Thanks to everyone who is following this story, as well as to those who favorited and reviewed! Feedback means the world to every author, myself included. A little suggestion, as I was inspired by a track from the ARAGOTO OST, listen to "Ordeal" as the ceremony happens. It SO sets the mood. Also, "Glorious," "Retrospect," and "Gate of Heaven" during the rest of the chapter. I have been building up to this chapter for like, half the story! ENJOY! ~DE
There was a particular wide-eyed expression that Yato wore in rare moments. Like in the moment she first declared, in the company of gods, that she wanted to be with Yato longer and refused to let him cut their ties. Hiyori knew it well, and it always managed to warm her from the inside out. It was a rare sparkle, one of surprise, recognition, and some kind of revelation dawning. But only in her direction would it take on this slight nuance that shot straight to her heart. The night he took her hands under the fireworks at Capypaland and pressed his lips to her knuckles, she nearly melted in the heat of his stare. A year ago, she couldn't have given it a name. But now, she knew full well the look of love and adoration in her immortal beloved's azure gaze.
Her faced warmed, under the curious scrutiny of others' observation as Yato's unabashed feelings for her shown on his face. Yukine blushed as she stepped toward them. Hiyori was still focused on manuevering in her adornments. The elder woman's eyes smiled slightly, recognizing the god's affections for the girl.
Hiyori smiled humbly, cheeks rosy as she approached.
"A-arigatou..." she finally replied, standing shyly before her lover. Their eyes met, delicate cherry blossoms floating upon the bluest waters.
As the god reached out and took her hand, something stirred within him. A feeling stronger that he ever knew possible. In his mind's eye he could see forever. A very old shrine, his swords, and her by his side.
He noticed the sun had already set and felt an odd sense of momentary calm after feeling so anxious all day. Yato seemed to suddenly know things would be all right. He didn't know why, but his anxiety had been inexplicably quelled.
"I wish to explain tonight's ritual, if you will have a seat for a moment," the priestess requested with an outstretched hand.
The trio sat in a row on the tatami floor across from the greyed woman.
"The worship of Tsukuyomi was unofficially made taboo when the emperor created the taisha as a national entity nearly two centuries ago, as Tsukuyomi had been banished from heaven by Amaterasu. There are only a few remaining shrines that openly acknowledge and revere Tsukuyomi's godhood in our modern times. We are one of them, along with the main shrine: Gassan, and another on Iki island."
Hiyori perked up at the latter fact, giving the old woman a questioning look. The woman smiled back and and continued.
"I happen to be descended, many generations back, from the Iki clan from the island known for founding the shrine to Tsukuyomi. My name is Iki Hanae," she informed with small smile. "And yes, we may very well be distantly related if your father is also a decendant of the Iki clan."
"Yoroshiku onegaishimasu, Hanae-san," Hiyori replied with a bow of her head. "It really seems that the dots are connecting. I hope this bodes well for tonight."
"Indeed," Hanae replied with a nod of her own. "Speaking of tonight, as I was saying...our ritual is not regularly performed like it should be, on every full moon. It is commonly regarded as disrespectful to the heavens to worship a god whom they've banished. It's much like those in the North who still acknowledge the emishi. But tonight, for the first time since the dawning of the millennium, we are bringing it back for the New Year."
"But why, after so long?" Hiyori asked.
"You, Hiyori-san, of all people, would understand when I tell you that the spirits have been whispering lately. There have been murmurs of the moon rising to the heavens once again. And as fate would have it, the Bride of Tsukuyomi has seemingly arrived on our doorstep. I have a feeling we will have many otherworldly guests in attendance."
Suddenly a feeling of dread came over Hiyori.
Who else will be here to see if their prophecy will come true? Having a human audience is scary enough...what if something happens to me, or worse, to Yato?
Hanae seemed to dismiss the girl's nerves as she continued.
