Hiyori waited patiently for the train to go by. The red stop lights blinked left and right then left again. Even though the train was loud, she could still hear the wind stirring up the leaves on the trees. Today was a particularly windy day and the gathering clouds gave Hiyori the notion it might rain soon. If she didn't hurry she might get caught up in a storm. And since she didn't have her half phantom form anymore she wouldn't be able to just hide her body and jump from building to building to get there faster. From now on she was going to have to get used to doing everything the normal, slower way. She sighed in acceptance as the train ended and the arms went up.
It had been a while since she was on this side of town. Hiyori hadn't been to Kofuku's place for weeks. The one place that had been practically a second home to her all these years felt strange to visit now. As she walked she could feel the temperature dropping as the clouds grew darker and obscured the sun. She began to regret wearing a sun dress as it wasn't very sunny and wasn't as warm as it had been. But she wanted to look nice for once instead of throwing on whatever was comfortable. And worse, only wearing something she could run in if she had to. For all those weeks she'd wanted to wear so many different, cute outfits. But when you're trying to survive a curse and a demon seeking your soul, dresses and sandals weren't exactly the most functional option.
Rounding the corner, Hiyori started to feel cold drops on her bare shoulders. "Of all days I don't carry an umbrella," she thought to herself. She jogged down the alley the rest of the way to their house. She'd made it just in time to the front door and under the awning when the deluge proceeded. Hiyori took a deep breath of relief before fixing her yellow and green plaid dress. Luckily her white sandals hadn't gotten muddy. She was about to knock when the door swung to the right and she was pulled inside somewhat aggressively.
"HIYORIN!" Kofuku squealed. She'd wrapped Hiyori up in her arms and smothered her against her chest. Even though Hiyori didn't have any of her old half phantom properties anymore, she could still smell each god's individual fragrance. Kofuku always smelled of cherry blossoms and something sweet like marshmallows. Usually she'd try to pull back from Kofuku's hugs but this time she let her practically choke her. She'd missed Kofuku too.
"Hey Hiyori," Daikoku saluted with his finger and nodded.
"Hello," Hiyori mumbled from out of Kofuku's arms. Kofuku finally released Hiyori.
"I'm so happy to see you!" Kofuku jumped up and down like a little kid.
"It has been a while," Hiyori smiled.
"I was just finishing up lunch, do you want some Hiyori?" Daikoku wiped his hands on his apron.
"Sure!" Hiyori was hungry after all that walking.
"YATO! YUKINE! GET YOUR BUTTS DOWN HERE!" Kofuku yelled up the stairs.
Hiyori winced a little. It was hard to believe because of how small and innocent she looked, but Kofuku could definitely get pretty loud.
Footsteps came down the stairs. It was Yukine. Hiyori ran over to him and hugged him tight. "I'm so glad to see you, Yukine!" she said. Her happiness turned to a strange mix of sadness, relief, guilt, and anxiety. "I'm so sorry to have put you through all that! I almost lost you and it would have been all my fault!"
"Hiyori!" Yukine put both his hands up and waved vigorously. "It's ok! None of it was your fault!"
"If Yato hadn't of healed you after defeating the demon, you still would have been in pieces on the ground!" Hiyori continued, forcing back tears.
"Yato wasn't the one who healed him, Hiyori," a voice rose calmly to Hiyori's right. She watched as Kira emerged from the kitchen. She looked different. Her wings were put away and she actually looked like a normal human girl. If Hiyori hadn't seen her face before today, she never would have guessed she was a yokai. "You healed him. Both of them."
"What do you mean?" Hiyori asked, puzzled.
"Yato doesn't have healing powers. Somehow, it came from you. Almost like you leant them to him," Kira crossed her arms. "Either way, you're the one who ultimately gave Yato the power to win the battle and save us all. We all have you to thank."
Hiyori looked around at everyone in the room. They were all smiling at her. She didn't feel like she deserved to be thanked, but it made her happy nonetheless to see everyone in the same room again and unharmed. Looking back to her left, she spotted Yato standing at the bottom of the stairs leaning up against the wall. He, too, was smiling at her.
