This chapter was inspired by the song Dynamite by Gareth Emery.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4
The next day, Hiyori wasn't sure if she should bring up the night before or not. Sitting on the grass by the pond, Yato and Yukine were both silent. Hiyori was standing by the fence, staring at the fountain. She felt so confused. It was difficult recalling everything that happened. It all happened so fast.
Her heart dropped. How could Yato so easily cut her ties? Did he really want to do it? What happened to that last tie?
Yato didn't have any words. Every time he tried to bring it up, his throat constricted and his thoughts escaped him. What would he even say?
Yukine couldn't read the air. What was on everyone's mind? If they couldn't cut all of Hiyori's ties, how could they protect her now? What were the repercussions of the ties that were cut? Would Hiyori ever forgive them for attempting to make her forget?
"Yato, Yukine," Hiyori broke the silence, "I don't completely understand what happened last night but until we know all the answers, let's just go on with our lives."
"We can't," Yato interrupted. "You're still in danger. There are so many variables that can't be accounted for and without any immediate answers, you're at a greater risk with every passing second."
He was right. Hiyori knew just losing her body could mean life or death now. She felt useless.
Yato grimaced. "Sorry, you're probably already worried about all of this and I'm venting my stress on you. Don't listen to me."
Hiyori looked at Yato. It had been so long since she'd seen him smile. He's usually always smiling or being goofy. Lately, worry is the only thing on his face. Despite the circumstances, she'd give anything to see him smile again. It always made her feel safe and secure. Even when times were dark and uncertain, his smile would make her feel brave. Now she felt uneasy. If only there was a way to make everything better so she could see him smile again.
"HIYORIN!" a rather cheerful voice boasted from across the pond. By the time she had turned around, she was greeted with an aggressive hug and a flash of neon pink hair. "I knew it was you!" she squealed.
"Hi Kofuku," Hiyori chuckled nervously. "Are you guys just taking a walk?"
"Nope!" Kofuku replied loudly. "There's actually a parade in town today and Koki promised to take me." She leaned back against Daikoku's large frame with her hands clasped together; a sheepish grin spread across her face. "I'm actually surprised you guys aren't there. I do remember you bringing it up a couple weeks ago Hiyorin. That's what gave me the idea. You said you wanted to go."
It was blatantly obvious now how much Hiyori was forgetting. After Kofuku mentioned it, she did remember there was going to be a parade in town. She wanted to go with Yato and Yukine. Summer parades were something she always looked forward to but now it seemed so far away. How could she watch a parade with all these problems occurring?
Yato chuckled under his breath. Meeting Hiyori's gaze, he gave her the one thing she's wanted all this time: a smile. "Let's go Hiyori."
Holding out his hand, Hiyori hesitated for a moment. Could she really go? Could she really do this?
"You need to have some fun," he reassured her. "There's plenty of time to worry about everything else and we don't know what's going to happen next. Besides, it might help your stress level a bit."
Hiyori exhaled and took Yato's hand. Somehow she knew if she couldn't trust even her own feelings, she could trust him. He'd fought for her and even brought her back from death itself. She knew she'd be safe with him no matter what.
Yukine was still concerned, but agreed that a parade sounded like a perfect escape.
"Let's go!" Kofuku grabbed Daikoku's arm and pointed up the hill, leading everyone to the street. Yukine followed behind them, and Yato trailed along in the back with Hiyori. He didn't even realize that he was still holding her hand until he felt the weight of it in his. She had slowed her pace. He looked back to see her head hanging low; her hair covering her eyes.
"You ok?" he asked cautiously. He didn't want to rehash any negative emotions.
"Thank you, Yato," she said, but still she would not look at him.
"You don't need to thank me. In fact, I'd rather you didn't." He hadn't done anything to deserve her appreciation. How could he have possibly earned her gratitude?
"Just, thank you," was all she could manage to say.
He wasn't going to argue. Yato was just happy she was there and for a little while, she was alright.
It wasn't long before Kofuku was dragging everyone to the different food stalls and merchant booths. Little charms dangled from her fingers and plush toys filled her arms. Daikoku shamelessly shelled out money for everything that caught his goddess' eye. She had Hiyori try every new snack from each vendor. Even Hiyori giggled when Kofuku tried a new treat and spit it out with disgust. Yukine and Yato bickered over which snacks to buy and Hiyori felt like for the first time in a while things were back to normal. She desperately wanted to make these moments last forever. If only she could make time stop. If she could wrap these moments up in her arms and never let go, nothing would ever change and everything would be perfect. There was no talk of her potentially dying or conjuring phantoms. The daylight went on for hours pouring over them as they made their way down the streets enjoying food and telling jokes.
Just as the shadows were getting longer and the crowds began settling behind the partitions to watch the floats, Kofuku pointed to a spot across the street. "Let's stand over there and watch the parade!" There was a pear tree in full bloom. Tiny white flowers with delicate little petals covered the thin branches. It looked like a painting. From there they had the perfect view of the parade without a lot of people standing around them. Hiyori still worried about her disposition. She felt better if she wasn't around anyone she could hurt.
