Author's Note: This is more along the lines of the manga and only if you're caught up should you be reading this. This story takes place after Yato has been to the underworld but right before the attack on the hospital. Nora is basically angry that Yato dismissed her as his regalia and despite their father's warnings she takes her phantom wolves to punish him. But Hiyori won't just sit back and let him be hurt.

Nora stood in the back watching her masked phantom wolves as they attacked Yato and his pathetic excuse for a regalia. The god swung Yukine at the ten wolves that stalked him but they were intelligent phantoms. They wouldn't just all rush in for the kill only for him to swing once and wipe them all out. The wolves circled him growling and when he turned his back to one that's when they'd attack. As soon as he turned again another would rush out to bite him. He had several marks on his forearm showing the amount of blight he'd taken. Nora watched bemused by his attempts.

How dare he dismiss her? How dare he take back the name he'd given her when they were children? Despite her father's warnings of leaving Yato and Yukine to him, Nora needed to see a little more pain. Sure she had those wimpy phantoms attack Yukine only a few days ago but the boy had fended them off and her as well. Her forehead still stung in pain at the borderline attack he'd used on her. Kazuma must have been teaching him how to be a true blessed regalia. It was laughable. Only Nora could be Yato's regalia. A small smile formed on her petite face. She'd get her name back and that child would soon be her father's. Everything would be made right.

"Hey, Stray!" that pitiful half-phantom shouted behind her. Nora rolled her eyes and turned to confront that Hiyori, the one that ruined everything. "JUNGLE SA-VA-TE!" As Nora turned Hiyori's attack connected with the side of her face sending her flying back. She roughly landed on the pavement rolling to a stop. Her white cloth fell revealing the cut along her forehead. Hiyori smirked upon seeing it. Nora wiped a smidge of blood from the corner of her mouth and glared at the girl.

'You should not be interfering," she said.

"You hurt Yato, I interfere. Simple as that." Hiyori had a strange calm over her one that Nora did not like. Did this half-phantom think she could take her on? She'd have to wipe that smirk off her face. She rushed Hiyori running low to the ground. Hiyori struck up her arms in a defensive position.

With her fingers pointed she jabbed at a nerve point in Hiyori's arm but the human was surprisingly fast. She leaned out of the way leaving Nora's strike to simply soar past her. Hiyori then grabbed Nora's exposed wrist and got her shoulder beneath Nora's armpit. In the next moment the stray felt her feet leave the ground as she was flipped over Hiyori's body. Where on earth had this girl learned to fight? Nora slammed painfully on her back and barely registered the fact that Hiyori was still holding onto her wrist and was about to lock her leg around her outstretched arm. Squirming frantically Nora pulled out of her grip and scrambled away getting to her feet.

Before she could even get her balance Hiyori was charging her. With an annoyed tsk, Nora leapt back about ten feet thinking she'd gotten out of the way but when Hiyori jumped the same distance the stray panicked. Hiyori wrapped her arms around her torso and tackled her to the ground. The pair of them went tumbling with Hiyori holding tightly to Nora's kimono. The regalia had her small hands tugging and pulling on Hiyori's long hair who winced but it was nothing compared to the elbow that just connected to Nora's face.

"Dammit," Nora let go and held her nose as Hiyori rolled two more times and stopped. "Where-," but she couldn't ask that. That would admit to losing. There was no way that she, a regalia, a sacred treasure, would lose to this despicable human/half-phantom. That's when she saw it, the pink catlike tail swinging behind Hiyori's body. Well, not her body, her soul. Her body was somewhere else. Nora let out a whistle and one of the wolves circling Yato turned its head to stare at the girls. It bounded toward Hiyori and snapped at her. She nearly flew up into the air levitating twenty feet above the chaos below. The wolf leapt as well and bared its sharp teeth at her. Hiyori flipped and dove out of its path coming back down towards Nora.

"Jungle Savate!" She screamed extending her leg to kick that grin off Nora's face but the regalia had other plans. A quick whistle and the wolf sprinted toward where Hiyori would land. It was too late to change direction but Hiyori did turn midair and deliver the punishing kick to the wolf instead.

It all happened so fast.

Yato cut down another wolf and looked up in horror as Hiyori, his beloved, kicked the phantom wolf. But as she sent the whimpering creature to the ground Nora reached out and took Hiyori's tail, her lifeline, in her hand.

"Wha,-" Hiyori tried to turn around.