"Let's eat before it gets cold!" Daikoku broke the silence and Hiyori was glad for it. Everyone sat at the table on the floor and started serving themselves.
"Did you get washed out on your way here?" Yato asked Hiyori. He patted the seat next to him signaling her to sit there.
Hiyori still got butterflies seeing him. They were "official" now, but only to each other. They hadn't told anyone else yet. She kind of liked it that way for now. She didn't want all the questions and excitement right away. "Almost," Hiyori finally replied sitting down next to him.
"I heard it's going to storm pretty bad the rest of the day," Yukine added.
"Hiyorin, you can stay here until the storm passes!" Kofuku offered.
"Oh n-n-no no! I don't want to put you guys out like that!" Hiyori shook her head.
"Nonsense!" Daikoku raised his cup at her. "You can't walk back home in this."
"You know you're always welcome, Hiyorin," Kofuku reached across the table and touched Hiyori's hand.
Hiyori exhaled. "Thank you."
Everyone continued to eat. Yukine and Yato went on about getting back on the "jobs" to earn money again. Of course Yato whined. Yukine hurled well-placed insults at him and Yato's complaining got louder. Hiyori could see the confusion on Kira's face as she looked back and forth between them. Hiyori leaned backwards and pointed to the guys. "This is pretty normal for them," she quietly explained to Kira. "Don't worry about it."
Kira kind of smiled out of the corner of her mouth and shook her head. Once everyone was pretty much done eating, Daikoku started collecting the dishes. Yukine stood up quickly and helped. He always was extremely helpful. Especially since they allowed him to live there. Yato kind of forced himself in but he helps around sometimes too.
"So Hiyori," Kofuku said leaning her head on her hand. "we were all thinking about a trip to the beach soon seeing as it's summer and we all earned a nice little break."
"That sounds lovely!" Hiyori congratulated her. "I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun! It's been a long time since I've been to the beach."
"Well, it's funny you mention that because we were kind of, sort of going to force you to come along," Kofuku looked at Hiyori with a sinister grin.
Hiyori gulped. "Uh, well, I mean," she stuttered. She couldn't find a good excuse to get out of it.
"I think it would be nice to get away from here for a little bit and enjoy one of the best parts of summer," Yato put his hand on Hiyori's arm.
"I'm not sure my parents would let me go that far so suddenly…" Hiyori tried to deflect.
"You're going to be an adult tomorrow!" Kofuku griped. "You don't need your parents' permission to enjoy the last summer you'll have before graduating next year!"
She was right. Hiyori couldn't argue. She'd dreamed of doing a lot more before school started again but of course life had other plans.
"You guys are welcome to come as well!" Kofuku said to Kira.
"Sadly, Matoko and I must depart today," Kira informed everyone. She looked at the ground sullenly.
"Already?" Yukine poked his head out of kitchen immediately.
"Yes," Kira didn't look up. "We have to go back to our Lady Izanami and try to reconcile our home and our master. After the battle, we're sure she has learned of the outcome and is in a state of defeat." She turned slowly to Yukine. "This was our goal from the beginning. We wanted to have our old master back. The war is over for you all here on Earth but not for us in the underworld."
Yukine's shoulders dropped and so did his face. "I understand. I would want to try to fix my bond with Yato if anything ever happened between us."
"Would you like us to escort you to the entrance?" Yato asked.
"That might be unwise," Kira declined. "Izanami is still a fierce goddess. It would not be a good idea to tempt her this soon."
Yukine huffed. "When do you leave?"
"Tonight," Kira replied shortly. "There will be a brief break in the storm. Matoko and I will take advantage of it and fly while we can."
"Well, until then let's just enjoy each other's company," Hiyori tried to liven up the conversation.
Almost as if he was waiting for the cue, Daikoku came out with two six-packs of beer in each hand. "That's exactly what I was thinkin!"
"Alright!" Yato cheered.
Everyone sat back down and continued talking about anything and everything. Yato had already demolished three beers in just under an hour and was getting louder. Hiyori was glad Yato wasn't someone who liked to get drunk all the time or she didn't think she'd be able to stand him. Daikoku wasn't too far behind him, either. He put his arm around Yukine who was trying his best to keep up appearances but everyone could tell he was bummed about Kira leaving.