"Tonight we will be adding the reading of a old poem, possibly once a song, written for the young miko and Tsukuyomi-sama by a priestess of the time," she took a book out from behind her and opened it carefully, pointing to a particular page. "Here," she said, turning the text toward Hiyori, "Read this."
"Oh heavens unbound, sent thy brother away,
Never to be found, the moon gone astray.
Son of night, diviner of fate,
Return to the light and receive thy mate.
Red cords bind, never to be broken,
Your bride in kind, awaits the enwoven.
Two destined souls, fates interwine.
Bow in hand she holds and seeks the divine."
A moment of pensive silence befell the room and they reflected on the somber plea of the miko.
"That's beautiful, yet so sad," Yukine said softly.
Hiyori and Yato hummed in agreement.
"According to shrine records, we've never made the call to Tsukuyomi before," Hanae explained. "But now, for many reasons, I feel that the time has come."
Hiyori continued to quietly come to terms with her role in the evening's rite.
"Hanae-san, what will you have me do as part of the ceremony?"
"You will be 'enthroned' in a sense, bow in hand and given the old sacred arrows kept here at the shrine." You will sit in the center of the ritual as the miko recite the poem, among other things, and present you, as well as the other offerings and prayers, to Tsukuyomi."
Hiyori has been to many a kagura dance and shrine festivals with rituals for the gods enshrined there. Never had she witnessed anything supernatural before.
Okay, so this is essentially like any other shrine rite, only I am acting symbolically as my ancestor. Nothing to be afraid of.
"Alright then, let me know when we need to be ready," the half-phantom replied.
As night wore on, people began to flood the shrine for Hatsumode, and the sake rituals. The priests presided over the blessings and handed out the sacred gold-flecked sake. Yato was itching to go calm his lingering nerves with a helping-or ten-of the delicious elixir. Yukine fought him back as Hiyori just shook her head. It was coming up on midnight when the priestess interrupted their banter.
"Yato-sama, fret not, as we have set aside your own vessel of sake for after the ceremony," the old miko informed him. She turned to Hiyori. "Are you ready, my dear?"
The doors opened to the crisp chill of winter night. Suddenly her robes weren't nearly enough to keep her as warm as she'd hoped. Yato put an arm around her, drawing her in to his side. Her shivering calmed down.
"I love you, Hiyori," he murmured softly aginst her ear. "I have this feeling that everything's going to be just fine. I don't know why...I just do. Something about that poem struck a chord with me, deep down."
Hiyori gave a sideways look that begged him to elaborate.
"I guess...it just kind of reminded me of us...tied by the red string...I mean, hell, my own name means 'night diviner'. It just...made my heart yearn for you...for us...so much."
With that he placed a kiss on her temple, and backed away, leaving Hiyori to ponder his words and the song's words.
The processional began slowly winding it's way through the main grounds of Matsuoo Taisha with the priests leading and a miniature shrine following. Behind the miniature shrine being carried a half dozen men, followed musicians, also dressed traditionally, playing shakuhachi and tsuzumi. The miko behind them rang their shimmering suzu as they preceded Hiyori, who sat seiza-style on a platform much like the one on which the shrine ahead of her was being ported. She rested her grandmother's bow on her lap, along with an old quiver with three old arrows. People seemed to be increasingly intrigued by this unorthodox processional, and became curious to follow and witness what may be, from what they could tell, an unusual New Year's ritual.
Yato and Yukine followed close behind Hiyori, walking ceremoniously, just in case they could be seen by anyone. Yato eyed the crowd and caught sight of Masaomi and Masumi. He nodded in acknowledgement of their presence but kept walking. Yukine nudged Yato and gestured subtly with a tilt of his head toward the tree line as they approached Tsukuyomi's shrine. There, shimmering in the shadows was the elder goddess from yesterday, and also a portly old man in green and gold robes with a long beard.
Oyamagui-sama.
They smiled at the procession, eyes fixed on the young half-phantom priestess and the god that followed her protectively.
