3"Are you absolutely sure you'll be okay?" Yato questioned again, his face just as serious the hundredth time as it was the first time. Yukine ducked his head and ground his teeth. He really appreciated Yato's concern, especially after the hell he put him through, but the god's repition was getting on his nerves.
They were walking down the street in the middle of the city. It was a warm spring week-day so Hiyori was in school till their tutoring session before dinner. It had been a while since the two of them had taken the day to themselves. After all the physical and emotional wounds have been licked, and they spent a couple weeks dancing awkwardly around each other with apologies on their tongue. Fortunately, life eventually went back to normal.
Or at least, as normal as it could be. They were both still fragile from the hurt they caused each other, but for some reason refused to be apart for too long. The group had spent the remainder of the winter season indoors together. Hardly going out for patrol or wishes. On the condition that everyone could stay, Yukine and Nora were not allowed to be with Diakoku without a god. Nora still slept in a pond nearby and prefered to spend her time with Hiyori. Yato had discussed his relationship with Father to the rest of their friends in greater detail, but the recent events made it difficult to go too deep.
Yukine was already able to gather that information from Yato's Father. Their battle of both fists and words only furthered Yukine's own understanding of that sort of relationship. His memories clicking into place one after the other. Once again, Yato's words helped him walk away from the line one step at a time. And on the nights a man with shaggy blonde hair and locked fridges shook Yukine from his sleep, Yato had taken to calling Yukine his 'precious baby boy' while he rocked Yukine back to sleep.
This caused Yukine to pick up a new nickname for his master. Only to be used when in pain. Or to get his way.
"Dad," Yukine looked up at his god with a reassuring smile, "I'll be fine. I promise." Yato started for a second longer before his face melted. Air was pushed out of his nose as he smiled with a blush on his cheeks.
"Whatever you say, Yukine!" Yato straightened back to his full height while Yukine smirked to himself at his victory. Yukine's excitement only grew as the store came into view. He ran ahead, wallet already being pulled out of his pocket.
"H-hey!" Yato reached out after his kid. Yukine pushed through the glass door, throwing his head back with a big grin.
"Too late! You promised!" Yukine shouted back down the street before ducking into the store. The smell of food and pet dandruff made itself known before the sound of dogs and cats.
"Hello! Welcome to Main Street Rescue! Can I help you find something today?" A young woman behind the counter on Yukine's left looked up at the sound of the door's chime. Yukine could see her confusion at no human standing there, but it didn't affect him like it used to.
"Yes, I'm here for a cat!" The shelter's door rang again, "or two?" Yukine smiled at the lady who smiled back. They both ignored the young god who cleared his throat behind Yukine, glaring at the kid trying to push his luck.
"Of course! All our cats are in the back room," the women said, gesturing past her to the back wall. Yukine thanked her and dashed off again, Yato following at a slower pace. The barking and yapping of the dogs in the front room still made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He could just picture their teeth and their thick claws. It was nothing he couldn't handle, but Yato walked a bit faster anyway.
Yukine was still by the first two cages, cooing at the two cats that batted at his fingers through the bars. He was practically beaming, eyes brighter than they have been in what seemed like years. Yato smiled to himself and soaked in the image. Things like this didn't last long to him. But, if he was going to be called 'dad' he should try to act like one.
"I thought everyone agreed on one furball?" Yato asked. Yukine didn't even flinch, moving down the line at another wailing cat.
"You said you didn't care, and Kofuku was fine with it."
"Daikoku said one cat." Yato reminded him, crossing his arms at a pathetic attempt to embody authority. This got a rise out of the kid.
"But I'm going to take really good care of them!" Yukine practically whined, "Come on, Dad!" As always, the word clearly struck Yato. Yukine clenched his fists as he watched Yato's expression waver. Yato sighed and for a moment Yukine cheered, but Yato merely held up a finger.
"One," Yato re-crossed his arms, "Daikoku will beat me if I let you come home with more than that!" Yato stated. Yukine deflated, his master's tone left no room for arguing. If he pushed, Yato might cancel the whole thing and make them go home with nothing. Besides, Yukine could always get Hiyori to help convince Yato after he proved he could take care of one.
"Fine," Yukine muttered before his attention was stolen again by another tabby. Daikoku had asked the cat not to be too hairy, Kofuku wanted it to be a girl, Nora said it should be older, and Hiyori recommended the cat not be white lest it get dirty. Sadly, Yukine passed by the cages that didn't meet this criteria. If he looked them in the eye his heart might get stolen. Yukine perked up at one next to Yato. They seemed captivated by each other, blinking now and again. The other cats close to Yato were quietly staring at him too.
