#celisart

“What, this? Just scratches. I’m a god, remember?” He gave a grin before falling into another coughing fit, “It does kind of hurt like a bitch, though.”

“You really should try and save your energy.” Hiyori pressed, her voice practically a whimper.

“I want to do something though,” He shakily raised a hand to her face, cupping her cheek, “Even if you think I’m joking or delirious.”

She swallowed, “…Okay.”

“I love you. Not just as a friend, I mean I’m in love with you. I have been for a while. I want go on dates and hold hands with you a-and kiss you.” He stuttered before his eyes flickered to Yukine, unable to see Hiyori’s tears double. “And Yukine. I love you like a son. I’m sorry I never managed to say it before. I just care about you so much that I never wanted to overstep and I wasn’t sure if that was something you actually wanted from me. You both mean everything to me.”

Hiyori couldn’t take it anymore and reached up one of her hands to cling onto his arm that was outstretched towards her face, sobbing harder, “I love you too.”

Yukine also grabbed tighter onto the fabric of Yato’s jersey, his head down, “Me too.”

Yato closed his eyes and smiled serenely, “I’m so happy.”

Shaking her head, Hiyori bent her head down and gently pressed her lips to his, “Please don’t leave us. There’s so much more I want to do with you. With all of us, together.”

He barely returned the kiss, but smiled more as he answered, “We’ll always be together, no matter what happens. You’ll never forget me, right?”

“I won’t! But… I want this you here with me.” She could feel his hand growing cold to her touch, so she kissed it as well.

“I want that too. But I dunno at this point. Guess it’s not looking too good.” He admitted with a small sigh.

Yukine gave a sharp inhale, “Don’t give up on yourself like that!”

“Believe me, I’m fighting.” He smiled back, “But I’m… also facing the facts here. Yukine, I know this isn’t what you want either. But if, you know… please try to love my new self just as much as you loved me, okay? I know it’ll be hard, but he’s gonna need you.”

Yukine wiped harshly at his eyes, muttering, “…Fine…”

“Hiyori…”

“Yato, I can’t… I can’t even think about it.” She answered tearfully.

“You don’t have to interact, just… promise me you’ll keep praying to the god named Yato? Even if… it’s not exactly your Yato.” He finally teared up a bit himself as he finished.

She threw her head back in frustration before agreeing, “I will. Of course.”

“Thank you.” He whispered.

All three started crying harder and Hiyori lifted Yato up so that she was holding him, and Yukine quickly embraced them as well. Their comforting words and last stolen kisses only lasted a few more moments before their visions were filled with red.

 ---

“Kofuku-san?”

“You can just call me Kofuku, remember? And what is it Yato-chan?” The pink haired god tilted her head at the small boy.

“You’re a god too, right?” Yato looked up at her with bright blue eyes.

Kofuku smiled widely, “Of course.”

“Do your believers always seem sad?” He asked curiously.

Coughing and trying to deflect the question, she asked back, “What makes you say that?”

“Hiyori always seems really sad any time she sees me.” He looked down, twiddling his hands together in thought.

“Oooh, that’s what you’re worried about.” Kofuku hummed thoughtfully before suggesting, “You should try asking Yukki about that. He and Hiyorin are really good friends.”

“Okay!” Yato replied excitedly before scurrying off across the house to find the blonde. Finding him in the laundry room, he called out loudly, “Yukine!”

“What’s up? I’m kinda busy.” He answered back as he loaded the washer.

Huffing loudly, he declared, “I wanna talk about Hiyori!”

Yukine froze up and nearly dropped the clothes he was holding before he caught himself. Putting the last of the clothes in the washer, he stepped out and asked, “Oh yeah? What about her?”

“Why does she always seem so sad when she’s around me?” He put on a deep pout.

“Well, just like me… she knew your previous incarnation. Do you remember how emotional I was when I first met you? It’s kind of like that, but Hiyori’s taking a longer time to deal with her feelings. But she’s really trying, I promise.” Yukine gave him a gentle pat on the head.

Giving a thoughtful look, Yato asked, “Do you think she’ll feel better if I do something for her?”

Yukine’s eyes widened in shock as he thought of his master’s previous crazy ideas, “Um… Like what?”

“Um…” The little boy chewed on his lip before he answered, “Maybe I’ll pick some flowers for her? Do you think she’ll like that?”

Yukine let out a sigh of relief and nodded, “Yeah, I think she would.”

“Great!” Yato immediately took off for the backyard.

---

When Hiyori came over that afternoon, Yato was hiding behind Yukine’s legs.

“He, uh, has something for you.” Yukine laughed sheepishly.

Hiyori blinked in surprise before she knelt down to Yato’s level and asked in an intrigued voice, “Oh really? What is it?”

Peeking out from behind Yukine, Yato sheepishly held out the tiny handful of flowers of Hiyori while Yukine made a mental note to apologize to Daikoku for the god mauling his garden.

“They’re so beautiful.” She commented, but before she knew it, her lip was trembling and the tears were flowing down her cheeks.

Yato’s shoulders dropped in disappointment as he said, “I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t make you sad.”

Hiyori reached out to hug him tightly, her voice breaking, “These are happy tears, I promise. I do miss him a lot, but this is really sweet. Thank you so much.”