As they finally arrived at the steps of the old, humble shrine, the music went silent as priests began to recite centuries-old prayers to the moon god. As offerings were laid upon the alter, Yato began feeling light-headed, fuzzy-almost as if inebriated, but different-and a little queasy. He cringed slightly under the burden of the disconerting feeling, but did his best to keep his composure, knowing how important this was to Hiyori.
I haven't drank anything tonight, and gods don't get sick-other than blight...what the hell is wrong with me?
He looked up and now saw that pompous fox, Inari, had joined the two elder gods, as well as a host of curious spirits.
Just great. I start feeling all weird, and now that asshole shows his face. I bet he's just waiting for Tsukuyomi to show up and take Hiyori from me. Fuck him.
It was Hiyori's platform being lowered to the ground that got Yato to focus on his surroundings again. Shakuhachi and tsuzuki started once again and miko began to dance around her. The dazed god and and his hafuri backed up, allowing room for the dancers to circle between her and them. Slowly the young women, clad in red and white, began chanting, reciting the lyrical poem, one line at a time as they sounded their suzu to the slow metre of the poem.
As they finished the verse, the stray god begins to feel it:
His body is light, as if he could float away at any moment. There is a tingling sensation, almost electric, building at the nape of his neck and flooding out to his fingertips.
Hiyori sat, unmoving, with her back still to her immortal counterpart as they continued to chant, the lyrics searing her soul. Every stanza made her heart clench, as if the sadness were her own, overtaking her from some latent part of her being. A sense of longing and desperation flooded her, reminding her of when Yato disappeared for months and went to Yomi. By the third repetition, she felt herself slipping into a trance, the words leaving her own lips, her heart aching with every word. Tears slipped down her cheek as she envisioned Yato reaching for her and taking her to be with him forever as his bride. Her eyes lifted to the heavens, her whole being begging for reprieve.
Yato's connection to the present slipped away as he began to see things- people places, moments- like blurry memories of a dream: this shrine filled with people worshipping, a young girl who he almost could mistake for his beloved Hiyori, a waterfall deep in the woods of the mountainside...what seemed like a younger visages of Oyamagui and Nakatsushima. He saw Amaterasu's angry scowl, as he was subjected to the forces of Takamagahara at a large shrine at the top of a mountain...
Mount Gassan...wait how do I know this...why are they so familiar?
Reality was crumbling all around him and he could here Yukine calling his name as if from very far away. Everything began fading into a pure white light- the dream-like memories, and even the ground beneath his feet, and the vision of the woman he loved being pulled from him shattered his heart. Something unidenitifiable was building in his chest, threating to burst from him.
Hiyori, lost in the incantation, felt as if she'd been swept away on a breeze into a hazy reverie. Her chest filled with warmth and sadness, as she suddenly was met with a familiar face...
Yato..? No, he's too old to be Yato...
But it was his face, as if Yato were seem in his forties, in dark silken robes of black, blue and purple, tied with a shimmering silver sash. His long flowing indigo tresses were topped with a regal headdress. A golden sword rested, sheathed at his hip.
But those are his EYES.
The glittering aquamarine gazed that smiled down at her as a gentle hand touched her face. She knew that look.
In a flash, she felt herself being dragged away against her will. Then she heard the voice she knew so well.
"Hoshiko!"
In desperation, she cried out, "Tsukuyomi-sama!"
As soon as the call left their lips aloud, Hiyori snapped out of her trance, and turned around to find her Yato, floating above the ground, spirals of light swirling around him.
The crowd gasped and began to retreat cautiously, their curiosity keeping many from merely running away.
Hiyori watched as something sparkled and burst away from Yato's body like glittering stardust, dissipating as his eyes opened.
Slowly he descended to the ground before her, the light fading away in ethereal wisps. His hair, now somehow considerably longer, and his garments now the ones she had seen in her vision.
