Just a reminder, this chapter is also rated M for sexual scenarios. Otherwise, enjoy :)
The rest of the summer seemed to fly by. The first few weeks were grueling, for obvious reasons, and felt like each day was a lifetime. But the saying is true: time flies when you're having fun. And they did have fun. Things went back to normal as much as it could. Emotional wounds still needed healing. Mental and physical scars reared their ugly heads from time to time, like the ones on Hiyori's legs. Of course everyone else had come out of the battle unscathed but Hiyori's scars would be a lifetime reminder of the ordeal. Some days it was difficult for Yato to see them. Hiyori seemingly had put it behind her, but Yato occasionally felt a pain in his chest when he thought about how he almost lost her over the summer. He never brough it up to Hiyori, though. The less they talked about it, the further away it became. That's exactly how Yato wanted it to be: a distant memory.
Hiyori and her friends had gone school shopping for the last time. It was her last year in school and would be the most complex until she started medical school after graduation. She'd struggled internally with whether or not she wanted to continue in the medical field like her father. After giving it a lot of thought, Hiyori decided she wanted to be a cardiac invasive specialist and minor is physical rehabilitation. She liked the idea of being able to potentially help people prevent the need for open heart surgery and also assist in recovery after surgeries. She didn't want to work in the emergency room like her father. She didn't think she could handle the stress as well as he did.
Kofuku held a back-to-school party at her place the weekend before she went back. It was fun with it being just them. Kira and Matoko had become a regular part of the gang at that point and were around often. From Hiyori's understanding, Lady Izanami wanted them to be able to be more free to go into the world of the living. Izanami felt that if they visited more often, they could help her understand the living world better going forward. Yukine of course was thrilled. They had become more and more comfortable around each other and Kira was almost like a school girl herself. She would blush when Yukine's hand would brush against hers or when he'd kiss her cheek. Hiyori loved seeing them together. Yato was still wary about it, but didn't say anything to Yukine. He wasn't being stung so he figured he'd let Yukine aglone.
Yato and Hiyori's love was also flourishing. They had spent more and more time together. It seemed like if she wasn't sleeping or eating, she was with Yato. And even sometimes when she was sleeping, he was with her too. He didn't forget his godly duties and still spent quite a bit of time slaying phantoms and taking on his odd jobs. But sometimes when we was done, he'd sneak in her room late at night and crawl into bed with her. Usually he'd stroke her sleeping face or run his fingers through her hair lightly until he drifted off to sleep himself. Every now and again Hiyori would wake up and he'd be there next to her so they would kiss each other tenderly. Since her parents were able to perceive Yato as he were human now, they had to be quiet in her room or they'd hear them together.
Once school started, Hiyori had told Yato she really needed to spend as much time studying as she could if she wanted to make it into University of Tokyo. It was the best medical school in Japan and one of the best globally. Hiyori had some of the best grades the last few years and had done many extracurricular activities to build her resume. Her goal for the year was to do as much community service and volunteering as possible after school to add to her college application. She'd already set up agreements with a neighboring hospital. Hiyori thought it might be better to work with a hospital that wasn't her father's just to prove there was not bias or favoritism. Her father complained initially but understood why she had done it.
Hiyori was very busy and feeling the full effect of adulthood already. Monday, Wednesday, Friday she went to school, volunteered at the hospital, came home with just enough time to eat and study, then try to get enough sleep for the next day. Tuesdays and Thursdays weren't as busy. She'd go to school then did just an hour or so at her after-school activity which was usually some community service with a local non-profit. Ami and Yama were also in the same after school group so they would research which groups to work with and make the arrangements. The gave Hiyori more time to go home and relax, and also spend time with Yato and Yukine. Normally Saturdays and Saturday nights were for her friends while Sundays she spent with her family.
For winter break, Kofuku had a Christmas party and invited a bunch of gods and regalias. Ebisu made an appearance and even Bishamon and Kazuma showed up. Hiyori thanked them abundantly for helping them against Ifrit and apologized for getting them involved at all.
"It was not your fault, Hiyori Iki," Bishamon had said. "Chaos has no rhyme or reason. Unfortunately, you were the target of the random violence because someone wanted you to be miserable simply because they were miserable themselves. It is our duty, and our pleasure, to rid the world of as much chaos as possible. You do not need to apologize. I'm glad that everything has been going well for you since that day."
