Thank you to anyone who stuck with me. Definitely had some family emergencies pop up that prohibited me from being able to write. We are just starting to recover and get back into the swing of things so hopefully I can finish this up. I am working on Chapter 14 now!
The nurse leaned over Hiyori's body and opened her eyes, examining her pupils to see any signs of bigger problems. They dilated normally and the whites were fine. She checked over Hiyori to make sure nothing else was wrong then put everything into her file on the computer.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," she turned to Hiyori's mother, "she's stable and doesn't seem to be in any pain. We'll continue to monitor her condition throughout the day and evening."
Hiyori's mother sighed heavily and nodded. Her father was on his way to the hospital. The doctor on call checked her over and found no reason why she'd be unconscious. Of course her medical history was plagued with strange instances of her passing out or being unconscious for long periods of time. Nobody could quite figure out why she'd had so many episodes yet all of her lab work came back normal. The doctors chalked it up to possible narcolepsy but she didn't quite fit that diagnosis either. Since she was fine when she was awake nobody thought it was necessary for her to have to take any medications or get any further testing. Hiyori's mother worried about her daughter going to college and being on her own. What if the episodes continue when she moves out? What if she's alone when it happens and nobody finds her? She could be driving or crossing the street and have an episode. Then what? Her mother hated to even think about it.
The sun began its descent and the sky was painted with gold and orange hues that faded to black beyond the horizon. It must have been getting late as the sun didn't normally set until nine or so. Hiyori's father silently stepped into the room and comforted her mother.
"They say she is comfortable and is breathing well on her own," her father stated calmly. "I will stay with her tonight. Why don't you go home and get some rest? There are plenty of people here to look after her."
Her mother shook her head. "No. I can't help but feel like I need to stay and be here when she wakes up."
Her father agreed reluctantly. "I'll have the nurses bring you a pillow and some blankets." As he walked out of the room, he looked over his shoulder back at Hiyori. "I'm sure she's just getting some much-needed sleep."
Unbeknownst to them, Hiyori was fighting a battle of a lifetime in a dream world she couldn't escape.
"Hiyori, stay back!" Yato ordered.
"I can't see you!" she shouted from behind the beast and his wall of flames.
"Don't move! I'm coming for you!" Yato couldn't help but feel like that might have been a lie. No phantom or foe compared to this demon before him. Even with his blessed vessel, who could rip apart the heavens themselves, he wasn't sure he'd be able to defeat his enemy this time.
"Foolish god!" the beast crossed its arms. "You cannot conquer me. I am the embodiment of everyone's hate and anger. As long as there is evil in the hearts of humans, I will remain."
"Who are you?!" Yato demanded. "What do you want?!"
The beast laughed. "I am Ifrit, the demon of fire. I am one of the elemental demons summoned at a price to take the soul of Hiyori Iki."
"But why?! She's never done anything!" Yato became infuriated at the demon's mocking.
"There is evil that lurks in all corners of the Earth and it seeks to ensue chaos. Chaos does not have a reason why. It simply exists to wreak havoc on everyone and everything in its path." The demon turned to face Hiyori. "She was simply in the path of chaos."
"This isn't right and you know it!" Yato fought back.
The demon pointed to Yato. "Gods can do no wrong!" it roared. "People are the ones who decide what is right and what is wrong. Those things do not apply to gods. But they also do not apply to demons. We are like gods in that way. We were created by people's malice, envy, and greed. We demons were born of people's poor attempts to maintain the evil in their hearts. When they gave in to their vicious temptations, we sprung from the ashes of their failures. We are eternal. Just as the sun lives on day after day, I will be here. And until I retrieve Hiyori's soul, I will come for you. You cannot stop me."
Hiyori's heart plummeted. This was it. This was the end for her. Yato couldn't stop him. Not even a weapon as strong as Yukine could defeat him. Now that he had her where he wanted her, the demon would take her soul and it would all be over. She fell to her knees.
"I'll go."
The beast turned around to Hiyori. Yato looked at her with eyes wide and stomach in knots. Yukine's jaw dropped.
"What did you say?" The demon asked surprised.