She instantly recalled when that young girl, who she now knew to be Amaterasu, had advised her to call Yato 'by his real name'. At the time Hiyori just assumed it was Yaboku.
But that's why that name didn't make him happy...because his real name is...
"Tsukuyomi?" The brunette breathed. "Yato...y-you're...?"
"Hiyori," he choked out as he ran to her and gathered her into his arms, holding Hiyori desperately close. "I saw memories...of the past...me. I even saw 'past you' and things that happened...it hurt...so much," he gasped, clinging to her. "But, it all makes sense. The red string, not wanting to be a god of calamity, my true nature...and us."
Hiyori hugged him back rubbing gently along his spine, with no cares as to the crowd watching them. The chaos surrounding them insulated their conversation. After a long moment, Yato began to calm down under her touch.
"Can I still call you Yato?" Hiyori asked tearfully as she buried her face in his neck. "Even if you are Tsukuyomi, you are still Yato to me."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," he murmured, pulling back slightly to kiss her softly.
Yukine came running up to them, while the lingering crowd stood aghast at what they just witnessed.
"Guys...are you okay? What the hell just happened?" the blonde asked frantically.
Yato grinned at him, letting go of Hiyori and wiping the last of his tears away.
"Yukine, you may have upgraded last year to Hafuri status, but tonight I upgraded my god status," he chuckled placing his hand on his chest proudly.
"Wait are you saying that you..."
"Yup! Apparently, I am the reincarnation of Tsukuyomi. I'd say that's a pretty good upgrade. I have a lot of shrines all of a sudden-including one on top of a mountain!"
Yukine just looked at him, then Hiyori, then lastly all around at the flabbergasted onlookers.
"Waitwaitwait...I need a minute to let this soak in. You just went from being a hobo to one of the biggest gods in the pantheon. What. The. FUCK." Yukine raked his hand through his hair and just started laughing.
"Yukine...what's so-"
The blue-eyed god was silenced by his guidepost, who threw is arms around him, continuing in hysterics for a minute before he was finally able to speak.
"I'm so glad I learned to trust in you, and in my gut feelings," he said, calming down. "Congrats, Yato. You deserve it. You've worked hard to better yourself. You're a good god. And apparently you're a big shot..." The young blond eyed him with a raised brow and smirked. "But don't let it get to your head!"
Yukine sucker punched his arm with another laugh.
Finally they all acknowledged the crowd around them. The priestess Hanae shuffled up to them.
"Do you want to know what my 'wishful thinking' was? My little secret conjecture?" she teased with her usual Mona Lisa smile.
"How on earth did you even come to the conclusion that I could be the long-lost moon god?" Yato asked incredulously.
"In my early days studying to be the head priestess, I read some of the old accounts that described Tsukuyomi: His youthful appearance, long hair the color of the night sky, and eyes like the ocean," she explained, gesturing toward his own features before resting the hand on his arm in a comforting, motherly way. "That's why I asked about how old you were. Because Tsukuyomi disappeared about eleven hundred years ago." She pat his arm, then turned and addressed Hiyori. "The last bit of suspicion came when you asked about being tied to someone else. After observing the two of you, knowing he was a god and you, quite possibly the reincarnated miko-"
"Hoshiko," Hiyori interjected. "Her name was Hoshiko. Nakatsushima-hime thought I was her, too."
Hanae gave pause, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"So you met her? I haven't seen her in years," Hanae asked, seemingly relieved.
"Nn, she and Oyamagui-sama are here somewhere," Yato confirmed. "We saw them earlier."
Hanae just stared in disbelief.
"I thank the kami for honoring me with the opportunity to help you, Tsukuyomi-sama," she said as she collected herself and bowed deeply. "All my years, I never expected to be able to witness such a blessed and historic event," she added, holding back tears of gratitude.
Yato chuckled nervously, as he realized that from now on he was going to be treated differently and have far more responsibilities than he ever imagined.
