When the boy awoke, the blizzard had died down. The girl had awoken, and was gazing curiously at his face. The Ayakashi wolves growl at him. With a brush of her hand, she silences them and turns back to him. She looks the confused youth in the eye and slowly introduces herself as Fuyutsubaki. Then she asks his name.
"I don't have one."
…
The stoic dark god wakes up with a mild hangover the following morning. He was uncomfortable with dawn's rays shining directly at him. Yato and Yukine were gone, but they hadn't cleaned up after themselves. A hastily scrawled letter read:
Sorry, but duty calls! Clean up for me, will ya, bud?
Fudou chuckles a little to himself before gathering the empty bottles. His shiki awakes to the bottles clinking and rubs her eyes sleepily. She yawns and totters over to Fudou.
"Moooornin'…"
"Ume, go back to sleep," Fudou says gently, "Breakfast will be a while."
"Mm, that was a waste of a good night. Why didn't you drug them like I said?"
"There's no need to deal with them directly. The girl is our target," He glances upward at the fading moon, "The eclipse is tomorrow. Everything will be ready by tonight."
"Is that to be taken for face value?"
Nora appears suddenly, descending from seemingly thin air. She does not look pleased.
"I was most disappointed by the effort yesterday. Just what were you trying to accomplish?"
"… I was gaining his trust," Fudou states simply. He continues to clean up while keeping an eye on Nora, "If you and your father had tried that, maybe you wouldn't have to waste so much time now trying to get him home."
The stray shoots him a furious look. She asks in a low, venomous voice, "Will you be done soon, or not?"
"… As much as it pains me to say, yes," Fudou looks her in the eye, "But I will require your assistance after all, it seems."
"... I hope this actually amounts to something," Nora folds her arms. Kugaha normally might have handled this. But he was held by Tenjin right now, so that's impossible. "What do you mean it 'pains' you, anyway? Have you decided you don't need the answer?"
"Of course not. It's one of my greatest flaws."
"I have half the mind to curse you and turn you into a Fallen God if you do otherwise," Nora practically hisses, "Unlike my father, I do not think we need involve outsiders, regardless their motive."
"... I hear you've collaborated with strays before," Fudou drops another bottle into the bag, "Am I to be an exemption?"
"... You are a god," Nora says simply, casting a condescending look, "You have your own motives."
"No worries. I'm ready to act."
"Good."
Nora slinks away into the wood, leaving the dark god to clean up. In her mind, his words stung like alcohol on open wounds. Trust?! What about that? Father was their life. He gave them reason to exist. Yaboku had been led astray by his self-righteous guidepost and those arrogant gods … and, of course, her. It did not please her one bit, every passing day Yato spent with that bitch, playing friends and god of fortune. She was the reason behind so much of their recent failures to retrieve him. But Nora had learned patience. She would bide her time until the day Yato returned, and she would forgive him wholeheartedly, and they would resume finding gifts for father and severing a god's head or two. Then she'll relish tearing that human into shreds. Right now, it seems like Fudou might grant her some of that pleasure.
…
"Yaawn…" Yato scratches himself lazily and flops over. He'd gotten up near the crack of dawn to help a janitor find his keys. Now, with the job done, he was just trying to get back to sleep in his room at Kofuku's. Yukine, unable to sleep, was busily scribbling away at workbooks Hiyori had bought him.
Yato turns over and notices his shrine. He remembers the gift from Hiyori hidden inside. The one that wasn't for him.
That gets his blood pumping a little and he sits up in one brisk motion. "I'm gonna go for a walk."
"Well, ok," Yukine gives him a glance, "Be back for breakfast. Daifuku's making miso."
Yato walks slowly, hunched over forward so his scarf hides his chin and his shoulders nearly touch his ears. The sky is already full-on hinode. Not so much a cloud in the sky. It's going to be a good day. He found it odd, since he was celebrating with a god of calamity just yesterday night. Usually, that might have been an omen.
He shakes his head in an effort to clear his mind. But that only made him think again of his shrine, and then, Hiyori, and then, the vision he got from the aquatic ayakashi. In it, his fears came true; one of them was Hiyori leaving. She and Yukine were the only humans who believed in him. They were all of his worshipers. She turned, a smile on her face, and said goodbye. Forever.