"I said I'll go," Hiyori responded agitated. "I'll go with you if you let Yato and Yukine live."
"Hmmm," the beast growled. "This is the first time someone has come with me willingly."
"HIYORI!" Yato screamed.
"Yato," Hiyori murmured. She looked up at him and met his gaze. Tears ran down her cheeks and off her nose, but there was a smile on her face. "Take care of Yukine and be good to him."
"HIYORI! NO! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Yato cried. Yukine remained speechless.
"I won't forget you," her smile faded as she stood and brushed off her knees. "I'm ready," she told the demon." The beast reached out one of his huge hands to her and Hiyori went to take it. She'd felt a slight sense of relief. It would all finally be done. No more hiding and worrying. No more fighting and trying to survive. The long nights and endless days would come to an end. This is how it should be. She shouldn't have ever been in this situation but this is where the path in life had brought her. Hiyori looked at Yato once more. Her memories of him would always be a treasure. No matter what the outcome would have been, at least she got to spend three wonderful years with him. He'd been her best friend through everything. She'd loved him more fiercely than anyone she had ever met. It was ok that she was dying now. She'd lived a young but full life. How could she be greedy? It was her time.
Just as her fingers touched the tips of the beast's fingers, a sound like metal hitting metal pierced the air and she found Kira standing next to Yato.
"Not today, demon," she said sheathing her sword as Ifrit's gold band from his arm cracked in half and dropped to the ground.
Yato blinked in disbelief. "It's Kira!" Yukine said with tears in eyes.
"How did you…?" Yato couldn't even finish his sentence.
"I found Hiyori at the hospital when I went searching for you all. Nobody was at the house. Her mother had spoke about Hiyori being unconscious all of a sudden and I know right away what had happened."
The demon growled angrily. "How dare you!"
"Hiyori, catch!" Kira threw the bag of runes to her and Hiyori caught them.
"Thanks!" She opened the bag and gathered the runes in her hand.
"NO!" the demon roared.
Hiyori clasped her hands around the runes and closed her eyes. She pictured the last thing she remembered in her mind: the sapphire earrings. The jewels reflected the light of the store perfectly. She thought about how they reminded her of Yato's eyes.
"NOOOOO!" The flames extinguished into smoke and the darkness began to fall away as the demon vaporized into the air. His voice echoed from the distance, "I'll be back!"
It was silent. There was a slight breeze then the sound of a bird chirping. Hiyori opened her eyes slowly. Her vision was blurry and her body felt too heavy to even lift her head. She used all her strength to focus on the light that was shining in on her. After a few moments she could see it was a window. She'd seen this window before. It was the hospital window. It was cracked open and the sheer white curtain danced in the draft. A bird had perched on a branch right outside the window. It took Hiyori a bit to recollect what had happened. How long had she been out?
"Hiyori?!" she heard someone from the other side of the room but she was too weak to turn and look.
Her mother rushed to the side of the bed and helped turned Hiyori's head to look at her.
"Mom?" she said breathlessly.
"Oh, Hiyori!" Her mother grabbed her hand and kissed it over and over. "We didn't know when you'd ever wake up!"
Hiyori groaned. "How long was I out?"
"It's been two days, dear," her mother exhaled with relief. "At first they weren't so sure about you. It seemed like you were really struggling internally. But at some point you became more responsive to stimuli and they determined you would wake up shortly."
Hiyori looked up at the ceiling tiles trying to remember everything that happened. It was all hazy and hard to focus on. She remembered going to the mall. There were windows full of sale displays and a lot of people walking and standing around. She remembered twinkling blue lights and feeling overwhelmed with sadness suddenly. What was she sad about? The last thing she remembers were people yelling all around her and trying to escape then it all went black.
"I should call your father and let him know you're awake. He's been at the hospital non-stop since you were admitted. I finally convinced him to go home and get some rest. He'll be happy to hear you're okay." Her mother patted her arm and left the room.
Hiyori looked out the window from the bed and pondered the events that had brought her there. Wasn't Yato and Yukine supposed to be at the mall too? It occurred to her that they were probably worried sick about her. She tried to reach for her phone on the bedside table but her arm felt too heavy to lift. Instead, a pale hand reached out from behind her bed and a flutter of feathers shifted into view.