"Here, I told you that there would be sake later for Hatsumode!" She gave him a smile as she held up a modestly-sized ceramic jug. The New Year's sake she had promised. "I will take my leave now, let's speak again soon."
They thanked her politely, and turned to look for the elder gods, but they were gone.
Their names rang out behind them, and when they turned they found Masaomi and Masumi running toward them.
They went for a walk and talked, giving the mortal pair the lowdown of what happened. Unsurprisingly, they were shocked.
Masaomi laughed awkwardly, "Go big or go home, eh? But I can't believe that I'm the presence of a legend...and that my sister is to be that legend's bride...There are no words." The older Iki raked a hand through his brown hair, shaking his head in disbelief. "I said it before but I'll say it again: What are mom and dad going to say?"
Passersby gawked and stared at the deity and his miko. Masumi had overheard things in the chaos of tonight's spectacle, and it gave her a few concerns.
"Honestly, Masa, Hiyo-chan, your parents are the least of your concerns. What is and will be spreading all over social media and the news will be your biggest problem. There are people who are thrilled, praising the return of Tsukuyomi. The worshippers are villified, that's for sure. However, the naysayers are already referring to it as a 'stunt', or a 'magic show.' I'm sure they will try to discredit the whole thing. And others are trying to find out just exactly who you are, Hiyori. Either way, your privacy is compromised," Masumi ranted on like a parent or perhaps, big sister.
"She's got a big deal boyfriend, you know," Yato said in cocky jest. "Who's going to mess with one of the eldest gods in Takamagahara?"
"Don't you mean fiancée? She is technically your betrothed, isn't she?" Masumi eyed them slyly.
Hiyori clammed up, her cheeks flush with the realization that no matter how long she delayed it, her and Yato-or rather, Tsukuyomi-were eternally bound, and destined to be wed. There was so much that needed to be addressed now, and wasn't quite sure how to handle it all.
Yato blushed, knowing that Hiyori felt the same awkward romantic feelings that hadn't completely matured into more carnal tendancies. "That may be true, but, we are new versions of old souls. We understand what draws us together and will do it on our time...as much as fate allows, anyway. I want Hiyori to be happy."
"I hate to break it to you, but we have even bigger fish to fry," Yukine stated. "Whether people believe or not, Heaven will inevitably get word of Tsukuyomi's awakening, and Hiyori's connection to him. I mean, you're not just some nameless god anymore and the half-phantom who follows him around."
It dawned on Hiyori, that Amaterasu was the one to urge her to speak his 'true name'.
"She has to have known this entire time," she said.
The other four gave her a confused look.
"Amaterasu," she replied. "She was was the one- I am almost positive of it- during the Ebisu ordeal, to tell me to use your 'real name' to call your your soul from Yomi, and said that it would make you happy. I called for "Yaboku" of course, after figuring out the kanji. But that didn't make you happy. You hate that name and the stigma it carries. But it makes sense now...that having me call you 'Tsukuyomi' is what would bring true happiness," she paused. "Why would she encourage that if she was mad enough to banish you?"
"I guess I will have to take that up with her in the near future," Yato replied. "But I would like to speak with Oyamagui and Nakatsushima before anything else. I feel they may have some insight."
"Yukine, Hiyori, let's head up the mountain and find those two...and have a drink, damn it," he snorted sarcastically. "I think I deserve it."
They bid their family adieu with the assurance that they wouldn't be too far behind.
They slipped away from the lingering crowds and headed up the path to Nakatsushima-hime's shrine. They found the two old gods waiting for them with bright smiles.
"Welcome home, boy!" The jolly, buddha-like god exclaimed, opening his arms to Yato like a long-lost son. Yato, now able to acknowledge that he knew both of these deities for centuries, smiled and allowed the god to embrace him.
"Thank you, Oyamagui-san," the newly reacquainted moon god replied. "It's comforting to know we have you both on our side."
"Nonsense! You were like a son to me, all those years we shared this sacred place..."
