Chapter Text
Swift, slender fingers worked nimbly to weave a crown of flowers. Cherry blossom pink eyes glimmered in the soft sunlight, and long black hair danced in the gentle spring breeze. A girl hummed softly as she crafted a gift to her dearest friend.
"Is it done yet? Hiyori, is it done yet?"
The girl smiled.
"Yes, it's done now!" she said, her voice soft and loving. She gently placed the flower crown on the head of the one who asked her. His eyes widened in joy, their vivid blue shining so brightly that the afternoon sun seemed dim in comparison.
"Thank you, Hiyori!" came the gleeful reply, and a pair of arms wrapped around Hiyori's neck. Hiyori laughed happily.
Seeing this, a young blond Shinki spoke up, delivering a gentle scolding.
"Hey! Didn't I tell you not to keep asking Hiyori to make you stuff? She has homework to do!" yelled the Shinki, his face full of annoyed exasperation.
"It's okay, Yukine-kun! I can always finish it when I go home," said Hiyori.
"You're spoiling him!" Yukine protested, but his annoyed expression melted into a smile. He watched as his god marvelled at Hiyori's work. A dull aching pain began to form deep within his chest, but he closed his eyes and forced his emotions into a calm silence. He did not want to sting his god.
Seeing his god, Yukine smiled to himself, resolve and determination bursting from within him. He silently renewed his vow to his god: that he will never sting him, that he will always protect him, and that he will lead the way for his god to be a god of happiness.
"Please, listen to me, Yukine!"
Tears streamed down Yukine's cheeks as pained sobs escaped his throat uncontrollably.
"No, I can't! I can't let you go! I swore I'd protect you! I swore it in the name of Yuki! So please, let me fulfill my duty!"
Yukine's voice was hoarse and cracked. Tears fell from his amber eyes. He wanted to shut his eyes so badly, so that he would not have to see the blood that flowed from his god's open wounds. He could not bear to see his master in such a damaged state.
And yet, he felt that if he closed his eyes for even a moment, his god would disappear, never to be seen again.
The unyielding blue eyes of his god softened. The god took Yukine into his arms, putting a hand on the back of Yukine's head.
"I'm sorry, Yukine. I'm sorry," said the god. "I really lucked out, huh? That I found myself a Hafuri who's willing to give up his name for me. But I can't let you die, Yukine."
Yukine sobbed loudly in burning agony.
"Yukine, you're the best Shinki, the best Hafuri, that any god could ever ask for."
The god pulled away with a pained smile. He ruffled Yukine's hair one last time.
"You were a great exemplar. You didn't let me lose my way, and you never made any mistakes. The only thing wrong was that I wasn't a better god."
Yukine froze.
No.
"So, Yukine, let me be your only mistake. Let this me be your only mistake."
No. Stop.
"When we meet again, I promise you that I will be the best god of happiness."
The tears wouldn't stop. Yukine couldn't even move anymore, not even just to reach his hands toward his god one more time.
"Yukine... Please be my Hafuri again, okay?"
"Yukine-kun!"
Hiyori's voice pulled Yukine back from his suffocating thoughts.
"Yeah?"
"He says he wants to go buy melty cheese buns! Should we go now before they sell out?" asked Hiyori.
Yukine smiled and nodded. His god ran up to him with a gleeful grin.
"Yukine, get me my jacket!" demanded the god.
The Shinki obeyed, and put an oversized tracksuit jacket on his god. The little god, standing tall at only half of Yukine's height, wiggled around in the loose jacket. His big blue eyes shone brightly with joy as he reached his little arms up to hold Yukine's hand.
Yukine smiled at Hiyori, then down at his little god.
"Let's go, Yato."