A pow rings out and it's not until the pain settles that Yato realizes he punched a wall in deep thought. What was that going to do? He cradles his bruised knuckles and begins walking to the Iki household.
I'll patch you up anytime.
He adjusts his scarf to hide his burning face.
"Yatogami."
Startled, he turns to see the somber magatsukami behind him and jumps a little.
"Geez! Do you have to be so quiet?"
"Are you free?" Fudou holds up a five-yen coin, "If so, I'd like to try this delivery god service of yours."
"Y'know, if y'got anything y'need, I can help a friend. You don't have to pay me," Yato snatches the coin, "But the thought is appreciated nonetheless!"
He had his little shrine, and was content with it. But a little cash at hand never hurt anyone, especially a broke god living with a god of misfortune. It's rare for other deities to make requests, however, and they only add to his ego. He jauntily flips the coin in the air and catches it upon descent.
"So? What's the gig?"
"… I was just thinking that I was unable to get to know that friend of yours. The one with ayakashi features…"
"Y'mean Hiyori?" Yato glances Fudou up-and-down quickly. There's no way. He's too old for that kind of stuff. Besides, he had beer with the guy! There's no way he wouldn't have noticed if he had interests in younger girls.
"Yes. Perhaps we, all of us, might go for a hike up to the mountains and enjoy each other's company."
"Oh, okay, all of us," Yato breathes an inward sigh of relief, "I'll tell Hiyori and Yukine."
"Let's meet at the foot of the mountains in, say, an hour."
"Ha! Better make it half, slowpoke!"
Yato bounds away gleefully, having gotten his poke through. Fudou watches him hop and disappear among the rooftops. At the far edges of the sky, where the dawn crept in, Oomagatoki was settling into the mountains.
…
Hiyori was definitely surprised when she heard about the little trip. She slipped into a pink hoodie and white shorts. On the way out, Masaomi blocks her way.
"Where' you going?"
"Out with friends. What's it to you?" It's strange for her brother to meddle in her business. She was doing well in her exams, though she could still be studying…
"Uhm … you might wanna take a rain check. Granny's callin' for you," He shrugs and unblocks the hallway, "Somethin' bout an 'omen' or whatnot…"
As her brother walks away, Hiyori considers her options. It only took a second for her to decide to see grandmother. Yato said they had time before meeting at the foot of the mountain. Best to put her mind to rest before going.
"… Grandmother?"
"Ah, Hiyori," The old woman turns from the window to face her granddaughter, "So you're still here, that's good …"
"Um, actually …" Hiyori pauses before continuing, "I'm actually about to go out right now. Is there something you need or…?"
Her grandmother's face changes immediately, resembling her expression when she'd first sensed the Yatogami. She suddenly springs up and grabs Hiyori by the shoulders.
"No…! You mustn't!" Her hands tremble, "These last few days … a pall has been all over town. It's dark and, and …"
She slackens slightly and Hiyori helps her back into her wicker chair.
"Grandmother, I'm sure it's all okay …" A darkness? She couldn't possibly mean the increased activity of ayakashi? Or was it …
"Hiyori," Her grandmother rises, a hopeless look on her face, and shuffles out to her own room. Hiyori follows and sees her taking out a box from her dresser, "If you must go, take this."
The lid opens to reveal a worn necklace. The metal piece was tarnished and the string on which it hung was fraying. Grandmother hands it to Hiyori, who accepts it with a puzzled look.
"… When I was unable to deal with seeing those … things any longer, I went to see the miko of the nearby shrine. She gave me this charm," She shakes her head wearily, "It gave me some peace, but it never fully made it go away. Sayuri seemed fine, but now, child … I worry for you. You've been bewitched before."
Hiyori resists telling her grandmother again that her supernatural friends were harmless. She puts the charm on around her neck to appease her. Her grandmother looks at her, pained.
"Well … I'll be off."
"… Come home safely, Hiyori …"
She nods and puts on her shoes. Masaomi does not see her off. She shoulders her bag, which wasn't very bulky, and walks out the door. To her immense surprise, she bumps straight into Fudou, who happened to be standing outside her house.
"O-Oh! Fudou-"
"The old woman … she's been staring at me for a bit now …" the god barely seems to notice her, instead looking up to her grandmother's window.
"Um, what are you doing here…?"