"No!" Yato and Yukine shouted simultaneously as Nora pointed her fingers and jabbed at the pink ethereal tail stretched before her. The tail snapped in two before disappearing along with the image of Hiyori's soul. Her wide pink eyes connected with Yato's briefly. In that moment her eyes told him everything. She was sorry. All she wanted was to protect him, to save him from his tormented past. That she felt something for him along the same lines as his feelings for her. Then her eyes were gone along with the rest of her. Nora stood there empty handed pleased with her actions and winked.

"HIYORI!" Yukine's shout resounded from the twin katanas in Yato's hands and the god instantly felt a sting in the back of his neck. Yukine was angry, no, not just angry. Yato could feel his regalia's emotions. He wanted blood.

"Yukine, calm down you're stinging me." But his blessed regalia didn't hear him. A bright, silvery light flashed from the katanas exploding in a blinding flare that caused even Yato to shut his eyes. Around him he could hear the wolves yelping in unison before their cries were cut off. Yato pried one eye open as the light diminished to see that all the wolves had disintegrated and in the distance Nora was shielding her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono. "Yukine?" The boy did not respond. Yato stared at the blade and saw Yukine's form reflected in it. He was asleep, more likely passed out from the exertion of power. "Stray," Yato called but she was crying.

"You took away my name," she accused. "So I took away your precious Hiyori." Yato took a single step before the regalia faded into nothingness being called back by their father most likely.

"Yato!" Kofuku and Daikoku were running toward him and in Daikoku's arms was the body of Hiyori. Seeing it sent a shot of pain straight to Yato's heart. The goddess of poverty looked worried as they approached him. "Something's not right with Hiyori," she said. "She was sleeping peacefully and then she shook violently and went still."

"That's because," could he say it? Could he honestly choke the words out? "Her tail, her tail was severed."

"But that means," Kofuku's eyes were wide as the realization swept over her.

"Except she's not," Daikoku said. The gods turned in shock to stare at him. "She's breathing, it's extremely shallow but she is. And I can feel her pulse, right here," his fingertips were pressed into Hiyori's neck.

"But, I was told that if her tail was cut she'd die. How is her body still, or could it be? A coma that she'll never," Kofuku silenced Yato from finishing his sentence.

"BISHAMON!" She screamed to the sky. Her voice echoed ten times louder than a normal shout and a strike of lightning seemed to erupt heavenward. In the next instant the goddess was standing among them clad in her regalias.

"What?" she rounded on the poverty goddess.

"We need your expertise. Hiyori's tail was cut," she pointed to the limp body in Daikoku's arms. Bishamon bit her lip and cursed.

"What? What is it?"

"Yato, do you love that girl?" The questions from the goddess of combat surprised everyone present including her own regalia.

"This isn't the time for that."

"I'm serious, do you love Hiyori?" But he didn't even need to hesitate before blurting his answer out.

"Yes, yes I do. Is there some way to save her?"

"You must act quickly. Her soul is in the underworld." Yato paled. He felt he'd just returned from there himself to save Ebisu and was almost stuck there permanently. Hiyori was the one who pulled him out of it. "She is a half-phantom and that tail was her connection to her human body. Upon the tail being cut her soul went straight to the underworld. Izanami will try to convert her into a fully fledged phantom. When that happens, then that body will die." She nodded toward Hiyori.

"I have to get down there and save her but," he looked down at Yukine in his hands. Although Yuki was upset that the last time Yato went to the underworld without him was the young regalia ready for this? In his present state he wasn't even conscious. "I don't know what to do about Yukine," he told the group.

"I shall accompany you," Bishamon stepped forward.

"You don't have to do that," Yato started but she cut him off.

"I went down there last time to save you in exchange for what you'd done for me. Seeing as I was pulled out of there and Hiyori saved you I don't consider my debt repaid. Kazuma," she addressed her earring. "Ready to go down there again?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"The rest of you? All right?" Her regalia all chimed in confirming their support and Yato turned to Kofuku.

"I cannot," she said. "Daikoku and I have to open the portal and keep it open so you can escape." She whispered her regalia's name after he lay Hiyori down and he transformed into the elegant fan. "Whenever you're ready. We'll watch over her up here." Yato turned to Bishamon who dismissed her scantily clad armor and instead summoned a girl named Aiha who transformed into her full plate armor.

"I'm ready now, if you are."

Yato nodded and held Yukine firmly in his hands. He didn't have the same power as Bishamon would with her regalia all conscious and working together but he still had faith that the katanas would function even without Yukine awake. Yato made a quick mental note to speak to Yukine about that eruption of power but for now there was only one task at hand.

