Kami no Hāto

Punishment of a Goddess

As Kureha continued to explore the town, weaving through crowds of Near Shore residents. She quietly admired how the denizens of the Near Shore were so oblivious to the world around them. Fills with enemies try were unable to protect themselves from let alone see. They were cattle simply being herded by the Gods and Goddess they prayed to so much for salvation. And now she was the new Shepherd, who was not quite able to do the job she was destined to complete fully.

Kureha already knew why,and she also knew that until she freed herself from this accursed blight that she would forever be unable to complete her new perpose. She released a heavy sigh before a sudden familar burning sensation made its presence known to her. Kureha closed her eyes knowing that this was Nora's way of calling out to her. And how could ahw say no with such a warm and inviting invitation? Struggling to ignore the horrid blight slowly being set aflame on her flesh, Kureha walked. Stumbling through the city to the outskirts of its forest.

It was there that Kureha felt the familar icy touch of Nora who wrapped her arms around her shoulders,smirking into her hair. "You've returned,but...you've been very naughty Kureha." Nora breathed, her chilly touch causing the blight to increase its furry. Kureha through clenched teeth held back a cry before she spoke"I accept any punishment you see fit."She breathed as Nora smirked before pressing her hand against Kureha's neck sending a sudden tremor through her spine. Kureha gasped as the tremor turned into something truly horrid which forced her to her knees due to immense pain.

Nora watched with glee as Kureha tossed and tuned on the ground before her,refusing to allow the cold woman to hear her cries in pain. It appeared even in this life,Kureha was a nuisance. A nuisance that Nora wanted to destroy bit by bit to her own joy. The blight quickly crawled every inch of Kureha's body,leaving nothing but a never ending fire in its many paths. She gripped onto the ground underneath her with shaky hands holding back the urge to cry. Kureha with tears cascading down her cheeks stared towards the sky above.

She quietly blinked back her tears,feeling as if her very body was about to give out at any second due to the immense pain. Kureha gritted her teeth as she found herself arching her back in utter pain. She wanted it to end,she wanted to pain to subside and right now all she truly wanted to do was die. Nora enjoyed watching her enemy writhe in pain,smirking as Kureha's cries echoed throughout the forest. Tears cascaded down Kureha's cheeks,she forced her eyes closed feeling her entire body trembling under the immense pain. In her moment of weakness Kureha saw mere glimpses of her dear Yaboku rushing to her side as he always did.

But this time things had changed, she knew that he wouldnt be able to save her. Not now,and most likely not ever. She feared she had failed Yaboku along with herself. For she had hoped they could be together in this life. But once again fate was all too cruel to her. Kureha blinked away her newely forming tears as she slowly began to surrender herself to this evident pain,and most of all her end. 'At least....I got to see you again.'Kureha thought to herself, a weak smile forming on her lips as she spoke a single name.

A name she knew would anger Nora even more but it mattered not,she was dying anyway. The least she could do was speak the name of the man whom she shared her soul with. "Yaboku." Kureha whispered into the air as the sudden shriek of Nora made itself known to her. Slowly Kureha felt the burning of the blight begin to subside, but why? Hesitantly Kureha dared herself to open her eyes to see the brilliant form of the familar "God of Depravity" she had fallen for so long ago. "Yaboku." Kureha whispered hee voice seeming foreign to her.

She watched as Nora regained her composure,stepping towards Yato who's eyes seemed devoid of any emotion. "Yaboku-" Nora began only to be interrupted by a furious Yato. "Don't you dare call me that! NORA!" He screamed towards Nora causing her to flinch and cower at his sudden outburst. Thinking it best she leave Nora ran,thinking only to save her own skin. But she silently cursed Kureha for her predicament. She was always causing trouble for her. Slowly Yaro began to regain his composure before turning towards the weakened form of Kureha,who struggled to her feet.

Immediately Yato rushed to her side, careful not to touch her blight plagued flesh. "Kureha im-" Yato began only to be interrupted by Kureha who shook her head weakly. "You came...that's all that matters." She whispered tears of utter happiness rolling down her cheeks,as a weak but true smile formed on her lips. He had saves her once again,her strong Yatogami. Her Yato. Her Yaboku, always seemed to be there when she truly needed him. Slowly Kureha fell face first into Yato's chest her fatigue finally catching up with her. Yato peered down towards his love,no longer caring if the blight caused him pain. He held onto her,and promised himself that he would never let her go. Not again.