Hiyori sill felt a little guilty but thanked Bishamon for her kind words and went on her way. Lord Tenjin and Ebisu came to enjoy the festivities along with some other gods of fortune Hiyori wasn't as familiar with outside of stories. She thought about Lady Ishigami and wondered if she'd ever see her again. The last time she saw her, she'd made a wish at her shrine and left. Come to think of it, when she looked back she had seen Yato talking with her but she was too far away to hear what they were saying. Yato seemed a little spooked when he returned to the group but didn't want to talk about it.
New Year came and Hiyori visited Lord Tenjin's shrine to make a sizeable offering and prayed that she would make it into the University of Tokyo when she applied in the spring. She also made offerings to Ebisu and Bishamon and prayed for blessings in the new year. Yato naturally whined incessantly that she should be praying to him instead but she remembered what he'd said at Ishigami's shrine. Yato wasn't a god of fortune and thus wouldn't really be able to grant those wishes. Hiyori assured him that he didn't need to grant any of her wishes for her. She just wanted to love him and be loved by him. Yato melted every time.
Yato became busier the closer it came to spring. It was a season heavy with exams and college applications so students were more stressed than usual and thus more phantoms on the rise. A couple of times he'd visit Hiyori and tried to hide wounds he'd gotten from fighting a phantom. Nothing serious, of course, but painful nonetheless. Hiyori could tell if he was limping or holding his side or cradling an arm that he'd sustained injuries. He didn't want her to know but she knew anyway. There was nothing that could be done. It was part of his duty as a god to kill as many as he could and some were stronger than others. She'd tend to his wounds while he slept in her bed. Those nights, he slept so soundly nothing could wake him. She felt bad for him. He hardly ate or slept. Things would slow down after graduation but until then, it was going to be a lot of work for him.
One Saturday in particular, in early spring, Yato had come over before the sun had even rose and sat on the edge of Hiyori's bed. She was still fast asleep and dreaming peacefully. It had been a while since he'd spent one-one-one time with her with how busy they had both been. She'd already applied to a few different colleges and was preparing for graduation. He was out all hours of the day and night slaughtering phantoms and working odd jobs. He tried to give Yukine a break as much as possible but quite a few times he would still slay smaller phantoms on his own with bottles of purifying water. He'd work until he just couldn't anymore and usually would just pass out somewhere for a bit until he got another call.
This morning was no different. He'd just spent most of the night out with Yukine but decided to do things a little differently. He'd dropped Yukine off at Kofuku's house and told him to get some rest and that they were taking the day off. Yukine was hesitant because he didn't want Yato to be alone and unarmed but he trusted his master and stayed home. Yato snuck over to Hiyori's house and jumped onto the roof by her window. He was glad she still left the window unlocked for him even though most of the time now he came over like a regular person through the front door. But today he wanted skip the particulars and come in like he used to before. Especially since it was still very early. It couldn't have been past 4 AM. He was very tired but his heart ached to see her. So many times he wanted to just steal her away for a while but he knew this would be part of their lives from now on. He was willing to compromise to be with her though.
Yato smiled as he delicately brushed his fingers over Hiyori's face and through her long brown hair. She'd retired her winter pajamas for a light pink, silky camisole and matching bottoms. Through the night her shirt had come up to reveal her stomach and the underside of her breasts and it made Yato's insides tangle with physical and emotional feelings. He wanted to put his hands on her and feel her lean into him the way she does when he kisses her. He hadn't made love to her since that night at the beach. They'd both agreed they wanted to take things slow and try to figure out how the relationship was going to work with him being a god and her being a busy high school student soon-to-be college student.
Instead, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. Then he slowly made his way down the side of her face and onto her neck. Her skin was hot on his lips. He could feel her heartbeat quicken and he looked up to see Hiyori looking at him through sleepy eyes.
"Good morning," she whispered, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"Don't get up yet," Yato put his pointer to her mouth, "it's still really early. Go back to sleep."
Hiyori scoot all way over to the left side of the bed and pulled the covers back, patting the right side of the bed.