The elder god's brow furrowed as he took in the sight of him, tilting his head to the side.
"How have you been living all these centuries? Do you remember what happened to you?" the bearded man asked in concern.
"It's a bit hazy. And I'm kinda surprised I have any memories from my last incarnation. I don't think that's normal...But, from what I can piece together, I believe I was forced to reincarnate. Not quite sure why, though, it could have something to do with Hoshiko," Yato explained. With a long sigh, he thought about the lie he lived for over a millennium, and pondering what 'Father' had done to him and how he managed to suppress his true nature all those years.
"My first memory since then was when the man I assumed was my father named me Yaboku. It was a full moon and we were looking at the stars. One fell, and streaked through the sky, and Father held me up and gave me the name Yaboku. From then on he trained me to be a killer- god of calamity-and hid the truth of who I actually am."
Yato's face fell, ashamed at all of the lives he had taken.
"It was all a game at first, until he shattered my innocence, teaching me some hard lessons and trying to break my spirit," he said somberly. "Since then he's had me on a leash, hanging what he called my 'lifeline' over my head...Tch...it was all lies to keep me chained to him and his schemes against the heavens."
Hiyori and Yukine stood close to his sides, giving him emotional support. Hiyori rubbed his arm gently.
"But now that's all in the past, Yato. Now that you know that you don't need him, you can be free of him," she pointed out with gentle optimism. "He may still try to come after you, but we now know what your true power is. You can beat him and not be concerned for your own life."
"Actually, my dear Tsukuyomi," Nakatsushima spoke up, "I'm rather curious as to who this man could be who calls himself your father." She frowned, deep in thought. "He would have to be someone as powerful as you- maybe more so. And the only god I could think of who could possibly subjugate you like he had, is none other than your actual father, Izanagi."
"What?" Yato gasped. "But why would he-?"
"Well, considering the state of things: his wife-your mother-is confined to Yomi, cursed for eternity. After you and your siblings were born, he simply gave you free reign over the heavens and earth, leaving the responsibilities to all of his offspring. He seems to have simply disappeared," the silvery goddess recounted sadly. "If you think about it, many of the gods of the land are brothers and sisters. Progeny of the great creators. Tears, breaths, births, and the like-even the emishi- we are the gods who have been around for thousands of years, who have seen the dawn of man and their evolution. You, my dear, are counted among us."
The motherly deity smiled forlornly at her reincarnated friend. The mountain god continued explaining on his wife's behalf.
"Amaterasu took over after you two had your fight, and you kept to yourself for a while, agreeing to stick to your own 'sides of the fence', if you will. But after the ordeal with Hoshiko, when her highness found out that you had fallen in love and promised yourself to a mortal...well, let's say 'insulted' would be a tame word. That's why the subjugation force hit you with everything they had."
"Would it be possible that Izanagi knew where to find you wherever you reincarnated and decided to try to keep you from rejoining the pantheon of Takamagahara?" Yukine asked.
"But why would he do that?" Yato reiterated.
"Bitter, perhaps? You'd have to ask him yourself," the old man shrugged. "It's all just...thoughts...I have no proof, just wise guesses."
"I don't know if heaven will welcome me back so eagerly, but...I really don't trust the man I called 'Father' for a millennium. He brings death and destruction to everyone and everything he or I touched," the blue-eyed god said resolutely. "I have better chances going before Amaterasu and asking for forgiveness."
"We should go see Bishamon, Tenjin and Kofuku before we do that," Hiyori interjected. "When we get back to Tokyo, which we should do at least briefly. I know there are other things we're going to need to take care of quickly."
"It's a lot, Yato," Yukine added, noticing his master suddenly looking a little overwhelmed. "But one thing at a time and we can get all of this sorted out."
They all heaved a collective sigh.
"I'm ready for a drink of this kinpaku sake, who's in?" Yato declared holding up the hand-painted vessel.