"Hm? Oh, my apologies. I'd come to transport you. Save you the trip."
"That's really not necessary…" Hiyori begins down the steps, "A nice walk would be fine. Why don't you join me? I can show you a bit of the town on the way."
"Let's go, Fudou!" His shinki pops up beside him and begins tugging at his sleeve, "I wanna go to a sweets shop!"
Fudou sighs, tossing one final look up at the window. The shades are still drawn. He begins to descend the stairs with the human girl. Strangely, he immediately strikes up conversation.
"So, are you the Yatogami's sole human worshiper?"
"Huh?" Hiyori turns at the strange question, "Worshiper? I wouldn't say that … Well, he is my God of Fortune … but it's nothing so lewd as-!"
"I never mentioned something lewd. I'm sorry you came to that conclusion."
"No, no," Hiyori feels her face warm, "I mean, I did build him a shrine. I guess I could be considered a believer in him. I believe he can be a great god and help people."
"… Do you know of his past?"
"… Yeah. But that doesn't matter. He's a changed person now."
"… Gods do not change in their essential nature," Fudou says, bitterness in his voice, "At least, that's what Kouto would say."
Hiyori suddenly jumps to a defensive stance, "You know Yato's father?!"
"Ah," Fudou raises his hands, taken aback, "Yes, once. I knew him back when he was human…"
"There you go, running your mouth …" Ume whispers.
"Back then? Then you must've been a god for a long time. As long as Yato!"
"I haven't seen him for a while now. By your stance, I'm assuming you haven't had good run-ins with him?"
Hiyori slowly, reluctantly, relaxes, "He's tried to kill my friends so many times. Ebisu, Bishamon, Yato, Yukine … They've all suffered at his hands! But I wish I knew why! Why does he hate them all so much? Yato's his son! And he…!"
"… Perhaps it was the wars of long ago…"
"Huh?" Hiyori perks up in interest, "Wars?"
"… If you know Iwami, Ebisu's guidepost, he can tell you," Fudou looks skyward, "Heaven once waged wars on gods too."
"Iwami-san's in exile … War on gods?" The horrible memory of the hunt on Bishamon and Yato arises, "What happened?"
"I'm not so sure. But I do know that Kouto held some stake in it. Someone died along that time … Someone on the side of the Emishi gods. He changed."
Emishi … they were the gods of the northern peoples in Japan that supposedly lost all credibility a long time ago. Hiyori remembers the man in bearskin who spoke of being one of the vanquished gods at Kamuhakari. Kouto was there…?!
"That would explain his hatred against Heaven …" The girl says pensively.
"Bishamonten's shaman, Kugaha, he was one of the Emishi peoples, if memory serves," Fudou clasps his chin in thought, "But I am getting old…"
"He's been exiled too," Hiyori does not relish the memory of being kept in that dark basement, "You really are amazing, Fudou-san, being able to remember all those things."
"It comes with the age. And please, just Fudou."
…
At the start of the mountain trail, the Yatogami and his guidepost wait a little impatiently. Fudou had offered to get Hiyori. Yato is beginning to wonder if it was such a good move to allow it.
"You look worried Yato."
"It's nothing. You're imagining it," Yato snort dismissively. He pulls his sleeve over his bandaged hand, where he'd split his skin earlier on a wall. Hiyori had patched him up when he went to invite her on this picnic.
"Yato! Yukine!" Hiyori's voice spins him right around. The girl is running towards them, Fudou following slowly, a mess of bags hanging from his arms. Ume prances playfully by his side with dango.
"You two sure took your time!" Yato folds his arms, his voice snide, "What, you go for a walk by the beach or something?"
"Pardon. She was ever so kind to show us the sights," Fudou shows the bags of snacks, "And Ume just had to get some for the trip."
"Come on, guys!" Yukine excitedly runs the first few steps into the trail with Hiyori, "We're burning daylight!"
Yato offers to take some of the snacks, but Fudou declines. Ume runs in front of Fudou, but not so much that she mingles with Hiyori or Yukine. The two lead the way, chattering about the sights. Yato smiles, watching the two. They pass a series of red-bibbed jizo, where they all stop to pray momentarily for the safe passage of souls. AS they go, they approach a familiar scenery, like the patch in the woods where Takemikazuchi had fought with Yato, or the rocky stream where Hiyori saved Bishamon.
