This story is manga-based, so if you haven't read it (which you SHOULD…) you may be a little lost. They're moving right along with it; I had to post this one before any of it becomes canon! XD

I don't own Noragami, but it owns me. No manga has ever had such a wonderfully iron grip on my heart.

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He was underground again. The same cavern where he'd fought and lost to that twisted mix of Hiyori and Sakura. Only this time, it was empty. No Izanami, no Bishamonten, no hole in the ceiling. Alone.

He was kneeling, cradling Hiyori's spirit form. Her eyes were bulging, and more eyes were appearing where they shouldn't be, her body slowly mutating as she mumbled "smells nice…" over and over. Claws dug into his body, and he was unsure whether she was trying to hold onto him or hurt him. He rocked her back and forth as purplish-black spread steadily across his face and arms.

"It's gonna be okay, Hiyori… it'll be okay…."

He knew it wouldn't. This was something he had been dreading almost since they'd met.

"Sever her ties." His father's voice bounced and echoed off the rock walls. "...Or don't. But I'd hate to see you have to cut down your gii~iirlfriend again."

He said nothing. The sting from the contamination seemed far away. He was responsible- for all of this. He stroked the hair on top of Hiyori's head and planted a soft kiss there. Gently dislodging her painful grip, he slid her onto the ground.

He tightened his grip on the Sekki. "Yukine. I need you to sever Hiyori's ties to me."

Yato…? Yukine's hesitation echoed in his head.

"Do what I say!" he barked. "We don't have time!"

His expression was blank as he raised the sword above her head. He could feel Yukine wavering.

"Concentrate," he ordered. "Don't hurt her."

He swung the blade decisively.

Hiyori's form gave a shriek and vanished. Her spirit must have returned to wherever her sleeping body was, but Yato couldn't tear his eyes from that spot on the ground, the vision of what she'd become. What he'd done to her.

YATO!

He brought the Sekki up just in time to connect with the shakujo. His father leaped back, twirling the staff.

"Aww, your hafuri ruined the surprise. At least one of you is giving Daddy attention!"

The man came at them unrelentingly, hacking with such speed that Yato barely had time to block, and twice didn't. Hairline cracks had formed on both pieces of the Sekki. Yato could tell Yukine was struggling.

"Your sword is failing. If you know what I mean!" his father cried joyfully. Yato imagined Hiiro's response of 'father, that's disgusting'. Blocking another powerful blow earned him a solid crack from the left blade. Yukine cried out inside his head and Yato fell to one knee. The attack came to a pause, Yato panting for breath as his father looked on boredly.

"It's ambitious of you, trying to kill of all your friends in one afternoon." The man scratched his back with the shakujo. "You know the deal. He doesn't have to die; I can be nice."

I'm okay, Yukine urged, but the boy was breathing more heavily than Yato was. An ugly-looking fracture ran diagonally across one blade- it wouldn't hold against even one more attack. The other wasn't faring much better.

His father's eyes were smiling, as if he already knew he'd won. And as Yato glared into them, he lowered the Sekki to his feet and rose shakily.

...What are you doing? Yukine sounded anxious.

"Sekki, revert."

The brief stream of light revealed the boy's physical state. Yukine sat, covered in scratches and still winded, his left leg very obviously broken. He looked warily at Yato, even as he carefully shifted his wounded leg. The young god watched him blankly.

"What-" Yukine started to ask.

Yato began writing in the air.

"You're not serious?! Yato!"

"Yukine, I hereby release you-"

"YATO, STOP! IF YOU DO THIS I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, YOU BASTARD!"

"-of the name I have bestowed upon you."

The character on Yukine's collarbone seemed to lift from his skin, glowing a bright red. The next instant, the symbol shattered.

Yukine looked as though he'd been slapped, his mouth hanging open. Yato turned away, unable to maintain his gaze.

Yukine was livid. "You-"

"Whoa, hey, let's not fight~!" his father sang. Yato glanced up in time to see a different symbol glowing in front of the man. Yato's heart sank. Yukine shone ethereally, then the light flew to his father's hand, taking the form of a tall, unforgiving scythe.

"Oooooh, so shiny!" his father cooed gleefully. He gave the scythe a few experimental swings before taking notice of Yato's smoldering anger.

"Now, don't pout, Yaboku. Isn't it better this way? Your friends can all live happily ever after and we can all go back to how it used to be. It'll be fun! I may even let you use your hafuri again, if you're good."

Yato was silent. His stomach was a boiling pit, but the rest of him felt cold.

"…no? Bummer."

The scythe whistled as it cut through the air. Out of instinct, Yato thrust his arm in front of his face, hissing as the scythe sliced deeply into his skin.

His father hesitated, twisting his finger in his ear.

"Yaboku, do Daddy a favor and tell your hafuri to stop screaming at me."

He swung again; this time the metal thudded and bounced off his shoulder, bruising but not cutting. His father frowned, speaking to the scythe as he raised it above their heads.

"Listen, you little thug, I wouldn't dull down if I were you. You'll only make this slower for him."

The scythe fell.

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