"Were you wanting this, Hiyori?" Kira asked in a soothing voice.
"Kira?" Hiyori was surprised to see her.
"I understand I am probably the last person you expected to see here."
"How long have you been here?" Hiyori questioned.
"Since you went unconscious. I've been posing as table lamp so nobody would see me."
"That's amazing!" Hiyori didn't know that was even possible.
"It definitely comes in handy being able to turn into anything animate or inanimate." Kira smiled at Hiyori warmly. "How are you feeling?"
"Confused more than anything," Hiyori replied honestly. "I feel like I'm missing a huge chunk of time but I can't seem to remember anything."
"You are missing time," Kira answered seriously. "I suppressed your memory of what happened while you were unconscious."
"What? Why?"
"Let's just say that it is better left forgotten for now," Kira said as she sat down on the bed beside Hiyori.
"Did something bad happen?"
"Well, I suppose if it was good I wouldn't have had to suppress your memory," Kira joked.
"Is Yato and Yukine okay?" Hiyori quickly became concerned.
"They are perfectly well," Kira reassured her. "They are at the home of another god. Kofuku, I believe is her name."
Hiyori relaxed. "At least they're safe."
"I told Yato not to come," Kira said.
"Why not?"
"He needs some time to process his thoughts. I told him I could easily keep you safe."
"Process?"
"Yukine understands what happened. But Yato's feelings for you seem to be making understanding more difficult for him."
"Is he mad?" Hiyori's stomach turned at the thought that she might have done something or said something wrong.
"I believe he is more upset that the situation left him powerless. He doesn't seem like the type of god that enjoys feeling that way."
Hiyori huffed. "Definitely not."
"I told him to give you a few days. Your memory of the events may return on their own but until they do, it'd best to refrain from bringing it up. Matoko and myself will stay with you until then."
"Thank you, Kira."
Kira smiled at the ground. "You don't have to thank me."
"I do," Hiyori corrected her. "You've stepped in a helped so much. Without you I don't think we would have ever made it this far. I probably would have been dead by now."
Kira remained silent for a bit until she heard footsteps approaching. "Your parents are on their way in. I will be here in you need me." With that, she turned back into the table lamp on the desk in the corner.
Her mother and father walked into the room. Her father hugged her and joked about not giving him anymore heart attacks. Hiyori was happy to see them and decided for now she would put it all behind her and just enjoy being with her family.
They kept her at the hospital one more night and released her the next morning after receiving a clean bill of health. She received medication for potential headaches that might occur and anxiety medication as well. Her mother told her she seemed like she was having trouble lately and asked that she be put on a low dose medication to help her relax. Hiyori wasn't sure she really needed it but accepted it anyway to make her mother feel better.
When they pulled up to the house Hiyori immediately felt better. She couldn't wait to throw herself into her own bed and get actual rest without doctors and nurses coming in to constantly check on her. Though she was thankful her parents, especially her mother, wanted to make sure she was going to be alright it definitely made sleeping difficult with the rigorous tests and questions. The beeping of the monitors and cold stethoscopes were now in the past. Hiyori simply waved to her mother before heading upstairs to her room.
Kira had disguised herself as a decorative hair tie so she could follow Hiyori wherever she went. Once Hiyori was safe in her room, she tapped the hair tie gently. "Ok," Hiyori said, "it's safe now."
With a small flash of light, Hiyori's hair fell down around her neck and shoulders and Kira was standing by the window. "How are you feeling?" Kira asked.
Hiyori flopped down on her bed and buried her face into her pillow. She just gave Kira a thumbs up. Kira laughed a little. "I'll take that as good."
Hiyori took in a deep breath. She reached down trying to find her blanket and a strange sensation made her wince. Her fingertips were sore. She turned over and looked at them curiously. Upon investigating them she realized they actually looked as though they had been burned. Three of her fingertips were red and sore with little blisters beginning to form as if she'd touched a hot pan or a fire. She didn't remember such an injury before the hospital and can't imagine why she'd get one while she was unconscious. Somehow, Hiyori couldn't help but feel a tinge of sorrow as she stared at the burns.