"Are you using some godly power on the poor thing?" Yukine came over and looked at the ginger tabby. It stared wide eyed at the god, un-moving, Yato looked disinterested.
"Not really. I told you animals can sense us, they can probably tell I'm a god." Yato finally looked away to blink at Yukine who, not for the first time, noticed that godly pupils were slitted. Yukine looked at the cat in question. The sticker said "Joo, Female Spotted Ginger Tabby, 1 year."
"Joo, huh?" Yukine read out loud. The cat looked at Yukine with the same intense expression her master held, even with her eyes being a subtle green. The thought made Yukine smile. She purred and nuzzled when Yukine's fingers scratched her through the cage. She was soft, and her fur was a light orange with darker spots and stripes while pure white wrapped around her front legs and chest.
"Ah, we found Uesama's missing wife," Yato mused. Yukine stood up and grinned wide, remembering the story Hiyori had told him on how she first met Yato.
"Then it has to be this one!" He practically shouted. Yato's nose scrunched for a second and he looked back at the cat.
"But Hiyori said not white," he pouted at the thought of not doing what she wanted. Yukine held a little pity, but this had to be the one.
"She'll love this cat! It was just a suggestion! Besides, she's not just white she's mostly light orange, which is sort of like yellow, your lucky color." Yukine looked back at the cat who was now standing at the excitement.
"You wait here." The shiki took off to the front. Yato figured his kid wasn't talking to him, but he waited by the cage anyway. This was Yukine's thing, and a couple of their friends mentioned he should be giving Yukine space to figure things out. No longer hovering, but still within view so the kid doesn't get nervous or lonely. Yato wants to follow him, that is his job after all, but for domestic stuff like this it was probably best to back off. He could practically hear Hiyori chiding him for overthinking everything.
He looked back at the cat that looked back at him. It didn't seem scared of him, which was a good thing. He was just happy it looked nothing like the one Yukine took care of when he was alive. Unconsciously, Yato felt dark anger at the thought. Joo crouched back down with big eyes. Yato held the animal's gaze leaned forward, his bangs brushing the cage just above the ears of the cat.
"He is your owner now," Yato spoke with such clarity even the cat could comprehend, "If you cause him to break I'll cut you in half with a butter knife." Joo's ears went back, but no noise was made.
His kid came back with the lady, desperately trying to contain the spring in his step. Joo looked happier at the sight of Yukine and the worker, standing to greet them. Yato's mood immediately brightened at the sight too, moving out of the way so the woman could grab the cat and stick her in a cloth carrier. Yukine happily took the carrier once it was all zipped up. The cat sniffed it's new container then Yukine though the mesh outline. He continued to coo at it, handing Yato all his savings once they made it to the counter. Yato couldn't help but smile at his kid's cuteness as he filled out the adoption papers.
The woman walked them out the store and bowed in thanks as the two made it out the door. Yato sighed at the amount of things that now towered in his arms. From what he knew about cats he doubted any of these things were necessary, but Yukine insisted they 'had too' so now Yato juggled food, toys, and everything in between. The cat meowed now and again causing Yukine to laugh and sometimes meow back. From their spot in the yard, Daikoku and Kofuku could hear the two coming and made their way over.
"Let me see the new kitty!' Kofuku squealed, "Oh she's adorable! Such a pretty face!" Daikoku kept a hand on her shoulder and bent down to look.
"Oh! A ginger cat! Nice choice, kid!" Daikou smiled as Yukine thanked him with pride. Yato stuck his face out from the tower of cat supplies.
"Hey, Daikoku, can you take this stuff inside?" Yato nagged. Diakoku sneered at him and made his way back in the shop.
"Hell no! Stop being lazy and take it up stairs, I'm working!"
"You're not!" Yato shouted after him, the supplies slanted dangerously at being jolted so suddenly and Yato had to wiggle to keep them all from plummeting to the ground. Daioku snickered at him before letting the entrance curtain flap behind him. Yukine and Kofuku followed close behind.
"So, do you have a name in mind or does this cutie already have one?" Kofuku asked Yukine who leapt at the opportunity to brag about his new pet.