"Have a beer, cheer up!" Daikoku bellowed and shoved a beer into Yukine's chest.
"Kokki! Don't get carried away!" Kofuku scolded. "He's just a kid!"
"He ain't gonna get any older!" Daikoku fussed. "Why can't he enjoy some adult fun every once in a while?!"
Hiyori turned to Yato. "That's actually a good like. How does that work?"
"Well," Yato hiccupped, "it's up to the master and how they feel about it. It's just like underage drinking when they're alive."
"So, you're saying you're ok with Yukki drinking?!" Kofuku put her hands on her hips.
"I mean, I agree with Daikoku," Yato waved his left hand intrinsically like he was in a play. "If he wants to, it can't hurt every now and again."
"Actually," Yukine spoke up softly, "for some reason I don't feel that interested in it. I've been around Yato drunk lots of times and it's never really crossed my mind to drink it myself." He slid the can back to Daikoku. "Besides, I don't want to get sloppy and belligerent like my messy master does when he drinks. It's unbecoming." Yukine stuck his nose up in the air.
"YOW! HEY! I FELT THAT STING!" Yato hollered and grabbed the back of his neck.
"What sting? The sting of embarrassment?" Yukine looked over at Yato with a snarky smirk.
"Watch it you little twerp or I'll embarrass you in front of your little girlfriend!" Yato stood up and put one foot on the table.
"Except I don't have a girlfriend so that's kind of impossible," Yukine raised an eyebrow at Yato.
"Yeah but you wish she was!" Yato laughed hysterically.
Yukine's face immediately turned red like a cherry. From beside him, Hiyori could hear Kira giggling softly. It was so strange yet so natural. She'd never heard Kira laugh at all. She'd barely seen her smile. Kira laughing only made Yukine's face glow brighter.
Everyone else laughed as well. Hiyori was happy to see everyone enjoying themselves just like old times. She didn't know if she'd ever see that again. She looked over at Yukine who was trying to play it cool. Daikoku and Kofuku were still laughing. Kira was smiling brightly. Hiyori then looked over at Yato who was already staring right at her. It actually made her jump a little because she wasn't expecting to see his eyes already fixed on her.
"I know what you're feeling," Yato looked away at everyone else. "I suppose Yukine and I are the only ones who would know what you're feeling."
"True," Hiyori lowered her head.
"I won't tell you to forget about it or not worry about it anymore," Yato leaned over and grabbed Hiyori's hand. "I know a part of you won't ever be able to forget it. But I will say don't let it consume you."
"I see you two have gotten quite cozy," Kofuku drew everyone's attention to Hiyori and Yato. Hiyori ripped her hand from Yato with a quickness.
"Wh-what do you mean?" Hiyori chuckled anxiously.
"I think you know what she means," Daikoku jumped in.
"Honestly, they think they've been secret about it but they're both horrible at hiding anything," Yukine looked over at Hiyori. "It's been going on for a while now," he said smiling.
"W-well, we didn't want to make anything official with everything that was going on at the time," Hiyori fidgeted uncomfortably where she sat.
"But since it's all over now, we figured it was as good a time as any to take the leap," Yato finished confidently.
"I'm so happy for you guys!" Kofuku leapt over the table and hugged both Yato and Hiyori. "I always knew this would happen!"
"I can't believe it took as long as it did," Daikoku snickered.
"Was it that obvious?" Hiyori said curiously.
"I will say it was easy to read, even for a stranger," Kira added.
"Well, the cat's out of the bag," Yato laughed.
Hiyori just smiled and shook her head.
The evening came faster than everyone imagined. Hiyori could hear the rain outside taper off. The conversations around the table grew quiet. She didn't want it to end but all good things do. Daikoku was dozing off. Kofuku was snacking again. Yato was finally sober again. Hiyori figured it would be a good idea to head home now as she didn't have to ability to fly like Kira did.
"I appreciate your hospitality Lady Kofuku," Kira said as she stood up. "You have all been a pleasure to meet and have been great companions."
