I apologize for the long wait!

Life happens and I fell behind but I'm working on Chapter 12 as we speak!

This chapter turns things around a bit and it's a little lighter compared to the other chapters.

I really wanted to capture the sheer hopelessness of the situation before I brought in the happy plot twist.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 9

Weeks had passed rather quietly. Hiyori had managed to learn how to use the talismans to obscure her dreams and keep the demon at bay most of the time. Every now and again she'd get trapped in a nightmare and it would cause her harm. She would wake up with lacerations or more bruises. When she did Yato usually fell into silence knowing the demon had taken another part of her, however small, and that it had used him against her again. Luckily Hiyori seemed to heal quickly and the physical reminders of Yato's shortfalls disappeared.

That night behind the bakery would have nearly been a distant memory if it weren't for the fact that the electricity between Yato and Hiyori was now more wild than ever. Despite their love confessions, they both knew any kind of relationship would be next to impossible and even if they wanted to make it work this was not the time to try any type of romantic involvement. Yukine and Yato still hadn't found his dad yet and Yato was convinced there had to be another way. Kira and Matoko had gone back to the underworld to try to get information out of Lady Izanami about a potential alternative. Yukine seemed to talk a lot about Kira once she had left and Yato joked about Yukine having a crush on her. Even when they bickered and joked like children, it made Hiyori feel better. It felt like old times. Yato didn't want to chance anymore public events so Hiyori spent most of her time inside. She'd visited Kofuku and Daikoku a couple of times just to keep them from worrying about her. Yato told Hiyori and Bishamon and Kazuma knowing what was happening and that they were also trying to find help. Hiyori felt grateful that she had so many people, even gods, wanting to save her. Sometimes she still felt like a burden and wished nobody would have to fuss over her so much but Yato would remind her that nobody would be helping if they didn't want to.

Sunset washed over town as Hiyori cleaned up the dinner dishes and Yato helped. Yukine put the dishes back once they were dry. Once all the chores were done they all sat in the living room to rest.

"How long do you think Kira will be gone?" Yukine asked.

"Kira, Kira, Kira," Yato teased, "she's all you talk about anymore!"

"Not true!" Yukine tried to deny but the redness in his cheeks gave him away. "I just figured she'd be back by now, ya'know."

Yato gave Yukine a sportsman-like slap on the back. "Don't worry, your girlfriend will show up eventually."

Yukine stuck his tongue out.

"You guys are ridiculous," Hiyori laughed. "Besides, what's it matter if he likes her or not? Yukine can have a girlfriend if he wants."

"Can we stop talking about this?" The embarrassment on Yukine's face deepened. "She's not my girlfriend."

"Do you ever think about having one?" Hiyori asked.

"He's a teenager, of course he does!" Yato said with a grin and winked at Yukine.

"Not really," Yukine mumbled.

"Do regalias have relationships?" Hiyori asked Yato.

"It's not encouraged," his face became serious again. "Although regalias are strong and withstand a lot for their masters, they can come and go just a quickly as regular people do. Regalias have died in battles unfortunately. Especially war gods. Since they are more like to have to use their regalias to fight, they die more often. If they had relationships, especially with a regalia belonging to another master, it could cause them to falter. Think about how you would feel if someone you loved died in war."

Hiyori's eyes widened.

"Exactly. You'd be upset, angry even. You might even do things you don't normally do or think things you don't normally think because of the sadness. Regalias can't risk those emotions or they'll blight their masters."

"So regalias can never have a relationship?" Yukine questioned.

"I said it's not encouraged," Yato folded his hands behind his head and put his feet up on the coffee table, "I didn't say they didn't do it."

"Regalias have been in relationships before?" Hiyori was more curious now.

"Sure," Yato continued, "it's definitely not unheard of. Gods recognize the need for some regalias to connect with others in that way because it's human. As long as it doesn't interfere with their duties, gods can ignore it."

"What about yokai?" Yukine asked.

"You have to be careful with yokai. Unlike regalias who were named by gods and given a new life, yokai are typically conjured creatures. They're part ayakashi, like Hiyori. They are born of negative energy. They don't have to serve anyone but themselves. Kira and Matoko are lucky that their Lady Izanami took them in because yokai are normally avoided by the living and the dead equally."

Yukine looked disappointed. "That explains why she wants to get the old Izanami back. If I wasn't wanted anywhere I would fight like hell to stay with the one person who cared about me. It's a shame they have to stay in the underworld, though."

Hiyori felt bad for Yukine. It was clear he felt some sort of connection with Kira. Maybe he empathized with her plight. It wasn't too long ago he had felt a similar way. Yato was the only one who gave him meaning. Of course he's made new friends along the way but the only reason Yukine exists the way he does is because Yato named him and took him in. Without Yato loving him, Yukine wouldn't be wanted anywhere either.

