so it's day 4 but my 3rd submission to @thebrownstone firstprince week
“I can’t do this again,” Alex says, looking at Henry; he’s so tired of this hot and cold whiplash that seems to happen every time they’ve been together lately. He has wanted nothing but to be with Henry since he first met him all those months ago at freshmen orientation. But how Henry gets close and runs when Alex thinks they’re getting somewhere makes his heart ache in a way that has become too much.
… the boys work a few things out and I break my own heart as I write it … *shrugs*
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Hey I'll take you up on that offer in the tags of the short story where adrien originally didn't care to apologize a little happiness will heal my heart
We all want her to be happy
Well, let me introduce you to Paper Lanterns! AKA, the one with a better ending. Or Silk Lanterns, I haven’t decided.
Marinette had forgotten her notebook in her classroom. Or, she hoped she had. She had bolted once the bell rung, and then not noticed it was missing. She hoped it hadn’t actually been stolen by Lila or Chloe.
She paused when she spotted Adrien and Nino through the windows. She braced herself and neared the door. Hopefully Nino would be too focused on Adrien to notice she had come back.
“Sorry I pushed you to apologize to Marinette at the start of the year, Dude, I really thought it’d be better for you if you were on good terms with her. If I had known she was this mean, I wouldn’t have even suggested it.”
Marinette froze. What was Nino saying? Lila had driven a stake between them, yeah, but was he telling Adrien that becoming her friend was a mistake? No. Nonononononono she couldn’t lose him too.
Adrien made a noncommital noise.
“I guess you were right at the start of the year when you didn’t want anything to do with her.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want anything to do with her,” Adrien replied. “And she’s been a good friend since! Excluding the Lila thing.”
“Eh, that’s just because she likes you.” Nino answered. “She duped you just like the rest of us.”
Marinette wanted him to defend her. Heck, she wanted to dash in there and defend herself, but her feet couldn’t move.
And then her heart shattered.
One word, one agreement from Adrien, and she suddenly felt like she was drowning. He said okay. He didn’t defend her, not even weakly.
“I guess she does have her moments of acting unacceptably.”
She was suddenly able to move again, but she ran the wrong way. She didn’t care about the notebook. Not anymore. She just had to get out.
He had said he was on her side. He had said he had her back. That they could get through it together. He was the only one who had even listened in any semblance. And he just…. Abandoned her. Stabbed her in the back himself.
A part of her said he might have just said it to appease Nino, but that hopeful piece was squashed by tears a moment later. She ran right past her house, because that wasn’t far enough away from school for her to be okay. She didn’t slow down until she reached the 13th arrondissement. She stumbled into a crowd, where there was enough people surrounding her to force into reality.
She needed to do something other than dwell on this. She was already on the verge of a breakdown, but she couldn’t. She didn’t have that luxury. She looked around, barely breathing to combat the previously erratic breaths. There was a craft shop to her right that had a window display of paper lanterns. They looked intricate enough to distract her.
Marinette scrubbed her eyes before she walked in, and after greeting the girl behind the counter, tried to only focus on the lanterns. They really did look wonderful. She picked one up off the shelf. Huh, it was made of silk, not paper. How had she not seen that earl-
“Severed ties, you have been abandoned by those who claimed to be your-”
Marinette dropped the lantern and jumped back. No. No she was not going to- No.
“Mlle, are you okay?” The woman from the register was beside her now, but Marinette’s vision was going purple as Hawkmoth kept on with his speech.
“He’s in my head.” She said shakily.
“Who- oh.” the cashier seemed to catch on. “Hey, hey, look at me. Whatever he’s saying it won’t stick. Do you know what the object is?”
Marinette shook her head, trying to force him out of her head.
“I’m going to try the lantern you just had, alright?”
Marinette might have nodded. She might have shook her head. She might have just stood there shaking. Whatever she did, the cashier broke the string off the lantern. It must have been enough to count, because the fog started to dissipate. Marinette’s mind cleared in time to see the black butterfly get a hand closed over it.
The cashier turned to her. “Are you okay?”
Marinette nodded, then shook her head. “I don’t know. Thank you.”
She smiled kindly. “No problem. What’s your name?”
“Marinette.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Marie-Chen Long.”
“Nice to meet you,” Marinette managed. She was numb. Why was she numb?
“Honey, you look like you’re in mild shock. Come sit down while I dispose of this akuma and grab something to fix the lantern.” Marie-Chen lead her behind the counter, and vanished.
