Chapter Text
Father was gone.
Sometimes, it didn’t seem real. Even now, a few months later, Yato would still sometimes find himself feeling slightly on edge. He had spent so many years never knowing when his dad would appear and he had taken so many forms over the centuries that Yato wouldn’t always know what he would look like when he did. That tense feeling would hit him on random days in seemingly ordinary moments. It could be something as simple as when he walked with Yukine down the street. It was like he half expected his old man to walk past them in a new human form, uttering a veiled threat. Even though Yato knew that he was gone, there were still days he had to almost reassure himself.
Hiyori and Yukine are safe. He can't hurt them anymore.
He would never see Father again.
Yato's throat tightened.
Well, actually, now that he thought about it, that wasn’t exactly true. Yato had seen him, even just last night, and it probably wouldn't be the last time.
“Okay, seriously. What is going on with you?”
Yato’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Yukine’s voice. The boy had stilled the broom he was using to sweep the floor, his grip tightening on the broom handle. His eyebrows lowered and his eyes were fixed on Yato’s. Anyone else might have mistaken Yukine’s tone and the look on his face as annoyance, but Yato knew better. The kid was obviously concerned.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been acting weird all day.”
“What? No I haven’t,” Yato said dismissively as he lay on the floor with one hand propping up his head.
“Yato,” Yukine said, his voice lowering slightly. “Even just a minute ago, when Daikoku said he was making dinner soon, you said you didn’t want anything.”
“So what? I’m not hungry.”
Yukine titled his head slightly forward. “Like I said. Weird.”
Yato sighed. The kid could be annoyingly perceptive sometimes. “Don’t you have other chores you should be doing?”
“Like you have room to talk. Especially today. You’ve just been laying around staring at the walls.”
“That’s not true! I’ve been supervising you." Yato closed his eyes and smiled as he raised his free hand in a shrug. "It’s important work!”
“Yeah, whatever."
Yukine turned his back on the conversation and walked towards the door. He leaned the broom gently against the wall before facing Yato's direction once again.
“I’m going out for awhile. Is that okay?”
Yato opened one eye. "Where are you going?”
“To see the cherry tree.”
Yato slightly raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t exactly strange for Yukine to check on the cherry tree that was once cared for by his late friend Suzuha, but the timing itself was unusual. He would usually make a point to visit once a week if they weren’t too busy with ayakashi-slaying jobs and typically he’d go on a Saturday. It had just become part of Yukine’s routine and it was a routine that Yato was grateful for, as it seemed to help Yukine settle back into some semblance of a "normal life" after all the damage Yato's dad had caused. But Yukine had just been there two days ago. He usually didn't make an extra trip there unless he was really upset and wanted to be left alone.
Yato had both eyes open now. “You want some company?”
“No.”
“Well that’s hurtful. You could have at least given me the courtesy of pausing before rejecting me," Yato said, acting melodramatically wounded. "You don't want me to grace Suzuha's tree with my divine presence?"
“Now that I think about it," Yukine replied sarcastically, "I'm really doing the tree a favor.” He smirked as he grabbed his olive green jacket off a nearby hangar and started putting his lean arms through the sleeves. “Besides, wouldn't want you to overexert yourself.”
"Wow, rude."
Yato smiled just slightly as he noticed Yukine trying to hold back his own smile. The god was suddenly struck with a sense of gratitude. There was a time where he wasn't sure he would even be here during the high stakes battle with Father. His dad had tried to take everything Yato loved away from him: going after Hiyori and her family, digging his manipulative claws into Yukine. . .To put an end to the suffering Father inflicted once and for all, Yato had been prepared to die with him. But, thanks to his kid and so many others, he was still here. Now, it was the little moments like these that reminded Yato how fortunate he really was. His old man couldn't take everything in the end.
Yato took a few seconds to soak up the comfortable familiarity that lingered between he and Yukine.
"So it is okay that I go?"
Yato couldn’t sense much from his young regalia through their connection at the moment, but that still didn’t exactly comfort him. Something was up. He just couldn’t prove it. Yato searched Yukine’s face for clues while trying his best to sound uninterested.
“Alright. Don’t be too long. If you’re late for dinner, Daikoku will take it out on me.”
“I know, I know. I'll be back soon.”
Yukine turned towards the door. He hesitated for only an instant, and to anyone else, it may have been imperceptible, but it didn't escape Yato's notice. Then, Yukine disappeared through the doorway. Yato heard the sounds of his footsteps start to fade as he headed down the stairs. Soon, he heard Daikoku, Kofuku, and Yukine having some kind of conversation with each other downstairs, but their voices were too muffled for Yato to make out the words.
Yato laboriously raised himself off the floor and onto his feet. He walked to the edge of the room, opened the window, and climbed up into the windowsill. The god rested his back against the window’s frame, one leg still dangling inside while the other was propped up in the windowsill. It was a little breezy and a little chilly, but it was otherwise a perfect day. The sun was shining and the birds sang to each other. Yet, Yato couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that settled in his chest.
Suddenly, he caught movement in his peripherals. His blue eyes instantly darted downwards as Yukine stepped outside, unaware that his master’s gaze was fixed upon on him. The boy put his hands in his pockets as a gust of wind ruffled his jacket and hair. Yato watched his kid walk away until he turned the corner, disappearing from sight.
He can't hurt him anymore. He'll be fine.