"Her name is Joo! Like 'my lady' or 'queen'! We liked it cause it was the opposite of the cat that brought Yato and Hiyori together!" Yukine felt easy warmth curl around his heart at the thought. He wouldn't be here, wouldn't be happy, if it weren't for them.
"Oh, that sounds like the nickname Daikoku gives me sometimes! I love it!" Kofuku held her cheeks at the thought, squishing her own face. Yukine let out a little laugh at the goddess, watching Kofuku make her way into the shop after Daikoku. Yukine turned to see his own god trying to shimmy through the entrance sideways.
"Come on, Yato! She's probably hungry!"
"Yeah, well, your master's hungry too ya know!" Yato complained but moved a bit faster.
Joo's little area was all set up before the sun started to set. They put all her things in the far right corner of the attic. One litter box with a bag of litter, one water feeder, one food feeder and bag of dry food, some cans of wet food, a scratch post with a ball and string, and one plush bed.
"Can you- quit it!" Yato pulled Joo out of a box for the seventh time. Yukine snickered at them while he gathered all plastic wrappings.
"Now you know how me and Hiyori feel when you try to play while we do homework," Yukine said. Yato scoffed and sputtered out excuses, lifting the box and flipping it so the cat would tumble out. Yukine called the cat over, making kissy-noises without a second thought, and scratched her head. Supply boxes folded, Yato quirked his lips at the sight and scooped up the bag of plastic. He made his way down stairs, shutting the door to their room behind him. Kofuku and Daikoku perked up from the table as Yato walked in.
"Everything set up?" Daikoku spoke around his cigarette.
"Yeah, he's playing with the thing now," Yato walked past them and out the door, dumping everything in recycling and coming back, "It's going to keep him distracted for a while."
"Yatty, it's a pet, Yuki's just excited! He's been talking about a cat for ages!" Kofuku said as Yato sat at the table.
"Plus I hear cats are therapeutic. It'll probably help a lot," Daikoku passed Yato a beer.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you guys the first time. I'm just worried how he'll be when it dies but that hopefully won't be for a while," Yato muttered, cracking open the can. He peeked at Kofuku when she touched his shoulder.
"Yukine will be fine. You told him about that and he said that he knows. Besides, the cat might be good for you to! Pet her once a while you might like it!" Kofuku gave a comforting expression.
"I don't know, I'm not too good with animals, but if Yukine's happy then so am I."
"You're not too good with people either," Daikoku shot.
"Speaking of people, hi Hiyori!" Kofuku rose off her heels when Hiyori poked her head into the room and greeted everyone. She especially looked at Yato who gave her just as big of a smile as ever, then leaned towards the stairs.
"Yukine! Hiyori's here!"
"Are all the doors closed?" Yukine shouted back after a moment. They looked to Hiyori who nodded. Daikoku got up to check the other two doors then nodded too.
"Yep!" Yato called back. Yukine's feet padded down the stairs accompanied by softer footfalls.
"Hi Hiyori!" Yukine came to sit next to them at the table. Hiyori greeted him in return before her attention was stolen by a fuzzy face. One that matched the picture Yato sent her earlier.
"Oh my goodness, is this Joo?" Hiyori gasped, reaching her hand out to beckon the cat, "she's so cute!" Joo sniffed the ground, then the air, then crept over to Hiyori.
"What about me? I'm cute!" Yato tugged on Hiyori's shirt only for Yukine to yank him away.
"She's purring!" Hiyori scratched the cat's head and chin, Joo closing her eyes in contentment.
"She likes you!" Kofuku said to Hiyori, both the girls giggled at the thought. Yukine, who didn't like being so far away from his new pet, got up and sat on the other side of Joo, rubbing her back. Daikoku watched the kids for a bit longer before making his way back into the kitchen, Kofuku following once Hiyori pulled out the school work for the day. Joo realized her new owner was busy, and Yato realised he would only get swatted if he kept trying to participate, so the two slinked off to opposite corners of the room.
That's when the staring contest started again. Yukine found it hard to concentrate when Joo was looking at Yato like he was killing her kittens, crouched with her tail twitching. Yato, on the other hand, was laying on his side with his limbs extended. They stared at each other for a while, Yukine's eyes kept flickering between them, catching Hiyori's attention. She gave Yato a funny look over her shoulder he didn't notice. Before Yukine could tell his god to knock it off, Joo pounced. She dashed directly at Yato's face but Yato was quicker, he scrambled to his feet and took off down the hall, Joo following. Hiyori looked back at Yukine with a face that didn't believe what she just saw. Yukine had the same look before it morphed into one of annoyance.