Marinette just sat there. She’d almost been akumatized before, but the akuma had never touched her. Hawkmoth had never been in her head before. She felt slimy and sick. She felt Tikki’s paws on her cheek. “I’ve got you,” the kwami whispered, kissing her nose. “I promise, I care. Your feelings are valid.” it wasn’t until Tikki had wiped her cheek another few times that she realized Tikki was wiping away tears. When had she started crying again?
“She’s coming back,” Tikki whispered, kissing Marinette’s nose again before vanishing into her purse. “Marinette?” Marie-Chen asked, stepping back into Marinette’s line of sight.
“Yes?”
“Do you want to talk about it?” She asked, sitting down in the chair beside Marinette.
She almost shook her head, she tried to, but then the words were bubbling out of Marinette’s mouth before she could stop them. “He said we were in it together, he said he was my friend. He- he- he didn’t even want to be my friend in the first place. He believes the lies just as much as the others.”
“Oh honey..” Marie-Chen probably couldn’t understand much of the situation, but Marinette couldn’t explain any better right now. “Can I hug you?”
Marinette nodded, and Marie-Chen pulled her into a side hug. “I’m so sorry.”
They stayed there until Marinette was more stable, and then Marinette managed to apologize for causing the necessity of breaking the lantern. “It was beautiful, really.”
Marie-Chen smiled. “I can replace the string easily, don’t worry about it.”
Marinette smiled weakly back. “They’re all beautiful, really. I wish I knew how to make them like this.”
“Well, we are looking for another part timer. I’d love to teach you.”
Lotor and Allura should have lived, gotten back together and guided the universe to peace rather than being demonised and killed and giving up their life for peace.
They got thrown under the bus big time. 2 of the most popular characters in a children's cartoon who suffered more than anyone else got killed off without a happy ending and redemption or vindication.
I was tagged by the lovely @leigh-kelly to post ten gifs of my favorite movies without saying the name of them. I last did this in July of 2018, and find that my taste in movies has basically not changed one little bit, so I’m pretty much gonna do the same movies (maybe with different gifs), pop a few honorable mentions in the tags and then tag perhaps not the requisite ten people, but perhaps yes, join me at the bottom of this post to find out.
If you don't write a happy ending to that scenario, I will: cry... your angst is so good, but please let the boy get some love. It physically hurts,,,
I lied, there’s still something I wanted to answer. Here’s a happier ending to this scenario continuing from right after the Zenos Lecture™
And then the door shuts and then Day is alone. In silence. In the calm before the storm. With discomfort layering an itch on the surface of his skin, making him shift again. Uncomfortable. Nerves. Hard to breathe.
Is this what the verge of a panic attack feels like? Has he had one of those before? Probably… He prefers the dissociation, which is unfortunately not gracing his mental health today. Gods damn it all.
The soft click of the door closing again jolts Day from his thoughts. You don’t say anything, but he can hear the soft sound of your breathing. It’s a bit shaky, like you’re trying to keep yourself calm but you’re struggling. Right now, he knows the feeling. You’re probably trying to keep control of your anger because your hatred of him is bubbling over. He knows that feeling, too.
Realizing his grip on the arm of the chair is nearly splintering the wood, he forces his fingers to ease and his body to stand before he can change his mind about facing you. He brushes down his pants and steels his heart. Breathe, just breathe. If he doesn’t, he can’t slip on that protective mask of stoicism.
It’s harder than he expected to turn around and face you, and when he finally does, he almost regrets it.
Gods, he doesn’t want to look into those eyes right now. He can’t pinpoint the emotion in them—he was never good at that—but something about it sends a shiver through the cords of his spine.
“Why…” It’s almost amazing the way he keeps his composure at the sound of your voice, considering how close his legs feel to collapsing. “Why did you do that?”
Why? He hasn’t counted the reasons. Because he can’t stand humans like that. Because you never deserved what he put you through. Because it’s wrong. Because there’s no one in the world who protects people like you—like him. Because you deserve only the best. Because he wanted to protect you. Because he loves you.
His nails dig into the cuts his claws had made in his palm. They were healing well, fast, but not fast enough to not be torn open again, blood beading around his black nails. It hurts, but that’s good. It’s grounding. Reminding him to watch what he says.