"Ho…" Fudou absorbs the information with relish, "You have had many exciting exploits, I see."
"Ha ha …" Yato laughs, flattered.
"Yeah, almost getting yourselves killed!" Hiyori conks him a good one, "If you could be a god without being involved with such dangers, it'd bode better for you!"
Yukine swallows. He remembers the punishment they had to undergo when Amaterasu got hold of them. Being stuffed in that suffocating box … With the walls closing … closing …
"Yukine?"
The boy shakes out of his cold sweat, seeing Hiyori's worried expression. "I-It's nothing … I'm fine …"
"Ah."
The group arrives to a beautiful blossoming tree. Japanese camellias, white as snow, with pink-tinged petals, sway daintily.
"This looks like a good spot."
Yukine and Hiyori flap open the blanket. Fudou and Yato unload bottles of Ramyun soda, sake, banana youkan, dango, and for a strange reason, pocky. Ume pounces on the sweets and devours them happily. They all chatter happily as they eat.
"It's a beautiful day. Here's to old and new friends…!" Yukine shakily proposes a toast. They clink drinks.
"You're right, it is good weather …"
"Perfect before the eclipse. It's tomorrow, I believe," Fudou brings the sake to lips, only to put it down suddenly. "Yato."
"Huh?" Yato pauses, then stands.
"You feel it?"
"Yeah."
"Kaou." "Sekki."
The two gods of depravity call their arms. Fudou runs into the thicket first. Yato lingers.
"Hiyori, you stay here. Yukine, set up a barrier."
"Wh- Wait, Yato-"
The delivery god zooms off before she can object. She takes a tiny step forward and feels the hard wall of a boundary line. Her arms can only rise halfway before hitting the sides of the box Yukine put up around her.
"Uugh …" She slumps down, feeling left behind.
The two gods run full throttle towards the sinister energy. They stop suddenly, well into the wood, and jump backward just as an explosion of ectoplasmic matter bursts from an unknown source. A slobbering mass of grotesque wriggling slithers out to greet them, squashing all foliage in its path. One side of it has what look like wolf heads growling, the other, tentacles, and a whole litany of other features. It looks like a hodge-podge of many Ayakashi merged together.
"Whoa …" Yato whistles, "That is ugly."
"Ayakashi do not form so erratically unless …" Fudou pauses, "We must get rid of it before it becomes a problem."
"Heck yeah!" Yato leaps at the lumpy creature and slashes at its flabby folds. A wound opens and spurts acid at his face. He raises his arms, barely blocking his eyes.
"AAGH!" He recoils, leaping back several paces and doubling in pain, "That smarts!"
"Yato! Don't charge in so recklessly! Can you see?" Yukine's voice has a tone of obvious worry.
"Ugh, yeah, it missed me mostly …" The god's neck and hands are scarred with riddled skin. A small patch of his left cheek was not spared. "Dammit! So we can't cut it without getting melted?!"
"Sear, Kaou."
Fudou's evocation leaves only silence as the creature advances. Nothing happens.
"… Uhh…"
"You have got to be kidding me." Yato moans.
"It seems it cannot be affected by magic…?" Fudou and Yato begin backing away from the approaching mass, "But close combat would be too risky …"
"Ha! I got it!" Sekki begins glowing a clear silver. Yato slashes through the air and energy blades fly at the Ayakashi, slicing its blubbery flesh like butter. Once the blades pass through, the whole form collapses, but the red rings of cleanse do not form. There's a loud clang in the background as the energy blades hit something else.
"Huh?" Yato pokes the deflated puddle on the ground, "That's it? But it's not disappearing…"
"Did you hear that last sound, Yato?" Fudou ignores the blob and walks towards where the creature burst forth, "Your blades hit something in this grove…"
The god disappears through the trees. Yato follows with interest. But the blob back there wasn't dissipating like it should …
"Impressive indeed…" Yato hears Fudou say as he closes in. He pushes away the last hanging branch to see Fudou standing before a small hokora. He's about to ask what was so impressive when a strange flicker stops him. The small stone structure seemed to have something invisible wrapped around it … chains? Yato could barely perceive it, but it was definitely there. Several of the chains seemed to reach skyward, so high one couldn't see where they reached.