"Maybe once this is all said and done, we can convince her to visit every now and again," Hiyori said optimistically.

"Doubtful," Yato said unapologetically. "Especially if her master finds out she's been scheming behind her back, Izanami will more than likely have them exiled or even killed."

"She wouldn't do that, would she?" Yukine's eyes were full of fright.

"She's a god," Yato reminded Yukine, "she can and will do whatever she sees fit."

Yukine lowered his head and fell silent.

"Yato," Hiyori touched Yato's arm, "if she's anything like you, I'm sure she would understand why they did it." She smiled warmly up at him and Yato's heart nearly leapt from his chest. Even her smiles were too much for him to handle.

He looked away, trying to conceal his reaction. "I suppose so," he shuffled his feet on the floor.

They dropped the subject and retired to Hiyori's bedroom. Her parents would be home soon and even though they couldn't see Yato or Yukine, she didn't want to chance it still. Regardless if she wanted to finally introduce them or not, she'd have to explain everything else that was happening and she knew this wasn't the right time. Having her parents by her side would make her feel better about everything, but Hiyori knew it just couldn't be.

Yato could tell Hiyori was thinking on something hard. He bumped her lightly with his shoulder. "What'ya thinkin'?"

Hiyori sighed. "Sometimes I miss how easy things were before I got hit by that bus."

Yato took a step back, intrigued and slightly hurt. "You mean before you met me."

Hiyori quickly waved her hands, "No, no, no. It's not like that." She looked out her window at the stars sparkling in the summer night sky. "It's just that before, I could go to my friends and family about anything. There were nights when I was scared and I'd go to my brother's room. He'd calm me down and tell me there wasn't anything to worry about and that monsters weren't real." Her lips curled into a sad smile. "Crazy how wrong he was."

Yato and Yukine looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.

"It's ok guys," Hiyori reassured them. "Besides, it won't always be like this. These dark times will pass and when they do, we'll make even more great memories just like before." She pulled them both in for a hug.

"We'll always be here for you, Hiyori," Yukine told her, hugging her back.

Yato remained quiet.

Hiyori went to get ready for bed and Yato made himself comfortable on her window sill; the mid-summer breeze blew through the window and tussled little pieces of his hair about his face. Yukine read a book about gardening in the computer chair. Hiyori started humming a song in the bathroom and it drew Yato's attention. He slipped from the window and crept to the bathroom door. Glancing in from around the door frame, he could see Hiyori sitting in the bathtub with her hair precariously pinned up. She continued humming a song that sounded familiar to him.

With his back pressed firmly against the wall in the hallway, he willed another look at her. Her silhouette in the water was so elegant and womanly. He remembered a less agile and clumsier Hiyori. When did she become so grown? Her birthday was right around the corner. She'd be 18 and an adult. Hiyori would no longer be a little child that anyone needed to protect. Even still, Yato hoped she'd keep him around whether she needed him or not. Looking at her now she seemed more graceful now. Undoubtedly she was more beautiful to him now than she ever was. Not because she was physically more grown, but because of how much their own bond had grown over the years. Her skin bared scars that only he knew about. There were stories there nobody else knew.

Yato had seen countless naked women in his lifetime, but for some reason seeing her there made his body ache in a way he didn't think he could anymore. It had been such a long time since he'd felt that way towards a woman. As difficult as it was, he tore his eyes from her and sunk down to the floor beside the bathroom door. Yato sat there and listened to Hiyori hum blissfully. It was little stolen moments such as these that he wished time would stop. He could sit there and listen to her for the rest of his days. At least for a while he could forget all his failures and shortcomings. Maybe one day he could stop fighting battles to save her.

Hiyori finished up her bath and wrapped a large white towel around her body. She wiped the condensation off the mirror with her hand and threw her hair in a loose braid over her shoulder. Water dripped down her arms and legs. The warmth of the steam from the bath had filled the room and Hiyori closed her eyes and breathed it in. It had been some time since she'd been able to sit back and relax. She'd gotten so used to having to keep her guard up, especially at night when she's supposed to be able to let her guard down, that being tense was a new normal. She was starting to feel it in her shoulders and her back even when she was awake.

Her parents walked through the door just as Hiyori was heading back to her room. "We're back!" her mom called from downstairs.

"I'm just getting ready for bed!" she replied.

"We brought home some dinner if you're hungry," her mom said. "I can heat some up if you like."

"No thanks, I already ate," Hiyori knew it was a lie but she wasn't all that hungry. Yato had brought some leftovers from Kofuku's place late in the afternoon and she was still full.