So he chooses his answer. Because nothing that bastard did was okay and he would never let someone like that live. It’s the best one because it’s not too much. It sounds like him. It doesn’t burden you with his feelings. It’s safe.
“Because I wanted to protect you. I’ll always protect you.”—So, why is he saying that?
Day shifts uncomfortably as you step closer. He doesn’t give you the chance to process his words, continuing a little quicker than is in character for him. “You’re my friend, I suppose, and… people like that… make my blood boil. I just… I had to do something.”
Why is his jaw trembling? Shit, he’s blowing this. He needs to take back control, of himself, of his words… why is his body betraying him like this?
Desperately trying to unclench his jaw, he opens his mouth, your name on his tongue, but he doesn’t get a chance to say it. Because your hand slips around the back of his neck and yanks him downward. And you press your lips to his.
Time freezes. His lungs cease taking in air. His mask shatters in a fraction of a second, eyes widening, pupils nearly overtaking the carmine rings. He can hear his blood rushing in his ears.
And then it’s over and you’re releasing him and he can’t help but let out a half-stifled whimper. His lips tingle with a sensation he thought he’d never get to feel and his heart feels like it’s going to leap out of his chest, pounding as hard as it is. He tries to speak, but whatever words he could say—if there were any at all—has halted in his throat.
“Thank you,” you gasp and before he can collect himself, he’s wrapped up in your embrace, your arms around his neck and forcing him to stoop just to let you hug him. “Thank you.” And then he realizes you’re crying, tears soaking into his coat.
Does this mean…? What does this mean? That kiss… was it an in-the-moment kind of thing or do you… do you feel the same?
So many jumbled questions and he can’t begin to even to ask them. He feels like he’s going to lose his mind. Well, he probably already has, but…
His shaking hands slowly, hesitantly, touch your back, returning the hug. His fingers curl in the back of your shirt until he’s holding you as tightly to him as you are him. His legs finally give out and he falls and you follow him, the two of you slumping to the floor.
Curled up between his legs, you’re trembling and he might be as well. He can’t tell. It’s hard to breathe. His cheeks feel wet.
“I will always,”—He finds his voice, but it’s barely reaching above a whisper—”always try to protect you.”
Written for Yatori Week 2018. Short angsty fic with a happier ending. 4500 words. This is the full story in one post
Based in part on chapter 58, if Daikoku’s prediction became reality...
‘The adolescent fool I once called my son, centuries have passed, and he still behaves like a small child. When will he learn there are boundaries and one of them is he cannot cross me!’ Fujisaki leans over the railing of the school roof and watches Hiyori walking out with a couple of female friends. He grins, ‘at least Yaboku has provided me with such an easy way to gain his attention…’
“Byyeee,” her friend’s wave as she splits from the group and heads towards home. She really should check on Yukine with Yato having been missing for a while and the whole Nora coming around making her nervous, but if she didn’t start her school project now, there was no way she could finish it by Monday. Hiyori sighed, wishing she knew where that idiot God could be. Doesn’t he realize how much pain and trouble he’s causing Yukine… ‘and me?’
“My, my, such luck I have today in running into you.”
Hiyori turns around, “what do you want Fujisaki, if you’re looking for Yato I don’t know where he is.”
“I know that, which brings me to this meeting.”
She takes a step back, “I-I can’t help you.”
“I beg to differ,” he takes a step forward, “there are two in this world that my Yaboku values above all others, Yukine is one, and you my pretty little Hiyori, is the other. Now, come quietly,” his eyes turn towards her family’s home a few houses away, “or I will harm your loved ones.”
“Please don’t,” she flinches, knowing his threats were never idle ones, “I-I’ll comply just leave them alone.”
Fujisaki grins and pulls her to his side, “such an obedient girl,” swinging their arms as if they were simply a couple walking hand in hand down the street, “we even look like a handsome couple don’t you think?”
“I think not,” rolling her eyes, “and remember I know you kissed me just to make Yato angry.”
“Right, you’re foolishly in love with my son. But you are wrong, I wanted to kiss you before he had a chance.” Hiyori glares at him with a deadpanned stare. “I knew that loser wouldn’t have the guts to, tch, a thousand years old and he’s never taken a girl seriously. That’s not what I raised him to be, but he should take advantage of the fineries this world has to offer.” Fujisaki grips her chin, “I can see what he likes about you Hiyori, even I became curious, wondered what female had finally made my son take notice,” peering through half-lidded eyes, “it’s why I took over this man’s body, to get close to you.”