Everyone else stood up as well to bid Kira farewell. Hiyori walked over to her and bowed. "Thank you for everything you did for me, Kira. I really don't know where I would be without you."
"Likewise, Hiyori," Kira bowed back. "I am glad we were able to help each other in this matter. I do believe brighter days are to come."
"Will we ever see you again?" Hiyori asked.
"I do not know," Kira sighed. "Time on earth goes by so much faster than it does in the underworld. A few days to us could be weeks to you. I do not know how long it will take to reconcile everything. But you all have given me hope. That is something we haven't had in a long time. As soon as we can, Matoko and I shall return."
Yukine hung back. He stood against the wall, hands in his pockets. Hiyori could tell he wanted to say a lot to her but didn't know how to. She could also tell Yato was picking up on it too. Was Yukine's yearning for Kira stinging Yato?
"Until next time," Kira did one more bow at the door and turned to leave. Kofuku waved goodbye and shut the door behind her.
Yato looked over at Yukine, who was still leaning against the wall and staring at the ground, unconvinced by his "cool guy" attitude. He walked over to him and whispered something in his ear that Hiyori couldn't make out. Whatever it was, it made Yukine look up at the door with wide eyes. He jogged out of the door.
"I'll be right back!" Yukine yelled as he left.
"Yukine?" Hiyori said but he was already gone.
"Let him go," Yato said with a soft smile on his face. "He's tying up some loose ends."
Hiyori wasn't sure what he was talking about but she had some idea. She hoped Yukine would be able to confront Kira properly and get everything off his chest. He may think her and Yato were an open book, but so was he. After all, love shouldn't be difficult to decipher.
"Well, I suppose I should go too," Hiyori said. "I don't want to get caught when the rain starts up again."
"I'll walk you home," Yato insisted.
"You don't have to do that," Hiyori reasoned. "Besides, you should be here when Yukine gets back. Just in case he needs to talk."
"I think he'll be fine," Yato brushed her concern off. "And anyways, I can get you home faster than you just walking."
"Excuse me?" Hiyori was confused.
"Be careful, Yatty!" Kofuku patted Yato on the shoulder. "We'll see you again soon for our beach trip, Hiyorin!"
Hiyori waved goodbye and left with Yato. The sky was dark. The rain had stopped but huge, billowing clouds were already forming for a round two. Hiyori could hear thunder in the distance as they headed towards her house.
"So, how exactly were you going to get me home faster?" Hiyori asked sarcastically.
"I thought you'd never ask," Yato said mischievously before grabbing Hiyori up in his arms and jumping on the nearest rooftop. Hiyori yelped and tucked her head in Yato's chest. "I really thought you'd be more used to this by now," Yato chuckled.
"It's definitely different when you're full human and the idea of falling to your death is very real!" Hiyori informed him.
"But fighting demons and destroying curses is totally not fatal?" Yato asked rhetorically.
"Don't get cute," Hiyori's face got serious.
Yato couldn't help but laugh. "I'm adorable."
Hiyori rolled her eyes but secretly smiled to herself. Yato jumped from rooftop to rooftop. The evening air was getting colder but Yato's body was so warm against her own that it didn't bother her. Him leaping through the air felt like she was floating on water. Like she was weightless and nothing could harm her. That's how Yato made her feel all the time. The demon had tried to sway her and make her fear him. The nightmares she had felt so real but his eyes were different from this Yato. This Yato wouldn't hurt her. This Yato wouldn't let her fall.
She thought he'd take her to her window but he landed by her front door instead. Lightning and thunder crashed around them and she knew the rain was about to start again. The darkness used to scare Hiyori. But, as the rain fell and covered her and Yato, she closed her eyes and let it wash away all her fears. She titled her head up to the sky and felt the rain on her face. It was as if her pain and lingering anguish from the past few weeks were being cleansed by the downpour and she didn't want it to stop.
She wasn't sure how long she'd stood there silently soaking up the serenity, but Hiyori felt warm hands clasped gently around her face. She lowered her head and opened her eyes which were met with Yato's. "I think I just wanted to feel the power the rain had," she said quietly.
"I know exactly what you mean," he smiled at her. Yato lightly pulled her face to his and kissed her lovingly.