He had to save the girl he loved.

After Kofuku opened the portal to the underworld Yato along with his former enemy jumped in. It was actually a good thing Bishamon accompanied him. Last time he was here he'd just gone through the front door basically. This was completely different. Phantoms of all shapes and sizes attacked from all sides confusing Yato on where to go but Bishamon led the way and he simply followed. She hacked down the phantoms with her great sword until grasping a thin cord in her hand. No, it wasn't a cord. It was hair. Yato gulped thinking back to that long hair wrapping around his neck and body restraining him, not letting him leave. He hope Hiyori was all right. She had to be. He needed her to be.

"Hiyori?" a sweet male voice called out to her. "Hiyori?" It was dreamlike. Hiyori's mind was clouded with a pleasant fog that seemed to keep her warm and snuggly. She slowly opened her eyes to see Yato's face above her. Slowly the feeling in her body returned and she could feel herself laying down, her head in his lap. "Hello, Hiyori." He was somewhat clouded over and fuzzy but that was his voice alright.

"Hi Yato," she said sleepily. That's all she wanted to do. Just close her eyes and take a long, long nap. Yet despite how comfortable she was something was tugging at her insides preventing her from finding the solace only sleep could provide. She opened her eyes once more, annoyed, and looked up into Yato's face. He was still smiling sweetly at her. Nobody made her feel as loved as Yato did.

"Can't sleep, darling?" he asked. She nodded and yawned snuggling deeper into his lap. "Would you like something to eat? I have some fruits, or bread."

"Mmm, I'm not really hungry. I'm tired. Why am I so tired?"

"You had a big day," he replied. "You went to the park with your friends, shopping with your mother, and then studied all night. You should sleep a bit longer then eat something." Hiyori nodded in agreement until she thought more about his words. The park? She remembered being in a park but it wasn't with her friends. She'd been in the park with Yato, or so she thought. no, she was right she could see the scene unfolding in the darkness of her eyes. Yato was fighting those phantom wolves with Yukine. Because, because Nora had set them loose on him! Hiyori's eyes snapped open.

"That's wrong," she said. "We were in the park together and, and, my tail. Nora cut my tail," she tried to sit up but Yato pinned her back down on his lap.

"Hush dear, no need to blather about such fallacies."

"Huh?" Yato never spoke like that. He let up the pressure he was using to hold her down and Hiyori took in a deep breath. Something was definitely off. Usually when she was around him she could inhale that sweet smell of his. Yet now, when she breathed him in she did not get that sensation. The scent that invaded her was musty and her body shivered from the dank air. Hiyori rubbed her eyes vigorously and the fog that surrounded her ebbed away. When she reopened her eyes she saw the figure above her correctly. It was Yato, yet it was not Yato.

Half of the god's face was rotted away resembling a bare skull and an unusually large centipede was crawling across his face. Hiyori gasped loudly and scrambled away from him but her hand slipped and she fell backward down a few steps. She landed hard on her rump and kept back peddling until she felt something wet. There was a small pond behind her which did not seem odd until the water started to bubble and a few figures bobbed to the surface.

"Smells, so, good," they mumbled. It was a collective of naked women with rotted faces and sharp, jagged nails. Hiyori let out a pitiful scream and then felt herself immediately pulled up. It was the fake Yato, he had his arms wrapped around her shoulders and ushered her back up to his alter. Hiyori struggled against him but he was stronger.

"Who are you?" she shouted. "Where is Yato? What have you done with him?"

"Yato," the figure said sadly. "I miss Yato, and Ebisu. Why did they have to leave me?" He stroked Hiyori's hair but the girl jerked away upon seeing another centipede on his forearm. "I have you now, Hiyori-chan." He sat down and picked up a loaf of bread. "Have some food, stay a while."

"No, I have to get back to Yato," she turned to run but was cut off by the wall of naked women.

"You cannot, your tail was severed." Fake Yato began to laugh behind her as the realization hit her. Nora cut her tail, and what was it Yato said about her catlike tail? It was her lifeline, should it be damaged, she would die.

"Am I dead?" More laughter from the false Yato, and the women giggled as well. Hiyori could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

"I died…" she collapsed to the floor and felt the tears flow freely from her eyes. Was that going to be the last time she saw Yato? She only got a brief glimpse of him before she vanished and woke up here. He looked so sad, and worried for her. Just as she wanted to protect him she knew he wanted to keep her safe as well. "I failed him, I didn't stay safe."