Hiyori gulps and leans away, “What do you really want with me?”
“You’ll be bait,” dropping her chin and continuing on their way. “If Yaboku finds out that I have kidnapped you, he’ll surely come to your rescue. Though I have no plans to give you up…” his voice trailing out.
“A-Are you going to kill him?”
“If he doesn’t come back to me… Yes.”
“But if you get him back, why would you need to keep me too?”
“Because my sweet little Hiyori,” he grins, “not only will it keep Yaboku in line, but maybe I too have come to wish for your love…”
Nora rushes to Kofuku and Daikoku’s home knowing that is where Yukine would most likely be. She had wanted to avoid contact with anyone besides her fellow Regalia, but it couldn’t be helped if they were to save Hiyori. Of all of them, Nora knew just how far Father would be willing to go to get what he desired, though she wasn’t sure exactly what that was at the moment. Was his growing obsession over Hiyori or his desire to have back his God-son the culprit this time?
“Yukine!!” She calls out as she rounds the corner and sees him on the roof with Daikoku. “Yukine, Father has kidnapped Hiyori!”
“He did what! That son-of-a….” he jumps down along with Daikoku, even Kofuku has come out to see what all the ruckus was about. “How do you know that and why the hell would he take Hiyori?”
“I’ve been following him ever since Yaboku went underground in case they met up. But as to the why, I’m not sure. Father had been a little obsessed with her recently, but I always thought it was because she was close to Yaboku.”
Daikoku steps forward, “you’ve been with him for a long time, what do you think he’ll do with her?”
“Probably hold her hostage to force Yaboku out of hiding.”
“Damn it!” Yukine screams and runs his hand down his face, “even we don’t know where that idiot went and now look! I swear to the Heavens, I am going to ring his neck when this is all over!”
“Calm down,” Kofuku tries to assure the young man, “getting angry is not going to solve anything.”
“If it wasn’t such a risk, I’d say giving him a few blights might make him come back…” Three sets of eyes turn on Daikoku. “I wasn’t serious! If that doesn’t work Yukine could be putting himself at risk.”
Yukine takes a deep breath staring at the ground, “if it’s to find Hiyori I’ll do anything.” Looking back up with a fierce and determined glare, “even give up my life for her!”
“Let’s try not to be hasty,” Daikoku takes on the fatherly role, gently placing a hand upon the young man’s shoulder, “why don’t we fan out and search everywhere again, he’s got to be somewhere.”
“Where did Hiyori last encounter Kazuma, that would be a good starting place?”
“That’s a good idea Kofuku!” Yukine tries to remember the conversation, “I think she said it was near…”
It takes the group two hours and sheer luck that Yato had been spotted with Kazuma near the edge of a forest to find them outside of an old ramshackle of a shrine. Yato is surprised that they had found him, waving and excited to see his friends, but while Kofuku waves back, Yukine runs up and punches him square in the face, knocking the God to the ground.
“You bastard! That’s for running off and not saying a damn thing!” he raises a fist to strike a second time, but by then both Kazuma and Daikoku have grabbed his arms, “that fucking Father of yours has kidnapped Hiyori and we’re pretty damn sure it’s cause you went into hiding!”
Still shaking the blow off, now Yato’s attention whips back to Yukine, “He… Why the…”
“To lure you back out you idiot! This is all your fault! Why don’t you ever learn to stop doing everything on your own and let us help you! Or why can’t you keep in touch so we don’t have to worry!” Yukine is shaking he’s so furious, “don’t you realize how much Hiyori cares about you! She was in tears, TEARS, she was so upset when you left her like you did!”
“But this is all to protect, you, Hiyori…. I didn’t want to risk Father hurting you too…”
Yukine lets out a long exhale and his body slumps forward, “It’s too late for that.”
“Okay, okay,” Daikoku let go of the boy and so does Kazuma. “Now we need to figure out where he might have taken her…”
Kazuma steps back as the others discuss what little information they had on Father’s whereabouts. He had chased her away from Yato because of similar intentions. Hiyori was an innocent party, a human caught up in the world of Gods and spirits and it was for her own good that she kept a distance from them. Plus, the emotions growing between the pair was not orthodox, a human and a God could never be…. Or was that him imparting his own jealousy over…. Regardless, as he stared down at Yato and Yukine, maybe, breaking up their little family wasn’t the right thing to do after all...
