shores," Daikoku pointed out as gently as he could.
Yato nodded, knowing full well the delicate nature of the situation. He sighed.
After explaining the red thread of fate that tightly wove their existences together, he posed a question.
"But how could making a single wish tie our souls together? I have fulfilled some pretty hefty wishes before without any strings attached."
"Maybe it wasn't her wish?" The cute little goddess suggested with a wave of her hand. "You first met when Hiyorin jumped in front of a bus to save you, right?"
Everyone nodded, pondering a quiet moment.
"Wouldn't that be the ultimate act of devotion: sacrificing oneself for a god?" Kofuku added, punctuating her point. "Even if it was unintentional, I'm pretty sure that would create a strong bond between a god and a human."
Hiyori looked from Kofuku to her one and only God of Fortune, wide-eyed. She was unsure whether to be embarrassed, or to be the slightest bit proud of herself. Yato put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side, resting his head atop hers.
"Yeah, well, I think I'll keep this one...if she'll have me," he said with a soft chuckle. Hiyori gave an awkward lop-sided smile and hummed in agreement.
The quintet rehashed was had been discussed earlier, going over their options with certain information conveniently left out for the sake of the two regalia present.
"But we've gotta keep Yato-chan and Hiyorin's secret until we know what to do, and when they would do it," Kofuku stated, sounding like a high school girl with good gossip. "It may be a long time before we can reach a solution." She looked to Hiyori in particular, her face softening. "It also depends on how much more of her human life she intends on living before joining us as an official denizen of the Far Shore."
Everyone looked to Hiyori, expecting a response, and simply watched the internal conflict play out on her face.
I hadn't thought very much about that, yet. But now...this is real. Is my future beyond the realm of humanity? Should I give myself time to do things in life that I want to do before going through with any final decisions?
Suddenly Yato felt incredibly insecure. He realized that she really hadn't thoroughly thought it through. And now there was far more on her plate than she bargained for.
Unable to keep the feelings of guilt at bay, he gave Hiyori's hand a squeeze before getting to his feet and excusing himself.
"I'm going for a walk," he informed them, barely audible.
They watched him slide the shoji shut as he left. Hiyori looked to the other three.
"I have a lot to consider, don't I?" she asked rhetorically. "But I do know that my future is here with Yato, and all of you. That I have had these feelings for a while now. But as to when to make the transition...how long do I live my human life before joining all of you? I hadn't thought about it at all."
She looked back at the door and knew he was feeling uneasy about what she may decide to do. Yato would always go straight to the worst case scenario and feel responsible for whatever could happen.
I need to go reassure him.
"I'll be right back!" she announced as she jumped up, leaving her body behind, and hurried out the door.
Hiyori knew exactly where to find him. There were two places he would go to think. She checked up on the roof first. When he wasn't there, she gave the air a sniff.
Yup...he's over there...
Over on the bridge along the path, he sat perched on the railing, staring up at the waxing crescent moon, as if it held an answer.
I can't even think that maybe she won't choose me after all...If she waits until after university, or if she decides to travel...and what if she finds a human she wants to be with more than me?
"If you are even thinking for one second that you are ever going to lose me, Yato, you had better stop right now."
Hiyori's gentle but prodding tone pulled him from his thoughts.
"You know me too well, Hiyori," he admitted reluctantly. "I was panicking a little..."
The pink-tailed ayakashi hopped up onto the railing beside him with a chuckle. She leaned over and kissed the top of his head. As her lips lingered she breathed him in and heard him sigh in relief.
"I'm sorry Hiyori. I should have just as much faith in you as you do in me. There's a reason we're here...together, isn't there? But for a moment back there, I couldn't help but feel a little unworthy of such an amazing person," Yato confessed warmly, eyes fixated on the rippling water before them.
"No matter what, you will not be forgotten, and I will never leave your side," said the girl with the spring blossom eyes as she peered at her lover from behind her chocolate locks.
Yato met her gaze with equal glance and a knowing, yet sober smile.
"Can I tell you something?" He asked honestly. "Promise me you will listen, and not freak out."
She nodded calmly as she mentally braced herself for some kind of revelation.
"A few months ago, right after we went to Capypa Land, I had this vivid dream," the god began. "You were a goddess," he stated, watching her for a reaction.
Her eyes sparkled wide.
"For some reason, you wielded Sekki. And I...well, I was trapped in a Capypa suit that was cursed," he continued hesitantly, as he hoped to not sound crazy.
Hiyori giggled softly at the mental image. When Yato realized she wouldn't mock him, he continued.
"You sliced through the curse...and you freed me, Hiyori."
Hiyori thought she understood the point he was making and covered his hand with hers.
"Well, love does free one from loneliness..." she offered with a soft smile.
"No. That's not it," Yato rebutted, but decided to clarify. "I mean, yes...This feeling is liberating for sure, but the feeling that there is something surrounding my existence. A curse..."
"Your father?" Hiyori thought aloud. "He is a sort of curse upon your happiness."
"Maybe, but it's been eating at me since I had that dream," he confessed. "I assume it is my feelings for you, trying to tell me that you are also the key to my true happiness, which is ultimately being free of him."
Yato stood up and scooped up his little pink-tailed ayakashi, hopping from tree to tree until they stood on the roof of the shrine down the way, over looking the city.
After setting her down, the azure-eyed deity turned to her and took each of her hands in his.
"There is something powerful within me, Hiyori. I feel it. As much as my father tried to condition me to consider myself as nothing but a tool of destruction and death, deep down something has told me otherwise...for centuries now," he explained, letting go of her left hand to touch his chest. "Like a little voice, reminding me how good love and kindness feel."
Yato retook her hand and quietly gazed at her a moment.
"You came out of nowhere, and reminded me of that. On top of a few things that both former Ebisu and little Ebisu have said to me, I am the most determined I have ever been to be the god that I feel has been, well, trapped inside me all this time."
Her eyes spoke a thousand words, smiling at him as she stepped into his arms, raising up on her toes to plant a warm, tender kiss on his lips, lingering long enough to leave him yearning for more before she pulled away.
"Yato," she said softly. "When the time comes, I hope I can be your goddess."