Yato's mind fixated on Yukine's split second of hesitation to leave just before he left the room. He took out his phone and stared at the device in his hand. The god didn't even blink as a gust of wind blew through the window and rustled his dark hair across his face. Yato took a deep breath as he flipped his phone open and quickly sent a text. After he slipped it back in his pocket, he rested his head back against the window frame and closed his eyes.
It's okay.
He'll be fine.
After attempting to relax for a few minutes in vain, Yato took a deep breath and slid down from the windowsill. His feet landed on the familiar attic floor again. He made his way downstairs to find Kofuku and Daikoku sitting at the table drinking some tea.
"Yatty!" Kofuku's smile lit up in seeing him. "Yukki left not too long ago! He said he was going to visit his tree."
Yato rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, he told me. I wonder what he's up to."
Daikoku shrugged. "We did have a thunderstorm last night. Maybe he just wanted to check on it."
"That's true, the wind was pretty strong. Yukki probably just wanted to see it for himself."
"Maybe." Yato was unconvinced.
"Are you worried about him, Yatty?" Kofuku asked.
"I don't know. It just seems weird."
"Funny, he said the same thing about you," Daikoku said, slightly amused. "Right before he left, he asked me to drag you downstairs if you didn't come down on your own."
"He seemed kind of worried about you," Kofuku said softly.
Yato sighed. Kofuku and Daikoku watched as he sat down criss cross, leaning back on his hands. "That kid needs to worry more about himself."
There were a few long seconds of silence before it was broken by Kofuku's concern.
"Did Yukki not sleep well again last night?"
"No, he actually slept fine for the most part." Yato leaned forward and yawned.
"You didn't seem to. Rough night?" Daikoku asked before taking a drink of tea.
"Had a dream about my dad. So not exactly a restful one."
Daikoku and Kofuku exchanged silent, but concerned glances as Yato stared down at the table. Yato had turned his attention to the uneasiness he was feeling. It wasn't from Yukine's emotions exactly, though Yato could tell Yukine was starting to feel a little more mixed up emotionally. That wasn't completely out of the ordinary though. Yato would sometimes sense something similar from him when Yukine visited Suzuha's tree. He had lost his first friend as a regalia there after all. This was a different, slightly unsettling feeling though, like a shadow of a thought that hadn't quite formed, or maybe it was more of an instinct. He wanted to believe it was nothing to worry about, but. . .if he wasn't really worried, he wouldn't have sent that text when Yukine left.
Yato decided he shouldn't be here.
"Anyway," Yato said, exhaling as he stood. He turned and walked toward the door. "I'm heading to the tree."
"Why? Isn't the whole reason Yukine goes there is to have time by himself?" Daikoku asked. "If he's feeling a little down today, he probably just doesn't want an audience."
Yato didn't look back at Kofuku or Daikoku. "I'm going to make sure Yukine's back in time for dinner. I'll see you later."
Yato walked out the door, leaving Kofuku and Daikoku to their thoughts. They both couldn't help but dwell on the pair who had become such an important part of their household.
"He's really worried about him, isn't he?" Kofuku said quietly as she stared into her teacup. She remained solemn, her face etched with worry.
Daikoku placed his cup of tea down gently on the table. His eyes softened as he gave Kofuku a reassuring smile.
"Those two are completely hopeless, and yet somehow I have no doubt they'll be fine. They've been through much worse after all."
Kofuku looked up with a renewed shimmer of hope in her eyes and giggled. "You're right!"
"Well, I guess I better get started on dinner then," Daikoku said, standing up. He walked to the kitchen and starting taking out the necessary ingredients.
Kofuku merrily hopped up from her place at the table, practically skipped over to Daikoku, and wrapped her arms around her regalia. The side of her face pressed against his back. "So what are we eating tonight?"
"I think I'll flex my skills a little. I am not in the mood to listen to any complaining when they get back, especially from Yato. He always tries to put in a personalized food order. Ungrateful punk. I'll just make a little of everything so I don't have to deal with him tonight."
Kofuku hugged him tight before teasing him. "Really? Are you sure it's not because Yatty and Yukki are having a hard day and you want to cheer them up with a good meal?"
The corners of Daikoku's mouth curled upward into a small smile. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Yato had been walking for several minutes in silence down the road. People occasionally passed by, but they didn't notice the god and he didn't notice them. He was too busy sorting through his own thoughts. That stubborn kid. . .If he would have realized earlier, he would have gone with Yukine no matter how much he protested. Yato kicked a rock away with his boot.
Both of them had experienced rough days since Father's defeat. A lot had happened and there was an equal amount for both of them to process through. Sometimes they said nothing to the other. They could usually tell when each of them preferred it that way or when words weren't needed. They just stuck close to each other's side and that was often enough. However, Yato was so out of it today that apparently Yukine felt he should say something.
Yato had years of experience in putting up a front. He had only let people see what he wanted them to see and, in the past, he didn't let them see much. It was easier that way. Yukine was more perceptive than one might think though, especially when it came to Yato, which did not always work in his favor. Yukine wasn't exactly shy about calling him out on anything.
Yato's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when someone's emotions flooded his chest. The onset was so strong that it felt twice as heavy as usual. Yato felt his own worry start to grow. "Yukine. . .?" He stopped walking to focus on deciphering the maelstrom of emotions swirling within him. It didn't take longer than a few seconds before he understood.
They've met up.
Yato forged ahead. The image of Yukine hesitating to leave flashed again in Yato's mind. He picked up his pace a little.
He had to time this right.