After Daikoku and Kofuku return home, he worried that her being out and about would blight their search. Yukine and Yato, Nora and Kazuma split into groups and start from where Fujisaki and Hiyori were last seen, fanning out in the hopes that he wouldn’t have risked travelling too far and chance being seen. But that still left a wide swath of area to cover with many houses, businesses, or other buildings he could easily have found refuge in.
Within the hour, Yukine’s cell phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket and screeches, handing it to Yato, “it’s Hiyori!”
Yato yanks it out of Yukine’s hand and hits receive, “Hiyori! Hiyori are you a…”
A male voice’s laughter rings in Yato’s ear, “sorry, but your Hiyori is a bit tied up right now.”
The young God’s face goes from pale to fuming in mere seconds, “I swear on the Heavens if you…”
“No point in threatening me Yaboku…. Oh, tell Yukine we said hi and he can stop trying to listen over your shoulder.” The pair look at each other in shock, damn it, Father can see them! As Yukine looks around at the surrounding buildings. “Well now that I have your attention, I’ll make this simple, if you want Hiyori released, you need to come back to me Yaboku, and bring Yukine with you. Without Nora I have little protection, so you will come in quite handy.”
“Even if I relented, I would never give you Yukine!”
“Truth is I have no plans to give up Hiyori either. Come now Yaboku, we could be a family, the four of us. Hiyori will be mine, you and Yukine will be my sons…”
“Fuck you,” Yato rages, “as if I’d ever let you take Hiyori from me!!”
“Son you know that a relationship between a God and human is taboo. From the moment you tethered her to this world you have been like two star-crossed lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, always separated by the Heavens.”
“There is no one trying to separate us,” Yato seethes, “except you.”
“Tsk, tsk, apparently Kazuma didn’t tell you how he chased her away recently when she almost found you, even told her that you could never be together. Son, don’t you see, I am the only one who truly cares for you.”
Yato is stunned by Kazuma’s betrayal but for now, finding Hiyori was more important. “You don’t care about anyone, Father, and I am done doing your bidding. Now tell me where’s Hiyori!!”
“I’m not going to tell you that son.”
“Do not call me son, I am no longer your family! You see, what you fail to understand is that yes, I love Hiyori, but she and Yukine are my family now, they are the ones I love, and they are the ones I will do everything in my power to protect, even if that means destroying you and risking my lifeline!”
There is a brief pause on the other end, then in a softer tone laced with venom, “I feel sorry for you Yaboku, but you will lose in the end,” the line going dead.
Fujisaki closes the cell phone, clenching his fist around the device, almost flying at the wall but that would be careless, just in case Yato calls him back to grovel. How dare his son disown him like that! He shoves the phone back in his pocket and takes a cab back to the school where he’d hidden Hiyori. Fine, at least he still had her as a consolation prize.
But as soon as he enters the room, he realizes that Hiyori has somehow broken the spell binding her spirit to her body. “Damn it!” Fujisaki punches the wall. He knew she was strong, she’d even broken through the memory spell Nora once placed on her, but he thought this one would hold. Running his hand through his hair and taking a moment to calm himself, he moves her body so it’s lying down. ‘She’s gotta come back,’caressing her cheek, ‘sooner or later.’
Chills run down her spine and she cradles her arms, someone was messing with her body. Ugh, Fujisaki better not be doing anything weird! Hiyori knew her time was limited, as she rushes around the city, jumping from roof to roof, and running along powerlines. The first place she had checked was Kofuku’s but all they knew was Yato and the others were out searching for her in the area she was last seen. So, she tried that area with no luck, her neighborhood, the business district, even swung by the school and still no sign of them.
If only she had her cell phone, that would really help, but Fujisaki had taken it to call Yato. She had thought about waiting but realized no, she needed to get away as quickly as she could the moment he let his guard down. Luckily the binding spell was weaker than the one Kaguha had used to keep her and Kazuma locked in a cell when Bishamon was stricken.
By the time the sun was ready to set for the day, Hiyori was losing hope and time and while she didn’t want to waste any of those precious minutes, when she sees a small shrine for a Goddess of Fortune, she stops to make a prayer. Hiyori kneels at the altar, head bowed, reflecting on everything that has transpired in her short life so far. Does she regret becoming entangled within this realm of gods and spirits, no, she can say with heartfelt honesty. Meeting Yato, and Yukine gave her a sense of belonging that she had never felt even with the closest of her family or friends.