Yato happily accepted and laid down next to her. Once he had settled in, she scoot back over and rested her head on his shoulder. He wrapped her up in his arms and felt her drift back off to sleep. Overcome with fatigue, he found himself asleep soon after. Even in his unconscious state, he could feel her body against his and it put him at ease. He dreamt of her standing in a field of flowers. He didn't dream often, especially when he was overworked and extremely tired but when he did, it was usually of her.
He woke to the sound of birds chirping loudly. He was still tired, but he sensed Hiyori was no longer in bed next to him. When he sat up, he could see the sun had come up and it was well into the morning. He looked around the empty room. She must have gone downstairs. He didn't want to go down there and make her parents wonder why he was there. He got up and fixed her bed then sat down at her computer desk and examined all its contents. Her laptop had stickers on it of her favorite shows and martial artist. Tubes of lip balm and lip gloss lay strewn all over as well as pens and pencils. There were a couple of pictures in frames of her and her friends as well as a family Christmas photo of her, her parents, and her brother. Yato smiled at how happy and innocent she looked and hoped that being in her life hadn't caused her to lose any of that. He was selfish, he knew. He was a god. A god of calamity no less. Which meant that in reality all he could really bring was disaster. He shouldn't want or love anyone let alone be loved by someone. He should be as far away from humanity as possible while still serving them. He knew this. But he couldn't deny his love for her. He knew it the day he battled Rabo and Hiyori's memory was lost. Until then he wasn't sure how he felt about her. She was a great friend and companion and was handy to have around. But that day, when she pulled him rom that giant bubble that he couldn't break from the inside, he just knew. And when Rabo disintegrated her memories in front of him, a part of him died inside thinking he'd lost Hiyori for good. When she revived, he knew from then on he didn't want to be apart from her. Even when he said he was going to cut her ties, and tried to when the whole curse situation had begun, it killed him to think about losing her in any way.
Hiyori entered the room, knocking on the door frame to announce her entry quietly and broke Yato's negative thoughts. "Snooping?" Hiyori asked jokingly.
Yato smiled and looked back at the pictures on her desk. "Just admiring, I guess."
Hiyori had gone to take a quick shower while Yato was still asleep. "I didn't want to wake you. You were sleeping so well. And I know you had another long night."
"It's alright," Yato stood and walked over to Hiyori. "I appreciate your concern."
"Everything ok?" Hiyori asked as Yato's face hinted at some kind of sadness.
"I want to take you somewhere today," Yato said grabbing her hands in his. "I know it's short notice but I just couldn't stand being away from you for much longer."
Hiyori blushed. Every time Yato said things like that it still made her weak. His blue eyes were soft and tranquil like a serene afternoon sky in summer. "Wh-where would you like to go?"
"There's a spot I'd like to take you to," Yato pressed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. "It's kind of remote, if you don't mind traveling."
"Everything with you revolves around traveling," Hiyori teased. "I think I'm used to it by now."
"I'll wait for you outside," Yato said and quickly slipped out of Hiyori's window.
Hiyori dressed quickly in a long-sleeve, mint green crop top and white fleece pants. The days were getting warmer but still chilly when the wind blew. She put her hair half up and spritzed herself with a tiny bit of perfume that Ami had bought her for her birthday. She went downstairs to pack lunches for them both.
"Going somewhere?" her mother's voice trailed into the kitchen from the living room.
"Yato texted me asking to hang out today," Hiyori admitted. "Is that alirght?"
"We don't have any errands to run today so sure," her mother said walking into the kitchen and kissing Hiyori on the forehead. "Have fun!"
"Thanks!" Hiyori waved to her mother as she walked back upstairs. She finished making the lunches for Yato and herself and met him outside. "Here," she handed him his lunch wrapped nicely in a blue and white cloth and hers was pink and white.
It wasn't the first time Hiyori had made lunch for him but staring down at the perfectly tied-up box, he realized how nice it was to have someone actually think about making food for him. Before Hiyori, he'd scrounged for years to stay alive. Each day brought new struggles and the future was bleak. He'd stayed busy claiming to be a god of war and rendering services to anyone willing to pay.
"You ok?" Hiyori tugged on Yato's shirt.
Yato shook his head. "Yeah, just been in my head a lot lately."
"Maybe we should stay home and you get some rest today," Hiyori offered.
"No," Yato declined. "I need a break from the mundane today. I'll sleep when I can."
