I've Changed... A Lot... (Noragami Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

Yato stood on top of the wooden fence, looking at his reflection in the lake. Almost 20 years ago, he stood here, with Hiyori. He had only known Hiyori for two weeks then.

"No matter how much I try to forget... Everything I see, everything I do, everything I say... All I can do is think of them..." Yato whispered as he watched a few leaves gently fall to the lake's surface, distorting his reflection. "It hurts to remember, though... And I wish I could forget... I've become pathetic! Just wandering around here for ten years! No Regalia for ten years! I'm a god! And a god of calamity, at that! It's time I started acting like one!"

'Now I'll need a Regalia... But where to find one?'

"Hey! Yato! What're you doing up there!? You could fall you know!" Kiyoshi shouted as he ran up to Yato.

Yato rolled his eyes before turning around and jumping down from the fence. "Well, now I won't fall," Yato replied with a slightly irritated tone.

"Is something bothering you again? You ca-"

"What do you mean, again?"

"Uh... Haha, did I say again? Haha, must've been a slip of the tongue!" Kiyoshi replied nervously, rubbing the back of his head and looking down.

"Kiyoshi... Have you been following me around?" Yato asked with an accusatory tone.

"Ye- I mean, no! O-of course not! Haha, why would I be doing that!? Haha, well, look, it's getting dark out! Uh... See you later, Yato!" Kiyoshi hurriedly tried to walk away, only to be stopped by Yato stepping in front of him.

"Kiyoshi."

"What?"

"It's broad daylight."

"Oh... Um... Well... Bye!" Kiyoshi dashed off before Yato could do anything.

Yato rested his head in his palm for a short moment. 'Might as well see what he's up to...' He thought before quietly following the young boy.

"Hmm... Where could he have gone? I'm sure he went this way..." He muttered. "Oh well. I'm sure that wasn't the last time I'll be seeing him... Still. I wonder why he was following me around... And even more so, how come he hasn't forgotten me, like anyone else would? Either way. I need to focus on finding a Regalia now."

***

After a few long hours of searching, Yato was not successful. The sun began to descend, and he decided to call it a night.

'I didn't think it would be this damn hard to find one uncorrupted soul around here... Whatever, I'll search more tomorrow,' Yato thought before drifting off to sleep on the wooden floor of a shrine. Not his, of course. Some other god's.

However, not all was quiet. Not far away, the leaves of a large bush rustled and a few branches were moved temporarily out of the way by two pale hands. "Well Yato... It certainly has been awhile. And look at you! Ha, you're pathetic! Still no Regalia. Not even after ten years? Well, you better find one soon..." A voice spoke, ending with a small chuckle. "I'll see you again soon, Yato..."