"Idiot. He probably already ticked her off," Yukine muttered at Hiyori, who busted out laughing. More thumps sounded behind her and Joo came running past the dining room, all puffed up. Yato came into view after her, stopping at the doorway and watching the cat disappear around the corner. He then came back in and flopped on his side, turning his pout to Yukine and Hiyori.
"Stop picking on the cat," Yukine repeated and went back to his work. Hiyori looked back at Yato with amusement who couldn't help but smile in return and let his eyes crinkle. She becoded him with her hand and pulled out a new Ship in a Bottle puzzle. Yato gave a toothy grin and happily settled at the table, thanking her for the gift and cheering over the mini capybaras. After about an hour, another knock sounded from the door.
"Come in!" Yato hollered from his spot at the table. Yukine whacked his arm and jostled the bottle Yato held.
"This isn't your house! Don't just invite people in," Yukine scolded. Yato yelped and checked on the mini pirate capybaras inside.
"It's just Nora! Geez," Yato huffed back. True to his word, Nora walked in as quiet as ever with a little paper bag. She bowed slightly to Hiyori and nodded to Yukine. Yato and Nora shared a look while she took a seat opposite to him.
"You got your new cat today, right Yukine?" Nora asked. Yukine nodded before scowling at his master.
"Her name is Joo and Yato chased her down the hall for some reason."
"It attacked me!" Yato defended.
"She," Hiyori lightly corrected. Nora just rolled her eyes.
"Yato was never good with animals," Nora smirked at Yukine.
"Or people!" Daikoku yelled from the kitchen. Yato shouted back at the older shiki while the other three laughed.
"So Nora," Hiyori leaned in closer so she could be heard over Yato and Daikoku's yelling, "What's in the bag?" Nora pulled the bag onto her lap.
"Books. You asked me to recommend a favorite, then I got a little carried away," Nora explained. She first handed Hiyori, Lord of the Flies.
"Oh! An american classic! Thank you very much, Nora, I'll let you know what I think once I'm done with it," Hiyori smiled appreciatively at Nora who gave a small smile back with pink cheeks.
"Then I saw this and thought it might be good for you, Yukine," Nora pulled out a thinner paper-back book.
"A book about cats," Yukine read the title excitedly, "Connect With Your Feline: The Ultimate Description of Care and Behaviors. I love it! Thank you," Yukine grinned at her, ignoring the heat in his face from showing so much excitement over a book. Yato leaned over to look at it, noting how it was made for younger kids. Nora took her new role of 'Aunty Nora' seriously.
"The third one is an easy dessert cookbook for Kofuku and Daikoku," Nora stated leaving it in the bag to give. Hiyori and Yukine voiced their approval, further coloring Nora's cheeks.
"Where'd you get the money for these?" Yato asked, not looking up from his piece set. Yukine and Hiyori soured a bit at his rudeness but Nora didn't seem to notice.
"I took it from Yukine's piggy-bank, of course."
"Wha-?" Yukine's head whipped to her in shock, "How do you two keep finding it!" He looked to Yato who tried to force away his smirk. Hiyori couldn't help but giggle too. Even though this kept happening Yukine managed to be surprised every time. Hiyori was shocked by Nora the first time, but she quickly noticed similarities between Yato and Nora now that she saw them live together.
"Poor Yukine," Hiyori sighed. Daioku came in with a hot pot and Kofuku in tow and everyone cleared the table. Hiyori and Nora helped set the plates as Yato and Yukine put their things back upstairs. Hot food was passed along with chatter. Everyone talked about their day or things they've seen and heard. Yato bragged about his and Yukine's patrol earlier this morning and how they managed to clear away more phantoms than Bishamon had.
"I'm telling ya," Yato said with alcohol on his breath, "In my experience, Yukine is a much better blessed vessel than Kazu-ak!" Yato choked on his words and sat straight up. Everyone looked at him as his face scrunched up and he hissed in the air through his teeth. Next to him, Hiyori looked over his shoulder and sputtered out a laugh.
"What is it?" Kofuku leaned across the table, nearly knocking over the bottle of wine that Nora managed to save. Before Hiyori could fill them in, Joo let out a loud meow. Her fuzzy orange face peaked over Yato's shoulder before her paw latched its claws into his collarbone. The table let out a round of laughter as Joo fully perched herself on Yato's shoulder. Her wide green eyes stared down at Yato's half-eaten food.