‘Please Goddess Benzaitan,’her hands clasped together, ‘everyone says that a human and a God could never be together, and I understand that my love for Yato may be forever unrequited, but it is because of my love for him that I wish him to have an eternity of serving the people like he enjoys doing, protecting those that he loves from harm, and to simply be happy.’ A few tears leak down her cheeks as her strength fades, ‘I wish happiness for Yato, great Goddess Benzaitan and for me just the chance to see him one last time…’
It was time to get back to her body, Hiyori could feel her strength subsiding at a quicker pace and, her lifeline crying for her to return to her body. Noting that she had journeyed too far from the school, it was going to be lucky if she’d make it in time. She had tried so hard to find her friend’s, but it was just too large with too many places to check. It could have taken a couple of day or more to really search the whole city.
With the sun now completely gone, the night could be a very dangerous time for any spirit or a half-Ayakashi like her, and that’s when a new predicament reared its ugly head. Hiyori had managed to get so close, but just a block away from the school a fearsome Ayakashi spots her. The spider-type monster was huge, towering over 3 story buildings and in her already debilitated state, there was no way for her to fend it off.
Hiyori takes off running, zig-zagging through cars and alleyways, getting further away from the school before pulling a U-turn again. She hides whenever she thinks it has lost her, then darts to a new hiding spot all in the effort to get close to the school again. If only she could reach the building, she knew she could be safe. But her legs, lungs, her body is screaming at this point, and her strength is dwindling to a level she can feel is at her breaking point. As much as she doesn’t want the evil spirit to find her, Hiyori hunkers down for a moment and screams out in fear, pain, and hope, praying that someone could hear her pleas.
Turning another corner, she comes face to face with the Ayakashi. “Noo!” she scrambles back but the creature takes a swipe nicking her tail. The pain is intense, this is not good, not good at all, at this point it would be impossible to make it back to the school let alone her body deep within it. Tears flood her vision as she crumples to the ground unable to fight anymore. “I’m sorry… Yato…”
“Hiyori!!!!!” Yato’s voice drums in her ears. “Sekki!!!”
Her vision is fading, and she can barely see as Yukine transforms and Yato leaps up, striking the monster in one fail swoop. But she can picture it all in her mind, smiling that one of her wishes had been granted. The feeling of being shifted barely registers, her body grown numb.
“Oh no Hiyori!” it’s Yato’s voice again and Yukine. “No, no, no Hiyori where is your body? We need to get you back your body.”
“It’s…. too late… at school boiler room.” she manages to whisper. “Just happy… got to see you again…”
“Hiyori please don’t leave us!”
Yukine is calling Kazuma and Nora as Yato cradles Hiyori in his lap, hoping that as older Regalia’s and vessels they may know more about what can be done. But while they both rush over, there is nothing that either of them can offer.
“I’m sorry….”
The moment Hiyori breathes out the word’s boiler room, Yato screams for Kazuma to find her body but he and Nora were already heading for it. Kazuma had his own grudge against Father and now that he truly had caused the death of someone beloved, that itch to finally catch him intensified. Nora warned that Father had probably run once Hiyori’s body began to fail, but it didn’t matter.
A range of emotions befalls Yato in a way that it never has before. As a God, loss is not something that he had really dealt with, or at least not in a very long time since Sakura. But even that was a different feeling, and this was by far worse than any fears he may have ever had of death. All of those Ayakashi, all those that he had killed in his past, never had he processed what those emotions could stir up in the families left behind to mourn. It was karma coming back to him a hundred times over.
“Yato?”
“I’m here Hiyori,” her face cradled against his own.
“Thank you for everything…. wish could’a had more time,” exhale, “be good…. You, Yukine, a family, take care of each other…. I’ll always be with you guys…”
With his eyes clenched tight and tears staining their cheeks, “Hiyori… please you can’t, we promised together forever and it’s not forever!”
“I love you… Yato…” the last of her breath released in those final words. Yukine bursts into tears and Yato is inconsolable.
“No! No! What good is being a God if I can’t save the ones I love! Hiyori, I love you! I love you! Damn it! This is not right!”
Like a puff of smoke, Hiyori’s spiritual body fades away leaving Yato hugging the airspace she once filled. His arms curl around his frame as his body falls to the pavement in a heap. Yukine hugs on to him, embracing the last family member he had left as they both succumb to the despair.