"What is that?"
"Can you see it? It's what it looks like," Fudou says simply, "It's a chain."
"Ok, but what's so impressive?"
"It is one of the Chains of Boundary, Kyoukai no Rensa. They were established during the Meiji Restoration, by Amaterasu herself," Fudou looks up to the chains, "The gods feared being forgotten to modernity. These chains are what link us to this secular humans' world."
"Wait, seriously?!" Yato rushes over and glances at it worriedly, "Did I damage it at all?!"
"… I doubt they'd be made so flimsy. Besides, it's not like normal weapons can hurt it. It would require the strength of blessed regalia combined with the impurity of Ayakashi to damage it at all."
"Whew …" Yato wipes his brow in relief, "That's good. If these broke, then the humans would lose connection to us, huh? It's kinda stupid they're in plain view though."
"They did not always exist. However, the Far and Near Shore simply began to drift too far apart. The God's lost their absolute influence in this place. So these chains were erected to anchor the two shores. As for location," Fudou shrugs, "I guess they had to use whatever symbols could tie them here."
A sudden caw sounds from a distance away. Crows, ones with eyes embedded in their chest, fly upwards from the trees, their wings a flurry. Hiyori's cry, small and shrill, is barely heard.
"DAMN- HIYORI!"
Yato and Fudou rush back to their picnic area. The presence of Ayakashi has noticeably increased. Where there were none, wolves and other grotesque shapes stood, blocking their path.
"Outta my way!" Yato rends a huge slash through the forest, making a large cut through the Ayakashi, as well as their surroundings. His breath is quick, his mind racing. Hiyori, Hiyori…
…
"Jungle SAVAT!"
Her foot sends one of the Ayakashi beasts sprawling. The beasts snarl, keeping a distance. Why weren't they attacking?
Hiyori feels her fear hopping and banging around inside. These Ayakashi seemed different, more material somehow. It's probably because the nearing eclipse was influencing them. She herself could feel her muscles taut, itching to pounce. But what would Touno say about that kind of behavior? She makes a bound for the nearest phantom and sends it flying with a swift kick. It lands against one of its own and shakes itself. Those eyeballs … they focus on her and the mouth froths.
"oNE OF uSs…"
"Ngh …"
"Hiyori!"
The girl looks up in relief to see her god come and plant himself between her and her attackers. Fudou appears behind her, whisking her off her feet.
"I'll take her somewhere safe."
Yato felt the slightest twinge of caution. But an Ayakashi lunges and he throws away his doubt. He slashes at the oncoming enemy.
"GO!"
The dark god quickly leaps away before the girl in his arms can protest. Yato glares at the phantoms and takes a fighting stance. "You're gonna regret messing with my day off!"
"Y'know, this was a request-" Yukine quips.
"Rgh, you know what I meant!"
The wind blows past Hiyori. It feels faster than even when Yato carried her. She peers upwards a little at Fudou. His eyes were a dull violet, focused fiercely on something ahead. They arrive quickly back to the camellia tree. He lets her down.
"I'm fine, Fudou. You should go help Yato…"
The god did not seem to hear her. He instead turned to face the tree, placing a hand on its trunk. Under his breath, he begins muttering something Hiyori cannot hear.
"Fudou…?"
Meanwhile, Yato's having the same problem Hiyori had. The phantoms simply did not attack all at once. One of them may lash out once or twice, but the majority stayed silent. Their presence was like a sturdy wall that could not be easily toppled. When the god tried to make the first move, they retreated beyond his reach, but they remained nonetheless.
"Tch, I do not like using boundaries on small fry…"
"Yato! Watch out!"
A sudden whip-like slash nearly takes off Yato's head. Strands of his hair land daintily on the ground. The white-robed figure of Nora floats down and lands amidst the phantoms. They crowd around her. She gestures and they slowly draw away.
"You've gotten rusty, Yato," She gives a small, cruel smile, "Isn't it time you came home? Then you can cut as much as you like, unrestrained."
"Nora …" Yato loosens up. She never meant to hit him, "Whatever you and dad are doing won't work."
"That's the first thing you say?" She laughs airily, "I only want my family back. I'm sure you want the same."
"… My family is…"
"… Yaboku. Things will turn out very badly if you do not hurry to cut your ties."