"You already ate, Joo!" Yukine whined at her. She ignored him, her body wriggling as she tried to gather her feet under her.
"Oh no you dont!" Yato's arm came up and grabbed hold of her scruff, eyes pricked with tears.
"Yato!" Nora gasped.
"Careful with her," Daikoku growled. But Yato simply dangled the cat over his son's head and set her in his waiting arms. Yukine let her escape behind him, turning to Yato's agitated face with a sheepish look.
"Are you okay?" Yukine asked, trying and failing to hide his apologetic worry. Yato's eyes peeked back open at his kid and couldn't help but smile at the cute hunched form.
"Yeah, I'm alright." He flashed his kid a quick smile before going back to shovel more food in his mouth, keeping on his toes in case the little vermin decided to come back for more. Cats were known for being thieves after all, why couldn't his kid have gotten a more honest pet. Like a hamster. Or a goldfish.
After dinner, Hiyori and Nora helped clean up while Daioku and Kofuku looked through their new book. Once that was done, Hiyori went home to get started on her own gift, saying goodbye to Yukine and Nora who went upstairs with Joo. After Yato walked Hiyori back he decided to finish up his little craft. It occupied him for another hour before deciding to turn in. He called goodnight to Daikoku and Kofuku in the kitchen, who said they would be having mini cheesecakes for breakfast.
His bedroom door came into view and he hoped Nora had gone. As relieving as it was to finally see her happy, she still added a type of pressure now and again. Plus, getting a cat had put his emotions for a loop more than he realized. Yato was used to the anxiety of waiting for something to happen, waiting for someone to snap, but when it came to his kid it worried him more. The day was done and gone, but those types of things could sneak up on the mind.
Yato pushed the bedroom door open, surprised to find his foton pulled out and Yukine already in bed. Under the study lamp, his nose was buried in the cat book while Joo laid curled up on his lap as Yukine ran his hand down her back. The comment Kofuku made about cats being therapeutic came to mind and he had to admit, that thing made the whole scene look much softer. He walked over and peaked at a page.
"Cats, being natural-born hunters, move silently. Their retractable claws make it easy to stalk prey and pounce." The book read, directly under a photo of a fierce-looking tabby. Joo looked up at Yato and blinked. Yato ignored her.
"Hey kid, how's that book treating you?" Yato asked suddenly. Yukine jumped out of his skin and scared Joo off his lap.
"Yato! You scared me! When'd you even come in?" Yukine galred over his shoulder. It's amazing how often such a boisterous god sneaks up on him. Yato simply laughed and went to change in his pajamas.
"The book is good, mostly talks about behaviors and cats in general. I think care-taking is towards the end," Yukine closed the book and looked at the cover then looked around for Joo.
"What's there to take care of? It eats and shits in a box right next to each other." Yato scoffs as he crawls into bed. Joo came by and sniffed his pillow, only to be shooed back towards Yukine.
"There's more than that! Cats need exercise and to be brushed once in a while!" Yukine huffed back, scooping his cat back onto his futon. Yato scratched his head at his kid's uppity tone. Yukine wasn't even a quarter through the book and he was suddenly an expert.
"Alright. Just don't let it get in the way of your work," Yato nuzzled into his pillow.
"I know, I know," Yukine smirked over at his master, "After all, you get cranky when you don't get your daily exercise."
"It's the work of a God of Fortune! Not some ball on a string."
"Sure, Sure," Yukine settled under the covers and watched Joo kneed on his stomach and wrap her tail under her chin. His heart swelled when her body began to vibrate with every breath.
"Yato!" Yukine whispered, "Yato, she's purring!"
"I hear. That's good right?" Yato looked back over to his kid only to see an overly-excited face.
"Yes!" Yukine tried to whisper but it came out more as a breathy squeal. Joo didn't react, ear merly twitching at the pitch. Yato let out a breathy laugh and rolled back over, away from the lamp. Cats may be able to sleep anywhere but Yato's always prefered the dark. He just hoped Yukine wouldn't startle awake again and accidently fling the cat.
But, for the first night in a while, Yukine didn't wake up once. Not even to crawl into Yato's futon. No, Yukine slept soundly through the night. Yato on the other hand, was going to make Hiyori a new fur scarf if Joo decided to dig around in the litter box one more time. The god groaned and tried to burrow under his pillow. Yukine was happy but whether or not this cat was a good thing, Yato had yet to decide.