"Speaking of sake...I think you are overdue-by about eleven hundred years- for a certain ceremony, don't you think?" The robust god pat Yato on his back, giving him a wink.
With a wave of her hand, Nakatsushima summoned three traditional sakazuki and set them on the altar of the little shrine.
Hiyori's eyes went wide as she realized what the three saucer-like cups were for.
"With all due respect, Nakatsushima-hime, I am only sixteen. If I come home married...I can't-"
The goddess tittered behind the flowing silk of her sleeve.
"My dear, this is the spiritual consummation of your relationship. It has no weight in the physical realm or laws of men, but means everything in the sight of the kami. The sansankudo is the symbol of the kind of commitment your past selves made over a millennium ago, but were unable to manifest. You have already spent considerable time in this incarnation irrevocably attached to each other. Here and now, witnessed by the gods of the land, your soul, already tied by fate to your god, would be offically bound. Honored and upheld by the heavens and earth, all living and spirit beings shall bear witness to the unbreakable bond of your souls to each other. It is simply an affirmation that prevents you from ever losing or forgetting the other again. Isn't that what you truly want?"
Hiyori and Yato looked to each other, his hand gently taking hers as hope sparkled in his expectant gaze. In that moment they saw their pasts and their futures together. They recognized the longing in their hearts as the power of the promise between two souls, with their fates so intertwined it was impossible to see one without the other. In this life, she may still be young and inexperienced in the ways of life and love, but she knew she'd never truly know them without him. The feeling she had manifested into words on multiple occasions came back to her.
"I want to be with you longer!"
"I keep my promises...I will never forget you!"
Her place was undoubtedly by his side.
"Yes," she finally replied with a calm conviction. "Yes it is."
Yukine helped the aging immortals prepare the ceremony, and stepped to the side to stand witness, opposite the sea goddess.
Oyamagui began to speak as he placed the stack of saucers before them.
"As the keeper of this mountain and the lands surrounding, I call to unite these to souls in the eyes of Takamagahara. To all beings present, denizens of both realms, I ask you to bear witness as Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto, child of the creators and keeper of time, takes his bride, Iki Hiyori, spirit of Hoshiko and this god's betrothed...to share their past, present and infinite future."
He poured three small splashes into the smallest of the sakazuki and handed it to Hiyori. Bowing as she took the cup, she took three small sips and drank the sake from it. The mountain god repeated the action for Yato. Each cup: three pours, a bow, three sips and passed to the other. After the youthful god finished his portion from the largest, final sakazuki, they both bowed to Oyamagui before facing each other.
"As it is in the laws of the Heavens, this sacred act is a binding contract, eternal, between souls, that not even Takamagahara itself can rend asunder. May your love and partnership bring you strength and joy for centuries and lifetimes to come."
The couple, overwhelmed by everything that had transpired, emotional and life-changing, turned to each other and tried to let the moment soak in. There was a sense of contentment that ran deep in their veins.
"I think 'past us' are happy now," Hiyori said with a shy smile, basking in the joy she found in her lover's gaze.
"I'm sure...hell... 'present us' are ecstatic, too," Yato replied with a chuckle.
He leaned in and the blushing bride met him in the middle, savoring a soft kiss, that lingered for a mere moment.
Hiyori's chest warmed, suddenly less worried about what they had just done. She concurred with a hum, and her smile brightened with the knowledge that they'd never be parted again banishing the shadows of doubt once and for all.
"You did the right thing today," Nakatsushima-hime encouraged. "It's a new chapter. Write a beautiful story, my children. If you ever need us, we will be here for you. May we meet again soon."
They bid the ancient couple adieu with deep bows of gratitude.
It was well into the night, and Yato decide to carry Yukine in his blade form sheathed and Hiyori, bridal style, also making sure to bring along the rest of the kinpaku sake, as they made quick work of leaping over buildings across town and back to Masaomi and Masumi.
The two of them were up and waiting for the trio, sipping on hot wine and watching New Year's newscasts from around the world.