"It's all right dear," the figure moved once more. "Have some fruit, stay a while. You're a phantom now." Hiyori's head popped up and she wiped the wetness from her cheek.

"A phantom?"

"Why yes, with your lifeline gone you are no longer a half-phantom and I have called you home."

"Home? Am I, am I in the underworld?" Her heart seized as if someone reached in and grasped it. She turned to the figure and faced him square on. "Are you Izanami?" The false Yato nodded and held out the fruit. The sight of it with the bugs so close to crawling on it made Hiyori's stomach lurch. "Why do you look like Yato then?"

"I take on the form of the one you feel most comfortable around. It was a toss up between this form, or this one." The face changed then in an instant. Gone was the black hair and icy blue eyes replaced with a head of blonde hair and tangerine colored eyes that twinkled innocently. Hiyori watched in terror as Yukine's face smiled broadly at her before biting into the fruit letting the juice dribble down his chin. He laughed sweetly as he wiped it away with his sleeve.

"Stop, stop it!" She shut her eyes and bowed her head. She couldn't look at this. How dare this thing take on Yato and Yukine's appearance?

"What's wrong Hiyori-chan?" But Yuki's voice was different. She didn't want to open her eyes but reluctantly she looked. It was still Yukine but he had several phantom eyes on his torso and one on his cheek. His eyes were as black as the wings that sprouted from his shoulder blades.

"No, please," her voice was miles away, weak. She buried her face into her hands.

"I almost had him," Izanami said in that demonic phantom voice. "He was so close but you ruined that as well."

"Please," she begged. "Stop." Her eyes welled. Not only was she dead, but now would this be the only way she would see them? She'd rather just look directly at Izanami, whatever that form may be.

"Don't cry, Hiyori-chan," the voice changed back to Yukine's. "I don't like to see you cry."

"You are NOT Yukine, so STOP it already," Hiyori shouted. Her voice was hoarse from the sobs that overcame her. "You are not Yuki or Yato so just stop it. If I really am just one of your phantoms why don't you show me your true self? Or are you that pathetic you resort to tricks like this?" But Hiyori was cut off before she could continue her tirade. Several strands of long blonde hair grew from Izanami's head and wrapped around Hiyori's neck. The fake Yukine's eyes became black once more and phantom eyes bubbled up all over his skin. Hiyori then felt the cold, wet hands of the women grab her all over.

"I just wanted you to be my friend."

"How much further?" Yato held his twin katana before him following closely to Bishamonten.

"I'm not sure, but it's getting worse," she swung her great sword at an incoming phantom. It exploded upon impact.

"How do you know it's worse?"

"We're getting attacked more frequently, and there seems to be more hair. But now its changed blonde."

"Blonde?" Yato knew how this worked. It was Izanami's hair and the mother of the Underworld changed into the image the prisoner felt most comfortable around. Who does Hiyori know that is...? Yato didn't even finish his thought. "Yukine," he whispered looking at the weapon in his hands. Again the blade reflected Yuki's sleeping form. Since they'd been down here Bishamon had done most of the fighting. Yato's regalia was barely sharp enough to slice even the weakest phantoms. What Yato didn't understand was why did Izanami take Yuki's form? Surely she should have taken his form, right? It hurt his pride a bit to know that while Izanami took Hiyori's form for him, she took Yukine's form for Hiyori. Enough, he chastised himself. Don't think about such stupid stuff.

"There!" Bishamon took off into a full sprint with Yato breaking from his thoughts to catch up to her. Yato stumbled upon seeing the sight before him.

"Hiyori," he whispered. She was there elevated a few feet above the ground bound by miles of hair. The naked women from the pond crouched around her biting into her skin and ripping away chunks. Yato could hear them mumbling.

"Tastes so good.
"Smells so good."
"One of us."

Hiyori was crying and cringing with ever bite but a thick wad of hair was covering her mouth. Yato followed the strands of hair to its owner. Izanami sat on her makeshift throne in a dark kimono and bugs crawling on her face. Except it wasn't her face. It was Yukine's, but not the Yukine he knew. This was the Yukine he'd seen months ago when the boy almost transformed from a regalia to a phantom. How cruel, Yato thought.

"Izanami!" As soon as Bishamon made their presence known Yukine's face disappeared and it once again became Hiyori's.

"Yato-chan! Bisha-chan!" She smiled at them both but the hair from her head shot out to grab them. Both gods swung their regalia slicing through the attack. "Ouch," she pouted. "Don't hurt me, I just want you to be my friends."