They caught a bus to the train station and took the train out of the city as far as it would go. While they waited for their stop, Hiyori shared her headphones with Yato so they could both listen to music together. She played 5000 Miles by Ashley Wallbridge, From the Ashes by Illenium, and Invincible by Christina Novelli along with other songs he'd never heard before. One in particular came on that he recognized right away.
You were the one and it was enough
To be the one you were dreaming of
You were the one and we called it love
"I know this song," Yato pointed to Hiyori's phone.
"Yeah, it's the song we danced to at my birthday party," Hiyori blushed. "I liked it a lot so I downloaded it when I got home."
Yato smiled remembering that dance. He could tell she was nervous and a little awkward but he didn't care. He just wanted to be close to her.
The train stopped at a small town depot. Yato pointed up at the top of a huge hill covered in dense woods. "That's where we're going."
"Where is this place?" Hiyori asked as they began their ascension.
"I used to spend a lot of time here decades ago when I was still doing work as a god of calamity," Yato told her. "There weren't many safe places for a person like me back then so I stayed in more distant areas when I wasn't working."
Hiyori was glad she wore pants and sneakers today with all the walking they had to do. Once she grew tired, Yato picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. She loved the way he picked her up like she weighed nothing to him. He made her feel like air in his arms.
When he stopped and put her down, she could instantly see why he'd picked this spot. The top of the hill had a clearing on the far side that revealed a vast span of fields of flowers before her. She stood at the edge of the cliff and took it all in. From where she stood she could see for miles. There was nothing except grassy fields flooded with wild flowers of all colors and varieties. There were no houses. There were no roads. The sun was high in the sky as big white clouds drifted along and birds sang to each other in the trees.
"It's beautiful!" Hiyori turned to Yato. "Did it always look like this?"
"Luckily is has remained mostly untouched," Yato said walking up to her with his hands in his pockets. "There've been a few people from time to time who will plant different flowers to attract different animals to the area but it has never been built on which I love."
"Ready for lunch?" Hiyori lifted Yato's lunch box up to him.
"Yes! Damn, I thought you'd never ask!" He snatched it out of her hand and sat down on the ground.
"I swear you are the hungriest person I've ever met," Hiyori sat down in front of him and ate her lunch quietly.
"Have you heard anything back from the college applications?" Yato inquired.
"Actually," Hiyori responded, "I have."
"Really?" Yato was interested now. "And?"
"Well," Hiyori reached into her bag and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Here." She handed it to him.
Yato unfolded it and read it. "Wait! Seriously?!"
"YES!" Hiyori shook her fists excitedly. "I was accepted to the University of Tokyo!"
"Holy shit! You did it!"
"I know! I haven't even told my parents yet! I wanted to tell you first because…" her happy voice trailed off. "Well, because if you hadn't have saved me last summer, I wouldn't even be here to able to apply. You may not be a god of fortune or prosperity, but I am fortunate to have you in my life. You've done more than just grant my wishes. You've been there for me like nobody else ever has."
Yato was speechless. After all these years all her felt like he did was bring her ruin and disaster. So many times he felt he should just leave and she'd be better off without him. A part of him still felt that way. But to hear her say that she was fortunate to have him in her life rejuvenated him. He felt his purpose restored in him. If she believed in him, he could do anything.
"Hiyori," Yato sat on his knees directly in front of Hiyori and looked at her with weighty eyes. "I know we agreed on wanting to take things slow and I still want to. But there's something I need to tell you."
"Yes?" Hiyori's heart raced. Yato looked so rigid and austere.
Yato reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, white, felt box and put it in Hiyori's hand.
Despite how small it was, Hiyori felt the weight of its meaning in her hand. Was this what she thought it was? She hesitated for a long time before she found the strength in her fingers to flip open the top.
Inside was a silver ring. It was adorned with two indicolite gems and a diamond in between them. She felt her heart practically stop. For a moment she forgot how to breath.
Yato held his bracelet next to the ring. "I found out what type of stone this is and found where to mine it."
"Wait," Hiyori shook her head, "you mean you dug this stone out of the ground yourself?"
"And the diamond," Yato added. "I know someone who makes jewelry for the gods. I brought him the stones and he did the rest. Pretty nice huh?"