Masumi grabbed them all celebratory servings of hot wine to ring in the new year. As she returned from the kitchen, smiling, she asked, "So did you find who you were looking for?"
The trio looked from the artist and the eldest Iki sibling back to each other.
Yukine cleared his throat and answered her.
"Uhh, you might want to sit down for this..."
It was quiet for a moment before Hiyori took it upon herself to address her brother, who would surely have mixed feelings about everything she was about to divulge.
"We went up the mountain and met with Oyamagui-sama and Nakatsushima-hime, who were able to help us figure a few things out about the past, and what first steps we need to take now..." the blushing young lady held her breath a moment contemplating how to say what came next while the older couple merely stared at her expectantly, since it was obvious that there was more forthcoming.
"They...we...Oyamagui-sama...heperformedthesansankudoforus..."
Although she spat it out quickly, it was not lost on them.
"Wait...what?" Masaomi said with a wide-eyed blink, his eye brow raised so high they threatened his hairline. "Did you say 'sansankudo'? As in, the mountain god...married you?"
Masaomi seemed less angry and more panicked than anything else, spluttering as he tried to find more words. Hiyori, Yato and Yukine all gestured at him, effectively halting whatever rant was about to ensue.
"It's not quite what you think, Onii-chan," Hiyori insisted, looking to Yato for him to further explain.
"Masaomi-san," he began carefully, "the san san kudo is a spiritual affirmation in the eyes of the kami. What we did was ensure that what happened to past me and Hoshiko never happens again. Perhaps in the eyes of the heavens...yes, we're married. But not in the physical or legal way the human world views marriage. It's the ultimate spiritual bond of...soulmates."
"Quite literally," Yukine chimed in. "But you guys were already tied and found each other despite having no clue."
"It just took over a millennium," Yato said nonchalantly with an dramatic wave of his hand. "But now Hiyori's soul will be by my side always, beyond the physical realm, probably as something like a familiar-which has come up before-or even possibly a goddess...depending on how people view what happened tonight. If Hiyori garners worshipers of her own, there is no reason why her spirit couldn't be deified, like Sugawara no Michizane became Tenjin-sama. But cases like this are rare, so there's no telling what will actually happen."
"I hadn't even thought of that," Hiyori said, seemingly a bit far off in thought. "Many people worship kami that are fabled to be husband and wife, even more with local kami, land gods and such..."
The trio broke out of their insular moment of dialogue to find two stunned adults simply trying to comprehend what they were hearing.
"That's it, we're getting you guys back, like tomorrow," Masaomi stated firmly, adjusting his glasses. "And we're going with you, to verify everything we saw. We need to make introductions and break the news to mom and dad before things get any crazier. It's bad enough that this has been going on for a year, and they've had absolutely no clue."
"I can see it now," Yukine said with a snort of amusement and a grand gesture, "Mom, Dad, meet my husband...the moon god. We're both reincarnations of ancient lovers tied by the red string of fate. I'm off to be a goddess now! KAY'THANKS'BYEEEEEE (don't forget to pray to meeee)!"
The blond laughed at his own ludicrous rendition before his sudden deadpan:
"Tch, yeah, that'll go over real well."
"But my brother is right, Yukine, before things escalate, mom and dad need to know what's going on, as unbelievable as it may seem. From me meeting Yato, our fates tied, they need to know that Grandma's story about our lineage was completely true and that I am the living proof of it all," Hiyori concurred exasperatedly.
"For all we know, your parents, friends, or other people we know have already seen things on T.V. or the internet...it has been what, three hours since that all went down? That's enough time for something to go viral," Yato contemplated aloud.
"Okay guys, listen," Masumi chimed in, "pack your things and then let's try to get some sleep. We're heading back to Tokyo in the morning."
Despite it being so late, and everyone being so exhausted, tensions were high and sleep was indeed going to be difficult to come by.
For after tonight, there was entirely too much at stake.