"Let Hiyori go," Yato's voice trembled as did his hands. Bishamon's eyebrows went up seeing the regalia shake in his grasp.

"Calm yourself, Yato," she breathed not moving her lips.

"Oh I see, you've come back not for me, but for her," Izanami pointed at the injured Hiyori. The female phantoms had stopped biting her and slithered back toward their master. Just like Yukine was a few days ago Hiyori was covered in bloody holes as chunks of her skin were just torn away.

"Sorry Izanami, but we're taking her back to the mortal world," Bishamon spoke for Yato's lost voice. The Queen of the Underworld laughed at Bishamon's words.

"Oh, that's fine, go ahead," she burst into another round of girly giggles.

"What's so funny?" Bishamon asked.

"She's dead you idiots, her tail was cut. She can't go back. She belongs to me now."

"If that's the case then," Bishamon pointed the great sword at Izanami. "Prepare yourself." Yet Izanami kept smirking at the pair of them.

"I can fix the girl if you are so desperate to have her back." Yato's eyes shot open at the idea of it.

"How?"

"I can repair her tail silly," she said.

"You can?" Yato must have sounded too eager because Bishamon clasped his shoulder with her gauntleted hand and pulled him back.

"But of course," Izanami sang. "It will cost you though."

"That's what I was afraid of," Bishamon said. "What will it cost this time, Izanami?"

"I just want a friend. I'll even let you decide. You, or Yato-chan?" Her lips curled up into a wider grin. "Or I can keep Hiyori-chan."

"I'll stay," Yato muttered to the God of War.

"You can't do that," Bishamon started but he cut her off.

"I appreciate that you've led me here, consider your debt repaid. But now I need to save Hiyori and this is the only way. We can't fight her, we tried that once and failed."

"Because Hiyori pulled me out too soon. I can take her." Yato sighed and gave Bishamon a sideways glance.

"I need someone to take Hiyori's soul back to her body. I only trust you to do that." This startled Bishamon. It must have read all over her face because Yato gave her a weak grin and wink. "I'll stay and you get Hiyori to her human body. You know what to do from there." Bishamon studied him until finally nodding her head in agreement.

"I will stay in Hiyori's place," Yato announced. Hiyori turned to him her eyes twinkling with tears and nodded her head. "It's all right Hiyori. Bishamon will get your soul safely back. Which reminds me," he turned to the fake Hiyori. "Izanami, you must open a portal and let Bishamon and Hiyori out. It's not fair if they get trapped down here in your underworld."

"You're really going to stay?" She was absolutely elated and clasped her hands together. "Yes, yes that is fine. But first, you must eat." She picked up a piece of food and offered it to him. Yato and Bishamon both froze in their tracks.

"I'm not exactly sure how it works, Yato, but if you eat that I don't even think Hiyori calling your name can bring you back. You'll be trapped forever," Kazuma's voice spoke to Yato barely audible. All the regalia had been so quiet to hear a new voice startled Yato for a moment.

"I think Kazuma is right, Yato. You can't accept that until we're out of here."

"She's not going to let you out of here until I eat it." Then Yato got an idea. "Izanami, prove to me you can repair her tail and I will eat whatever you want." The evil goddess smiled and pulled Hiyori in. She flipped the young girl over and held out her hand over her skirted behind. Yato had to stifle a blush. As Izanami drew her hand above Hiyori a bright pink tail emerged and grew until it was about three feet long.

"There, I have fixed her. But I will not release her until you eat." She offered both Hiyori and a slice of pineapple. Yato, with his head held high, walked up to the throne and stopped in front of the fruit.

"Yato, don't," Hiyori was crying as she was handed past him to Bishamon. Her pink eyes locked with his blue ones until he shut his and turned away. "Yato, no," she pleaded. "No, don't, I can't-," Bishamon took her and covered her mouth. Silently, Hiyori continued to sob as she watched Yato take the fruit between his fingers.

"Eat up," Izanami said. "Tastes good."

Author's Notes:

Okay so there's part one. I imagined in my head when Nora was fighting Hiyori for Nora to have a more "ninja" type style (quick, sudden strikes) and Hiyori, well, we all know she's more rough and tumble martial arts (like WWE wrestling!) Plus I know Izanami's form is different for everyone but without her knowing Yato and Bishamon arrived she wasn't able to consciously change her form which is why Yato saw Yukine first. (I'm making it a conscious decision on Izanami's part to change shape).

I hope you all enjoyed the first installment. Please leave any reviews expressing likes, dislikes, questions or anything really! I just love getting feedback, positive or negative.