Lifeline (Noragami Kazuma Fanfic)

Impurity

Kazuma's P.O.V.

"Dammit!"

"Run!"

"Not again!"

I sat up in bed and looked out of the window. A God I didn't recognize was fighting Veena-sama. I struggled to my feet when I saw that the God was going for her blind spot.

"Veena-sama!" A voice screamed.

I watched in horror as Midori ran across the open yard. She tackled the God from behind and wrestled with him. It felt as though my heart shattered when he growled and drove the tip of his sword into her chest. I could see the blood spew from her mouth, and she became still when he yanked the weapon free.

"No!" Veena-sama screamed.

I ran from the infirmary and headed outside. Veena-sama got the God to move away from Midori, so I ran to her.

"Midori!" I yelled.

Her eyes were draining of their beautiful golden color as her life spilled onto the ground. I held her close.

"Ka....zu......ma...." She croaked.

She dipped her fingertips in her own blood and drew on my cheek. I tried to make sense of the writing she did.

"Sycki....." She whispered, dropping her hand.

I stared at her for a moment. Her Kanji, barely visible from her clothing, wasn't disappearing. My head snapped up as I looked at Veena-sama.

"Veena! Call for her!" I begged.

"Sycki!" My Master growled.

Midori seemed to glow, and the Kanji at the base of her neck hovered off of her body as she went to Veena-sama. I slowly got to my feet when I realized what was happening. Veena-sama's wrist glowed, signalling Midori's appearance. When the light diminished, there sat an entire set of cherry blossom adorned bracelets.

"Prison!" Midori's voice growled.

The God became trapped within a triangular prison, causing him to slam into the walls.

"Karu. Kinu. Kazu. Mido." Veena-sama said.

The four turned back into human spirits. Midori smiled as the two children hugged her.

"Midori-chan!" They cheered.

Midori laughed.

~~~

"It's like she was never even injured. She can move around without even flinching."

I stood with Veena-sama and Kuraha. Midori was playing tag with Karuha and Kazuha. I froze when I saw something on the back of Midori's neck.

"Midori-chan? Can you come here?" I asked.

Midori tilted her head before running up to me. I made her turn around, and both Veena-sama and Kuraha gasped when they saw what I had. An impurity covered nearly every inch of the back of Midori's neck.

"Midori, what have you done?" I asked.

"I didn't do anything wrong." She replied.

"You knew who that God was, didn't you?" Kuraha asked.

"Of course I do. He was my previous Master."

I sighed made her face me again. "Midori, tell me if you did anything that would hurt Veena-sama."

"I already told you." She muttered. "It wasn't me. Someone else did."

"Then why do you have an impurity if it was someone else who did it?"

"It's one of my abilities."

I stared at her. She avoided eye contact until I touched her cheeks with my fingertips.

"Midori-chan, please tell me who it is. I don't want the blame to be put on you." I whispered.

"I can't, Kazuma-kun. I made a promise not to tell, and I can't break my promises."

~~~

"Which one of you is it?"

"Kazuma! Calm down!"

"Don't tell me to calm down, Veena-sama! Look at what has happened to Midori! She hasn't even been here for more than a day!"

Midori tapped my shoulder. I looked at her, and my gaze instantly softened.

"Yes, Midori?" I muttered.

"It got worse." She lowered her head.

"Tell me who is doing this."

"I can't!"

Veena-sama walked away. I pulled Midori close and touched the back of her neck.

"Midori-chan, I need to know who it is."

"I already told you, Kazuma. I made a promise to keep it a secret."

"What will make you tell me?"

"Nothing. I don't break promises."

"Midori...."

She shook her head and buried her face with her hands. I sighed and hugged her.

"I want to tell you, Kazuma-kun. Believe me. I just physically can't. Not unless...." She shook her head again.

"Unless what, Midori?"

"My previous Master put a curse on me so I wouldn't reveal his secrets."

"And that curse does what?"

"I can't tell a secret unless someone kisses me."

"And why would he do that to you?"

"He claimed that I wasn't pretty enough for anyone to love."

I rolled my eyes and cupped her face with my hands. She caught my wrist a second before I pressed my lips to hers. She hesitated before she kissed me back.

"K-Kazuma......?"