Chapter Text
The blade slashed through the body of the phantom. A roar tore through the air as the beast fell. Red light poured from its wound, growing in intensity until it became blinding. Then, it was gone, only a few wisps of black smoke remained for a moment before dissolving into the night air.
“You did it!” Hiyori cheered, breathless from the fight. She looked around but didn't see Yato. Behind her, metal clattered on the concrete.
She turned, then the look of confusion on her face contorted into panic.
"Yato!"
Hiyori’s voice rang distantly in the god’s ears. Why did she sound so far away? Why was everything so dark? Why was he so... tired… Yato saw the world list sideways.
He felt himself hit the ground, the vibration of the impact traveling through his body, but it didn't hurt- he was numb. Yato saw Hiyori's face above him. Hiyori ... It was good to see her. She looked fuzzy though, and her mouth was moving, but no sound was coming out. Why couldn't he hear her? A distant part of Yato began panicking, he wanted to call her name, but he couldn't speak. He wanted to reach out, but his limbs wouldn't respond. Hiyori...
“Yato!” Hiyori called again, leaning over the god. She gasped. Twisted black and purple covered his arms and wrapped around his neck. The blight completely covered the left side of his face. His eyelids fluttered, his gaze changing in and out of focus.
Hiyori's hand shook as she reached out. She touched his cheek. A sharp pain caused Hiyori to yank her hand back. How could the blight be so severe? She had watched the fight, Yato had only been scratched by the phantom. Hiyori clenched her fist, still stinging from the blight. Yukine…
She knew the teenager had been acting out, and Yato showed her what his actions could do, but she never imagined it could get this bad.
Hiyori tensed when she heard Yukine’s rapid footsteps as he ran up behind her.
“Hiyori! What's wrong with him?” Yukine panted, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath, still winded from the fight.
"The..." blight . Hiyori's throat constricted. She couldn't respond. It was killing him. Hiyori grit her teeth.
"Yukine, go find Kofuku, I'll stay here." She ordered, struggling to keep her voice steady.
The teen didn't move. He stared at Yato. "Is this… because of…"
"Yukine, there's no time- go!"
"R-right!" The teen stuttered, then took off.
Hiyori had been able to put on a tough act for Yukine's sake, but once his footsteps faded, she broke. A sob squeezed out of her throat. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks.
Hiyori grabbed Yato’s hand. She watched his chest rise and fall as he took labored breaths. He started to cough. Hiyori lifted Yato's head to help him breathe. He coughed to the side, and Hiyori felt something wet splatter her arm. She wiped it with a hand, then looked at her palm. Blood. She had a god’s blood on her hands.
“Yato, hold on, you have to hold on.” Hiyori pleaded. His breaths came in wheezing gasps. His eyes began to flutter closed.
“Yato! Yato! ” Hiyori’s voice tore the air.
“Hiyori!”
Kofuku’s voice came from behind her. “We came as fast as we-”
Kofuku gasped. She kneeled beside Yato. The goddess looked up at Hiyori. She didn't need to speak, her face said it all.
Yato was going to die.
Hiyori felt tears sting in her eyes.
“No, no! There has to be something, something.” Hiyori’s determination cut through her panic.
“There is one thing.” Kofuku looked up at Daikoku. “There is a sacred spring, but it resides in the outermost layer of the underworld. I can make us a path there if I open a small vent. It'll be a fight to get there, but once we're there, phantoms can't bother us in the spring.”
“Do it.” Hiyori said breathlessly.
Kofuku stood, then waved her fan. There was a rumble, then a violent wind. Hiyori leaned over Yato. She swore she could hear wailing carried on the air.
Carefully, Hiyori began to lift Yato. But he was so heavy. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Daikoku looked down at her. Hiyori stepped back, and Daikoku scooped up the god, carrying him bridal-style. Yato's head fell back. His eyes were closed, his hair fell away from his forehead, exposing more blight that was creeping to cover the other side of his face. Hiyori turned away. She had never seen him like this. It terrified her. Hiyori ran to Kofuku, and Daikoku followed. He looked back. Yukine stood frozen, staring at where Yato had been laying on the ground.
“Yukine! We need you. You'll have to draw borderlines in order for us to reach the spring.” Daikoku shouted over the wind. The boy snapped out of his daze and took off after them.
…
“Borderline!”
Hiyori flinched as phantoms slammed their bodies into Yukine’s border walls.
“It's not far, it's just the first level.” Kofuku said as they made their way down the tunnel.
“Why is the sacred spring in the underworld?” Hiyori asked softly, barely realizing she said it out loud.
“It wasn't always in the underworld- the underworld expanded, and it swallowed the spring.” Kofuku replied.
The group rounded a corner. The stone tunnel had been dark, illuminated by the light animated from Yukine's borderlines. But ahead, the corridor swallowed the light. There was only darkness.
‘We… see… you…’
A low voice echoed. But it wasn't an echo- it was the sound of many voices. Ahead in the black void, hundreds of eyes opened, the pupils focusing on the group.
“Borderline!”
Dozens of phantoms crashed against the barrier, claws and wings and teeth bashing against the holy shield. Yukine had to redraw it several times, forcing the group to step back. Hiyori looked at Yukine. He was gritting his teeth. She could see the sweat beading on his forehead, the strain in his face. The exhaustion was overcoming him. Daikoku set Yato down, the god slumping against the stone wall as Daikoku transformed.
“There aren't supposed to be this many!” Kofuku gasped. The goddess sent a few phantoms spiraling with her fan, but more crawled forward to take their place. Yukine furiously drew borderlines, phantoms crashing into them, clawing and screeching.
“Hiyori! I'm going to give you an opening. Take Yato and run to the spring.” Kofuku ordered. Daikoku transformed and helped situate Yato on Hiyori’s back.
“But what am I supposed to do once I get there?” Hiyori said, struggling to hold Yato as Kofuku summoned Daikoku back.
“Pour water on his forehead three times and pray!” Kofuku grunted while fending off a large, two-headed phantom.
“Ready, go!” Kofuku cut a hole through the mass of phantoms. Hiyori pushed off the ground and sprinted through the opening, gasping as the claws and teeth closed in on her. She pushed harder against the stone floor, the terrifying faces of phantoms streaking past.
Ahead, an arched cavern entrance towered overhead. Beyond it, there was a faint violet glow. She could feel a phantom’s breath on her neck. Hiyori yelled and leaped, crashing to the stone floor beneath the arch. She flipped over just in time to see a huge, centipede-like phantom loom over her. It shot forward. There was a flash and a sound like a gong. The monster reeled back, a glowing white barrier shimmered between Hiyori and the phantom.
Out of breath, Hiyori turned to Yato, who was sprawled out on the stone floor. Hiyori breathed hard. She pushed herself up onto her hands and knees and winced. Her palms and knees stung. Hiyori felt a warm wetness on her fingers. Blood from her impact with the floor. Hiyori shakily stood. She had no time to rest. Hiyori pulled Yato into the cavern. She glanced back just in time to see Kofukuarch her fan towards the ceiling. Rocks overhead crumbled, falling between Hiyori and Kofuku. After the rocks stopped crashing down, Hiyori was left in darkness and silence, save her own ragged breathing.