"Yato," Hiyori looked back down at the ring in the box, "I don't know what to say."
"It doesn't have to be an engagement ring," Yato blushed, "unless you want it to be…"
"What did you intend it to be?" Hiyori asked.
"Just a promise," Yato looked back up at her. "A promise for forever. I know marriage and everything is going to be different with us and maybe not exactly how you thought it would be for you…" Yato took the ring out of the box and put it on her left ring finger. "I know everything is probably completely different from how you pictured your future to look."
"Strangely, I don't think I ever really pictured anything," Hiyori stared at the ring on her finger. "I suppose I was always an outcast in that department. Other girls dreamed about their weddings and having families. I never really put much thought into it myself. I guess I pictured what other girls pictured but nothing ever stuck out to me. The older I got, the less I thought about it. But regardless, I like wherever this future leads. Because it's with you."
Hiyori's words filled Yato with a joy he'd never experienced before. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into him, embracing her tightly and holding back his tears. "I don't deserve you. I never have and I never will."
Hiyori could hear the sadness in his chest. His heartbeat was strong with the sound of remorse. His grip on her back told her he was scared to let go. "Yato," she said and grabbed the back of his head pulling him down to her. She kissed him strongly, as if she were trying to fight his anguish with her love for him. He kissed her back with tears pouring down his face. Hiyori could tell he'd been holding back those tears for a while now. She didn't know how many years he'd gone without letting them go. But she knew in order for his heart to begin to heal from his past, it had to break first. And it had. Right there in front of her, his heart was broken from all the pain and grief and regret he'd harbored his whole life. She wanted desperately to make it go away and free him from it all. Hiyori held him hard against her chest and let him cry until he quieted.
Yato looked up at Hiyori, his eyes still moist with tears. "I'm sorry," was all he could manage.
Hiyori just smiled. "You don't have to apologize. That's what I'm here for." She kissed his face over and over and wiped his eyes with her hands.
Yato pulled her into a passionate kiss. Both of them overflowing with emotions, they tore at each other's clothes until they were both completely exposed. Hiyori sat in Yato's lap, legs wrapped around his waist and fingers entwined deep in his hair as she eagerly made out with him. Breathless as they both were, neither one could stop themselves from the frenzy. Before either of them realized it, they were making love there on the grass that was surprisingly soft.
It happened so fast, but lasted hours just like the first time until both were tangled up in each other on the ground trembling and panting. The afternoon sun had given way to a swift sunset painting the sky in hues of pinks and purples and oranges above them. As much as Hiyori wanted to just lay there the rest of the night with him, she knew it was a long journey home and the train out of town would stop running soon.
She looked up at Yato. His face was reddened slightly but beaming with bliss. When he'd opened his eyes and met her gaze, she could see a hint of relief in the deep, unwavering blue that once held so much uncertainty and sadness glossed over with optimism and hopefulness. She was happy to see something in him that told her he felt safe with her. It may take many years before he could really let go of his past, if ever. But it made Hiyori feel good knowing that he trusted her enough to let those feelings out instead of holding them inside.
Hiyori fell asleep on the train trip back to the city. With her head nestled on Yato's shoulder and hand in his hand, she gave in to her exhaustion. Between all the walking and sex on the hilltop, Yato wasn't sure how he wasn't asleep himself but he stared out of the window silently watching the trees turn into buildings. The moon crept over the rooftops and illuminated the night. Despite how dark it was, he could still see the mass of phantoms creeping into the streets and flying above. "It's going to be another stormy night," he thought to himself. But looking down at Hiyori's peaceful face, he finally felt as if he had a safe place he belonged. As long as he was by her side, nothing in the past or future mattered. All that mattered was that he spent each day with her.
Spring was coming to a close. Hiyori had graduated from high school and was getting ready to go to college. Her, Yato, and Yukine had all visited the University of Tokyo to see what he classes would look like. It was going to be a big change for them all. Hiyori would be moving to her own place. Yato of course was coming with her and Yukine as well. They went apartment hunting but were having a difficult time finding something that was suitable for everyone. After one particularly taxing day, they all decided to have dinner at a small diner close to the university. Halfway through, they were greeted by Lord Ebisu and his shinki.
"What brings you to this side of town?" Ebisu asked Hiyori.