Turning the corner from the bathroom, Hiyori noticed Yato sitting outside the door. His head was propped up against the door trim and he was fast asleep. She wondered how long he had been there. Was he watching her bathe? Initially the thought freaked her out but she quickly turned red imagining Yato watching her naked. In a way, she enjoyed entertaining the thought.

Hiyori always had feelings for Yato. As tangled and messy as they were, she knew deep down that she didn't look at other guys the way she looked at Yato. Sure, there were boys in school that asked her out. After her incident with Fujisaki at the amusement park she remained skeptical of going out on anymore dates.

Looking over Yato's face her eyes focused on his lips. She remembered that night. Whatever fight she had left in her that night melted away as soon as he kissed her. It should have been her first kiss. Not with some boy she hardly knew. Hiyori was determined to make sure that any kiss she shared would be with Yato only. She dared to touch his bottom lip ever so lightly with her fingertips. She didn't want to wake him up and have to explain the odd behavior. Unsure of the next time she'd be able to touch him lovingly again, Hiyori leaned in and kissed Yato on the corner of his mouth and left him to sleep while she got dressed in her closet.

Hiyori began making her bed when she heard a soft tapping on her window. Wary of the noise, she approached the window cautiously. She wasn't expecting anyone to show up at this time.

Yukine looked up from his book. "Let me get it, Hiyori." He stepped in front of her and looked outside to find Kira and Matoko crouched down on the rooftop. He flung the window open to let them inside. Yato must have heard the noise because he promptly stepped into the room rubbing his eyes.

"My apologies, Hiyori," Kira bowed slightly as she stepped down from the window. Yukine helped Matoko inside. "I did not want to come at this hour but I wanted to get to you as soon as I could."

"Is something wrong?" Yukine blurted out. "You were gone for so long."

Kira's normally stoic face softened and her pale cheeks turned rosy briefly. "I'm sorry. We had to make sure Lady Izanami didn't become suspicious of our prolonged absence." She turned to Yato. "He was there, Yato. Your father came back to the underworld seeking council with Lady Izanami."

"Really? When?" Yato interrogated. "What did he say?"

"Just yesterday!" Matoko piped in from behind Kira's legs.

"Yes," Kira added. "He came yesterday asking to speak with Lady Izanami. He looked very concerned. Izanami ushered him to her meeting room. Matoko and I remained outside the doors to listen to their conversation."

"Please tell me you have good news," Yato whined.

"Actually, we did hear something interesting. In fact, it may help you guys to beat this curse and your father without having to kill him." Kira straightened her wings behind her and handed Yato something from her bag. "He told Izanami that he thought Hiyori would be dead by now but that all of his attempts to get her alone with the demon have failed. He was worried that Hiyori might have found the way to break the curse."

Yato unwrapped the small cloth to reveal an amulet. He'd seen it before. His eyes widened. "How did you get this?"

"I noticed this hanging from his neck and could tell it was a source of power for him," Kira explained. "The harder part was getting it from him. Luckily, Matoko is good at distracting people." She rubbed Matoko's head and he purred. "Let's just say that when he's irritated he doesn't pay as much attention to his surroundings."

"The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree," Yukine said crossing his arms with a snarky grin on his face.

"Oh shut up," Yato stuck his tongue out.

Kira giggled. Hiyori liked the way Kira laughed. It made her smile.

"The amulet is like a honing beacon for your father's power," Kira continued. "It doesn't hold his power but it does help him wield it. Without it, he can't concentrate the power he has leaving him in a weakened state. If he can't control his power, he won't be able to use it as effectively."

"He never went anywhere without it," Yato said as he turned the amulet over and over in his hand. "It won't be long before he realizes it's missing if he hasn't realized it already. He'd terrorize every city and village to find it again. Taking this from him means war."

"I know," Kira's face became serious again. "We won't have much time before he starts questioning everyone to find it again. He'll start wit Izanami but after her, we suspect he'll come to you next. When he does, you'll need to be ready for a fight." She turned to Yukine. "Do you think you can do this?"

Yukine lit up. "Absolutely! We've been ready for this!"

Kira looked at Hiyori. "There is one more thing." She approached Hiyori. "Your unbreakable bond."

"My what?" Hiyori was confused.

"When Yato tried to cut your ties and the last one turned gold and wouldn't cut. That is called an unbreakable bond. They are very rare amongst humans and I dare say one has never been attached to a god. Yato is likely the first god to have an unbreakable bond with a human."

Hiyori's face glowed bright red and her heart sped up.

"If we can harness the power in that tie, along with the amulet in our possession, we will surely be able to defeat his father and end this curse."