Nora often called him Yato. Yaboku was the name she used if she was honestly trying to be cute or if she were serious.
"That's got nothin' to do with you."
"Friends and that hafuri of yours … what are they compared to family? They will betray you, Yato. Like the one you've broken bread with recently."
"… Y'mean Fudou?" Yato narrows his eyes, "Those tricks don't work, Nora. He's my friend."
"Oh come now. Surely even your rusted battle senses could've picked up something…"
"SHUT UP!" Yato raises his blade halfway. Nora chuckles and disappears. The Ayakashi slowly slink away. Yatogami is left alone in the wood. "Tch … Dammit…"
"… We should go check on Fudou and Hiyori, Yato. I'm gonna guess they might've gone back to the picnic site."
Yato wordlessly lowers his arms. He runs as fast as he can past all the trees. There's a strong scent in the air. Camellias. He comes upon the clearing with the tree. A strange energy emanated from the perimeter around the plant. Fudou stands under its shade, Hiyori limp in his arms. Her eyes are open and glassy.
"… Fudou?" Yato's eyes quickly dart to Hiyori's limp form, "Hiyori?! What-"
He takes a step closer to the god. His advance is deflected by a strong force. An invisible wall, not a boundary, seemed to have enclosed around the camellia tree. "Ugh, what?!"
"… You're too quick, Yatogami," Fudou speaks with a supreme calm, "I would have liked that we could remain comrades, if you'd never gotten attached to this girl. But alas …"
"Fudou!" Yato angrily grinds his twin swords against the barrier, "What are you … Are you with Nora!? So it's true…?!"
"I'm running out of time to solve this conundrum of mine. It's a bad habit," Fudou seems to ignore him, "May we never meet again."
The camellia tree suddenly shudders and begins to swell. Its roots begin bursting out of the ground and enveloping Fudou and Hiyori.
"NO! DAMN – BREAK!" The barrier fluxes and weakens with the tree changing shape. The sword edge grips against a small chink formed. Yato drives his whole sword point through, boring a small hole. He struggles to enlarge it.
"HIYORI! NGH… HIYORI!" He screams frantically. Fudou must've paralyzed her somehow.
The girl's eyes dart to the direction of his voice. Her lips quiver, as if trying to speak. Their eyes meet.
"HIYORI!" "YATO!"
Movement returns to her body. She surprises Fudou, jumping out of his arms and dodging the enclosing tree. She reaches the barrier edge and clasps the edges of the hole. Yato pries with his sword and she strains with her hands. The barrier crackles in resistance. Fudou makes a dash for Hiyori. Desperate, Hiyori reaches through the hole and grabs Yato's hand. He grips hard and tries to pull her through.
Fudou had barely reached the girl when the mountainside suddenly gave away from the stress of the enlarged tree that was growing larger by the minute. The barrier shatters, its boundaries broken. All of them seemed to be in free fall as earth, rock and the entire tree seemed to plummet into darkness. Yato holds tightly to Hiyori's hand, while Fudou has his nails digging into the back of her neck. A mix of cries are heard as the earth swallows them all up, leaving a large hole where the tree was.
A rock seems to shift among the silt and dirt. The mixture of earth swirls around the abyss, which is emitting Yomi miasma, and plugs it up. One would not be able to tell there had been a vent here unless one looked hard.
A pair of katanas, one half-buried in dirt, and the other laying a little away, where the edge of the barrier stood, vibrate slightly. In a flash of light, they combine to become a scared boy.
Yukine trembles inward. A scream was trapped in his throat as he watched Yato and Hiyori plummet. Immediately, his hands fly at the dirt, flinging loose earth about as he tries to dig with his hands.
"Yato… Hiyori …" Tears dribble down his face as he digs. That choking memory resurfaces and he remembers being buried, calling for his father. That same suffocating memory as when he was trapped in that box … His throat burned with the lump forming. His fingers began bleeding once he got to lower sediment. But he didn't, couldn't care, not now. He had to find them … They had to be okay … He chokes back a sob. "D-Dammit … Please, please…"
Time seems to pass in a rush. Every second he dug was fleeting. Suddenly, a hand shoots up from a shallower part of the earth. Yukine gasps and quickly runs to pull on the flailing limb, whose knuckles have been bandaged.