𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬| Yatori

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭

Hiyori Iki raced down the narrow alley, her heart pounding against her ribcage. She could hear the haunting whispers of the phantom behind her, its presence a chill in the air that made her skin crawl. With every step, she fought to suppress the fear clawing at her throat.

"Yato! Yukine! Where are you?" Hiyori shouted, her voice echoing off the grimy brick walls.

She turned a corner, nearly slipping on the slick pavement as she pressed on, adrenaline fueling her flight. In the distance, she could see Yato and Yukine engaged in a fierce battle with the phantom, a dark, swirling mass that seemed to absorb the light around it.

"Stay back, Hiyori!" Yato's voice rang out, laced with urgency. His eyes, usually filled with mischief, were now steely and focused. "It's dangerous!"

Hiyori skidded to a halt, her resolve hardening. "I'm not leaving you! You know I can help!"

The phantom lunged at Yato, its jagged mouth opening wide as if to devour him whole. Hiyori's instincts kicked in; she rushed forward, feeling a surge of power from her spirit connection. She would not let Yato face this alone.

"Yato, look out!" Hiyori yelled, launching herself at him just as the phantom struck.

Clash!

The impact knocked her off balance, and she tumbled to the ground, but not before she saw Yato's expression shift from determination to horror. He reached out to her, but it was too late.

"NO!"

Yato's voice echoed as he swung his katana, slicing through the phantom's misty form. Hiyori winced as she felt a sharp pain radiate from her tail, the phantom's teeth grazing her spiritual connection.

"I'll get you out of this!" Yato shouted, but his words were drowned out by the phantom's growls and the chaos of the battle.

"Hiyori!"

Yukine's sword form darted around Yato, striking at the phantom while trying to protect Hiyori. "Get to safety! We can handle this!"

Hiyori gritted her teeth, feeling the warmth of her blood rush to her head. She would not be a helpless bystander. The phantom roared, its form flickering as if it were half alive, half a nightmare.

"Enough!" Hiyori yelled, pushing herself to her feet. She could feel the energy pulsing within her, the need to protect the ones she loved overpowering her fear. With a fierce determination, she focused on the phantom, gathering her spiritual strength.

"Yato, cover me!" she commanded, her voice steady despite the chaos.

Yato glanced at her, surprise and admiration flashing in his eyes. "What are you—"

BAM!

Hiyori launched herself at the phantom, the energy swirling around her like a protective shield. She drew upon her own spirit, letting it surge through her and transform into a brilliant light. The phantom shrieked, recoiling from the brightness.

"Now!" Hiyori cried, her spirit illuminating the alley like a beacon.

Yato seized the moment, his katana gleaming as he charged forward. "Let's finish this!" He swung with precision, combining their strengths. The phantom writhed in agony as the combined attack hit its mark, splitting its dark form.

Slice!

Yato's blade cut through the remaining shadows, and with a final, pained roar, the phantom disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only a whisper of its malevolence in the air.

Silence.

Hiyori collapsed to her knees, panting heavily, her heart racing. Yato rushed to her side, his expression filled with concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, kneeling beside her.

Hiyori forced a smile, but the pain in her tail was becoming overwhelming. She glanced back, and her breath caught in her throat. Blood trickled from the wound, a reminder of how close she had come to losing everything.

"I'm fine," she lied, trying to wave it off. "Just a scratch."

Yato's gaze narrowed, the warmth in his eyes shifting to something's darker. "That's not just a scratch, Hiyori." He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch sending a wave of comfort through her. "You need to be more careful."

"I had to help! You couldn't take all of that on your own," she replied defiantly, her voice shaky.

The tension between them crackled, a mix of frustration and relief hanging in the air. Hiyori could see the worry etched into Yato's features, and it made her heart ache.

"Next time, let us handle it," Yukine chimed in, transforming back into his human form, a worried frown on his face. "You're not a god, Hiyori. You can't take these risks."

"I know, but..." Hiyori started, her voice trailing off as she felt the weight of their concern. "I couldn't just stand there and watch."

"Sometimes, standing back is the bravest thing you can do," Yato said softly, his eyes locking onto hers. "You mean too much to me to take those kinds of risks."

Hiyori felt her heart flutter, the sincerity in his words wrapping around her like a warm embrace. But then a pang of doubt crept in. Did he really mean it? Or was it just his instinct to protect anyone who mattered to him?

"Yato, I..." Hiyori hesitated, caught in the whirlwind of emotions. But just then, the pain from her tail surged again, making her wince.

"Let's get you home," Yato urged, rising to his feet and offering her his hand.

Hiyori took it, feeling the warmth of his grip. But even as they began to walk away from the remnants of the battle, a sense of unease settled in her stomach. She glanced back at the dark alley, where shadows seemed to linger a moment longer than they should.

"Will we really be okay?" she asked quietly, looking up at Yato, whose expression softened.

"As long as we're together, we'll be fine," he replied, confidence filling his voice. "I promise."

The words hung in the air between them, a promise that both comforted and terrified her.