Yukine babied a chocolate ice-cream cone in one hand, the other in his left pocket. Kofuku and Daikoku stood against the tree in the shade. Hiyori stood under the limbs; sunlight streamed between the leaves and caught the color in her eyes creating a violet halo effect that Yato couldn't stop staring at. He was off to her left look at her in awe. How had he never seen her in this light before? What would he do if he could never see her like this again? Her face glowed from the hours of afternoon sun and her bare shoulders were the lightest shade of pink. When the breeze caught it just right he could even smell the shampoo in her hair. She was never glamorous or over-the-top. Hiyori was simple and elegant in her own way. In her school uniforms it was hard for Yato to notice much about her. Now it seemed he couldn't stop noticing. Did her fingers always comb through her mahogany hair that gracefully? Were her lips always that adorable red hue? Her lipgloss glistened and Yato's heart fluttered unexpectedly. His cheeks burned crimson and he prayed Hiyori wouldn't turn to see him that way. He turned away and kicked a rock across the grass into the road.
Hiyori heard a noise behind her and saw Yato looking at the ground silently. Was he thinking about all the bad stuff again? Here he wanted Hiyori to enjoy herself but she never asked Yato how he was feeling. She could only imagine how difficult it must be for him to have fun when danger was lurking practically around every corner. She felt horrible that he was saving face all day just to make her feel more secure. Wanting to return the favor, she reached back and tugged lightly on his t-shirt sleeve. A little spooked, he looked up to see Hiyori handing him a small black box with a silver bow on top.
"I grabbed this for you while you and Yukine were fighting over steamed buns," she snickered. "I hope you like it." Hiyori's face turned bright red.
"Oh…" Yato was speechless. A gift for him? He opened it slowly, first pulling the tiny ribbon apart and lifting up the top of the box. Nestled inside was a bracelet. It was a silver chain with a rounded indicolite dangling from it. Yato picked it up and held it infront of him. Hiyori watched him examine the bracelet. His eyes were wide with disbelief. A ray of sun caught the gem and a flash of icy blue shone across Yato's face and eyes to reveal a solitary tear streaming down his cheek.
Hiyori quickly apologized. "I'm so sorry! You probably hate it or hate jewelry in general! It caught my attention because it reminds me of…your…" she couldn't finish the sentence. She was too embarrassed.
"I've…never been given a gift before," he muttered.
"Really?" Hiyori could hardly believe it though it would make sense. More popular gods received gifts and money donations all the time without thinking about it. But Yato wasn't popular. Until she made him one, he didn't even have a shrine to bring gifts to. She felt saddened by the idea of Yato spending hundreds of years alone and never given anything out of appreciation. Hiyori wondered what it must have felt like to see other gods given offerings so regularly and he had nothing.
The last light of day settled into twilight and before she realized it, the stars had come out once more. She didn't know what to say to Yato. In the background, people cheered and applauded as the floats made their way from one end of the street to the other. One in particular was playing a song Hiyori had never heard before yet the words felt sorely familiar as if the lyrics were written straight from her heart.
Watching the sky light fall to black.
Feelin' like the light's never comin' back now.
She held her hand up to her chest feeling her heart beat intensely and out of control.
When it's dark and there's no one
I will be here. I'll be here.
She turned away from him, trying to hide her emotions which she was sure were written all over her face at this point.
Like a blazing light ready to ignite
We are made of dynamite.
Yato stepped from the shadows and grabbed the back of Hiyori's shirt, pulling her backwards against his body.
Like fireflies burning through the night
We are made of dynamite.
Hiyori gasped softly, her back flush with Yato's strong chest and his arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders. His hands gripped her shoulders as he buried his face in her neck and hair. She was certain her heart would beat right out of her body. She'd been close to him before but never this way.
"Thank you, Hiyori," he whispered in her ear. Hiyori would have melted if Yato wasn't holding her up. In a glance she took in how strong his arms were and just how soft his hair was against her cheek. The bracelet she had bought him jingled on his wrist. Instead of fighting her feelings, she caved and laid her head back on his chest. Closing her eyes, she could see the glow of the parade as the voices and sounds faded away. After a while all she could hear was Yato's heart beating. It was the only sound she wanted to hear. It was loud and fast just like hers. Was he nervous, or scared? Hiyori wasn't sure what to feel but standing there in his arms, she didn't care. She could analyze and interrogate another day. Tonight, she just wanted to live in the moment no matter what the cost.
"There is one thing I've wanted to ask you, Hiyori."
"Hm?"
Yato nuzzled further into her neck, scared to even ask the question for fear of her answer. But he had to know. "Last night when I tried to cut your ties…"
"Yato," Hiyori stopped him, "I don't want to talk about it. At least not tonight." She grabbed his arms and pressed her back harder against him. "Tonight, let's just pretend everything is ok."
He smiled. He didn't want to ruin what was already a perfect moment. He would hold his tongue and wait for another time.
The last float turned down the road and the noise died down. People grabbed their friends and family and headed off their different directions. Yukine had fallen asleep against the tree while Daikoku lit another cigarette and led Kofuku home. Before they left, she gave Hiyori a hug goodbye.
"By the way," Kofuku whispered in Hiyori's ear, "I see you two." She grabbed Hiyori's arms and smiled, then looked serious. "Love works a little different with us. Just be careful Hiyorin."
Love? Is that what this was?
You can't do this! Not before I got to tell you I love you!
She had said the words. Hiyori didn't even realize what she'd screamed before it had already escaped her lips. Was it subconscious?
Wait. Was that was Yato wanted to talk about? She turned to find Yato standing under a street light across the road. His hands were in his pockets; his hair up in a loose ponytail and the rest of his hair rested around his eyes. Yato felt someone looking at him and turned to face Hiyori.
Did Hiyori love him?