Pain stung Yato like a thousand needles all over his body. This really was his fault, just like Yukine had said, if he had kept them close, Hiyori would still be alive, their family would not be broken. “I’m sorry Yukine! I’m sorry! I’m sorry…” he chants over and over and over. “All my fault! It’s all my fault!”
“Yato stop,” Yukine sniffles, “that’s not going to bring her back…”
“I wonder if I die too will I see her again?”
Yukine slaps Yato in the face, “don’t be an idiot! Do you think Hiyori would want that?!”
“But it’s like there’s a hole in my heart…”
The young boy sighs, “I know, I feel the same way too. But we need to be strong now so that her death was not in vain.”
Yato hangs his head and places a hand on the back of Yukine’s, pulling him into a hug, “you really are the best,” cracking a weak smile, “I’d be lost without you too.”
Kazuma and Nora return, cradling the physical remains of their friend in his arms. Nora kneels next to her former master, “I’m sorry Yato but Father was not there.”
“Yato…” Kazuma sits down on the curb next to them, keeping her body in his lap, “I’m truly sorry for…”
“I know you chased Hiyori away Kazuma,” Yato looks up, wiping away some bangs that had become stuck to his face. “You may have been trying to protect her just like I was, but we were wrong. Yukine was right, families are stronger together not apart.” More tears leak down, “if only we hadn’t been such fools…”
“We will get him Yato, that’s a promise. I swear to you, to Bishamon, to all those with loved ones we will get him.”
“We will kill Fujisaki…” Yato lets out a long exhale, “but it’ll never bring Hiyori back.”
Nora looks up, her eyes scanning the area, “Yato, we should leave, I sense Ayakashi being attracted here.”
“She’s right,” Kazuma stands up, still holding Hiyori’s body, “and we must figure out what to do next.”
Once Yato and Yukine stand, providing support for one another, they take one last look at the spot she had disappeared from. “Good-bye…”
“Yato, God of Calamity.” They all stop walking and turn to the female voice.
“Benzaitan?” Everyone looks at Kazuma whose eyes are like saucers. “The Goddess Benzaitan,” he kneels down, “this is a very rare visit.” The other regalia’s follow suit but Yato remains standing.
He steps forward, “To what do we owe this pleasure Goddess?”
“I have come to fulfill Hiyori’s final wish,” she smiles, “and yours.”
Yato is taken aback, “Mine?”
“Do you not remember the wish that you granted to Hiyori after she refused to sever your bonds?”
“After Rabo…”
“Yes, she wanted to be with you forever and you agreed,” Benzaitan looks to her right and through a hazy white light the image of Hiyori begins to form, “that wish is binding Yato, you as a God should know this.”
“But,” Kazuma pipes up, “Yato doesn’t have the power to raise the dead.”
“No,” she smiles, “he doesn’t, but Hiyori is not returning as a living human,” looking back at the group as the light dissipates and reveals Hiyori in full form. “Her spirit is a strong one, stronger than most humans are ever born with. This is why she was able to use astral projection in the first place, to break spells that could bind others less powerful.”
“H-Hiyori…” Yato’s eyes stare at the girl smiling at him. “I-Is it really Hiyori?”
Benzaitan nods, “her life-force has fully transitioned into a neko spirit.”
“So that’s why she had a cat’s tail before?” Yukine stammers.
“My, such a smart child,” Benzaitan chuckles, “Yato even though you are a stray God, you have been blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful spirits. Now, as for Hiyori’s wish to me, I think that with your Blessed Vessel and a neko spirit by your side, it will fulfill her desire to see you happy for eternity.”
Moisture collects in Yato’s eyes, to think that one of the last things…. That she didn’t wish for her safety but for his happiness…. His knees buckle, and he drops to his knees, “Hiyori…. Did that for me? I-I don’t deserve…”
“Go to him,” Benzaitan gestures to Hiyori who runs over without a second of hesitation and throws herself into his arms. “Be a good God Yato,” she begins to dematerialize, “take care of those you love, and I have no doubt that one day your name will ring through the Heavens…”
Unable to hold back any longer, “Hiyori!” Yukine piles himself onto Yato and Hiyori, hugging them both.
“It’s great to have you still with us,” Kazuma adds.
“and,” Nora mirrors as much as it saddens her to admit it, “Yato would never have been the same without you.”
She sniffles, “I’m happy to still be with all of you too, in any form I’m given.”
