Breaking the "Yaboku" curse
Yo I'm still clinging on to the Tsukiyomi theory this late in the game so hear me out
1. According to the mythos, Tsukiyomi was banished from heaven and his sister Amateresu for murdering someone over a petty disagreement.
2. Yato is often associated with moon imagery, culling/ cutting, water, and other adjacent images like snow and the color white. Even the Sakura is symbolic of the dual-sided nature of beauty and violence. He follows his loved ones around (like how Tsukiyomi followed Amateresu around in the mythos) and embraces different phases of his life in the form of embracing certain (albeit strange) fashion trends. Even the name Yaboku means "Night Child."
3. Yato is an unknown god but has lived longer than most other dieties we see in the series. Knowing now that the Crafter was undead all this time, it's growing less and less likely that he was Yato's true lifeline that entire time, as well as more likely that dieties younger than him wouldn't recognize him, because they are younger than him or have reincarnated since then. Besides, we know that the "banishment" of Tsukiyomi likely means Yato got killed (like Ebisu).
4. We see the Crafter stole the Koto No Ha when he left the underworld, and the Koto No Ha gave new names that couldn't be undone by heaven, but abided by the underworld's rules, meaning that the Crafter could have used it to "name" Yaboku, causing that name to get him out of the underworld even if his true identity was Tsukiyomi all along.
5. Since the Koto no Ha is broken, it could also mean that the name "Yaboku" is gone.
6. But we aren't done yet! Perhaps to reclaim his position as Tsukiyomi, he is now being tested. Throughout the story Yato has matured through his friendships and love. He went from selfish and preserving his own life to being willing to risk his life. But the one thing he never did was: Cut ties with Hiyori.
7. Perhaps, if Yato cuts ties with Hiyori, it could save her life and return her to the near shore. But he would have to make a sacrifice out of love, not selfish desire to be seen as a god of fortune, or take vengeance on his maker.
8. I therefore think that this will be resolved as Amateresu returns, as Yato cuts ties to save Hiyori, that something will happen to restore him to what he used to be. After all, isn't it strange that Amateresu showed up outside the underworld, telling them to call Yato by "his true name" with a soft smile on her face, while later on when we see her she is absolutely unhinged and angry? She is involved in this deeper than i think they realize.
So yeah, I'm holding out. Yato must cut ties with the person he cherishes the most as a true act of selflessness to redeem himself from the crime he committed as Tsukiyomi.
blakekathryn
snowghoul
origamiaround
dededos
prguitarman