"She is starting college at the University of Tokyo," Yato informed him. "We're looking for a place close to her school."
"You're looking for an apartment?" Ebisu inquired.
"Yeah, but a lot of the places here are very pricey," Hiyori laughed nervously.
"The property owners around the university know students or their parents are willing to pay just about any amount to be close to the school," Ebisu said matter-of-factly. "They hike up the prices to extreme highs to see what they can get away with."
"Yeah, well it's a little ridiculous," Yukine added.
"I happen to own a couple of the apartment buildings by the university," Ebisu continued. "You're welcome to stay at one of them while you go to school."
Hiyori, Yato, and Yukine all looked at each other shocked. "I-I don't think we could afford that," Hiyori chuckled.
"You wouldn't need to pay," Ebisu said.
"Huh?" Yato, Hiyori, and Yukine all said.
"I think it's great you were accepted into the university. As a god of fortune, I know a good investment when I see one. If I invest in you now, I know it will do well for me and for others down the road. So, you can stay at one of my apartments, rent free."
Hiyori looked over at Yato. She could see a tiny hint of pain on his face. She knew he had a soft spot in him for Ebisu. Did he feel defeated?
Hiyori and the others accepted Lord Ebisu's offer and made arrangement to pick an apartment later on in the summer. The three of them went home relieved that part was over and they could focus on having fun for one more summer.
When summer started, Hiyori had noticed something was off. Kofuku had made a joke that she was getting a little belly and teased that it was probably Yato's fault for making her buy so many fatty snacks. But in reality, Hiyori's appetite had gone way down so her weight gain didn't make sense. She was more tired than usual too. She decided to see a doctor while she had the summer off and see what was going on.
She didn't tell Yato where she was going. She didn't want to make him worry. But worrying is what he did best, especially when it was about Hiyori. When she left for her appointment, Yato and Yukine secretly followed her.
Yato found it odd when Hiyori walked into a clinic. She hadn't mentioned anything about not feeling well. He and Yukine hid around the side of a building down the street. She was in there for a while before coming back out with a bewildered look on her face. Yato didn't want to break cover so he stood still and waited to see what she would do.
Hiyori's heart had plummeted down into her stomach. She stood outside the clinic, strangers walking past her as if she didn't exist, feeling faint. She had gone to the doctor thinking she had a virus or at worst, a parasite. But when the doctor had come back in to tell her she had something else entirely growing inside her, she mind couldn't fathom it. Her test was positive. Hiyori was pregnant.
"it's been a while, Hiyori Iki," an eerie, childlike voice said from around the corner of the clinic. Hiyori turned to see who it was skulking in the shadows. It was Nora. Suddenly, her already-knotted stomach turned to concrete and fear washed over her.
"Nora," Hiyori breathed.
"I've been waiting for the opportune moment," Nora said, walking out of the shadows and closer to Hiyori, "to exact my revenge."
"Revenge?" Hiyori wondered.
"But, it turns out that getting everything taken away from me has ruined my thirst for revenge." Nora stared at the crosswalk sign as it turned from stop to walk. "I've realized that all things must come to an end, and nothing I do can stop it."
The crosswalk timer began to count down warning pedestrians how long they had until it was done. Hiyori noticed Nora inching her way onto the street as the timer got closer to zero.
"Nora! Don't!" Hiyori ran after Nora into the street. But just as soon as she reached the middle of the road and the crosswalk sign had turned to stop, she didn't see Nora anymore. She turned around to find Nora behind her.
"Restraint," Nora demanded, holding Hiyori in her place in the middle of the road.
"Oh no! I can't move!" Hiyori thought to herself.
"If my time is over, I can accept that," Nora said. "But what I won't accept is that my time is over because of you. If I'm going to die, I'm taking you with me."
Yato was watching everything happen before him. When he realized Nora had put a restraint on Hiyori, he began running towards her. He was screaming Hiyori's name, but she couldn't hear him over the crowds of people. Just as he'd managed to push himself through the sea of faces, he saw it. The bus. She was too far from him. Nora looked over at him with one last sinister smile and a single tear running down her cheek as the bus not only hit them both, but ran over them multiple times with each wheel. People screamed and panicked but all Yato could hear was the sound of a thread snapping.