After several more minutes, Kazuma prompts Nora and Yukine, “perhaps we should give them a moment alone. I’ll take the body to Kofuku’s where we can figure out what to do with it.”
Hiyori looks at him, she had almost forgotten she was no longer amongst the living. “I just don’t want my family to think I committed suicide…”
“We can make it look like you were attacked on your way home from school, it would be sad, but it wouldn’t reflect poorly on your soul.”
She smiles, “thank you Kazuma.”
He nods, “we shall wait for you at Kofuku’s then,” and the trio take their leave.
Left alone, Yato and Hiyori revert to their shy selves, blushing and blurting out, “I’m sorry.”
“No,” Yato waves his hands, “this is all my fault.”
“No, it’s mine, I selfishly chose to stay in this world with you and put you in this position.”
“Hiyori,” he grabs her hand, “I selfishly chose to let you stay in this world because…. Because I…”
She reaches up and cups his cheek, “because wecouldn’t let each other go.”
“But look at what happened, Hiyori it’s my fault you’ll never grow up or grow old, you’re…”
“Dead.”
Tear spring to his eyes as he nods, “that wasn’t fair, you deserved to live.”
“You’re right Yato, none of this was ever fair, but you need to stop blaming yourself. I always knew that to fall in love with you could become a problem since you are immortal, and I am not.”
“I tried not to think about it,” he murmurs and looks away, “figured we’d deal with it later.”
She chuckles, “well,” shrugging her shoulders, “later is now.”
“How can you be so at ease with all of this?”
“I honestly don’t know. I should be angry but all I can think is, maybe this was how it needed to be. I’ll miss my family, but I’m not alone…. And I’ll have you.”
“Do you… really love me Hiyori?”
Her eyes soften, “yes.”
Yato cups her cheeks, smoothing his thumb over her skin, “I love you too.”
She leans her forehead against his, “we’ll be like Tenjin and Tsuya…”
He chuckles and kisses her softly, “for eternity…”
My one friend who I thought blew me off got back to me and was like “yeah, totally cool and not surprised about you”. Yay. I need less DOOM!!! Thinking
in addition to what i've posted earlier, I figured I might as well give a happy ending?
as happy as an ending as I can give I suppose.
First of all, I CANT BELIEVE HOW MANY NICE MESSAGES I GOT FROM YOU GUYS??? LIKE, SERIOUSLY, SIX WHOLE MESSAGES. I'M SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!
Some of the things you guys said were incredible and really truely helped me to feel better, a lot better. I'm replying to you all here instead of directly like usual because i want to keep the messages and read over them if I ever start to feel down again! ;w; <3 (ilu guys)
Secondly, I'm basically swamped with school and will be for the rest of the semester. I will try my best to get my work done sooner rather than late 'till the last minute like I just did, (because that wasn't fun I wouldn't suggest anyone to do that ever) because I've just been given two more end-of-class-assignments that I need to do NOW because I wont have time with all the stuff I have to do now.
aaaaaaaand a couple of people sent me some messages about my birthday and stuff so I just wanted to say I don't expect anything from anybody!! yes, my birthday is a week from now, (the 21st of november) and I'll be turning 19 XnX (dont tell anybody though that makes me feel weird)
if you WANT to do something, then do what you're good at! If you're good at writing, write me something! if you're good at drawing, draw me something! if you're good at sending really nice kind messages to people on their birthdays, then by all means do that <3
as far as the content within the something you want to make me, know that I'm not forcing you at all and if you cant get it done in time (which I don't blame you at all for) then if you simply sent me a "happy birthday!" message to my tumblr inbox, then I'd smile just as big as if you went out and did something special ;w;
please don't inconvenience yourself for me, the things you guys said today and last night were enough to keep me bouncing along my little path and become empowered to do what I want and need to do in the coming future.
on top of that, I'm not going to be doing uni for the spring semester, I have too many things I'm not familiar with and a lot of stress and anxiety I need to work through; and during that time I hope to make a lot of headway and organization on my personal projects that will actually help me in life. aka, an active youtube page and a more scheduled Celestial Soul release pattern, and possibly other original stories!
basically everything is in my head and I need to write it down and make a plan, and I cannot continue university as I've been doing it because I'm simply not properly organized or prepared.
TL;DR: Thank you, I might be gone in the next couple weeks, My birthday is soon but you do not have to do anything for me if you don't want to, Thank you so much, I'm working on making myself better.
