Wish ~Yato x Reader AU~

Chapter 28: Regalia

"How many more times do we need to go over this? Phantoms can't ever be a regalia, but a regalia can turn into a phantom," Yato whines, massaging his temples.

"No, I caught that part!" I defend. "I get that once you're phantom it's game over, but what can turn a regalia? Aren't they, I don't know, supposed to be holy and what not?"

I've been hammering Yato with multiple questions about the world of the gods and all that goes with them and, to my surprise, he's been answering them. At least, I assume he's been telling me the whole truth when it comes to all this. He could be lying straight to my face without my knowledge and I could be accepting it as the utter truth. I mean, how would I know?

"Ugh. All regalia were at one time living people," he huffs, motioning at me. "People like you; living, breathing, working, whatever."

I lift a brow. "Wait, they were? You mean they weren't born as regalia?"

"Bingo," he continues, giving me a thumbs up. "And just like a human who's still kickin', they are open to temptation and corruption. They have to be very careful and vigilant in order to remain as they are. Otherwise they turn in phantoms."

That is honestly not what I expected. Truthfully, I thought regalia were these holy beings who aided the god they served, in turn, making them untouchable by phantoms. That was what I initially believed, anyway. However, it seems that is not such. In the end, regalia were just humans at one time who are easily swayed if not careful. That's what I'm gathering.

I shake those thoughts from my head and press, "So, if regalia were once humans, then what turned them into, well, regalia?"

His keen eyes scan me briefly before he sighs, "Well, they died first." That stings to hear. "Then their spirit just drifted until a god like myself found them and gave them a name." He leans back in his seat and gets comfortable. "Once they're named, they are that specific god's regalia."

A twinge pulls at my chest. My thoughts can't help but drift to the more morbid part of what he's said. Regalia...they once were living, breathing people with lives and routines they followed. They woke up each morning, never expecting that one of those mornings would be their last. Even sadder is...Yukine. He's so young -barely a teenager. Barely breaking into that part of life where he's no longer a child, but not quite a man. If he's really...dead...then that's...that's just so...so sad. One minute he was alive and the next he woke up and...it's so morbid.

"Wow," I gasp, lowering my stare. "That's...that's so...poor Yukine."

Even without glimpsing up, I can feel Yato observing me, most likely staring into my soul before he breathes, "Maybe...but Yukine understands. He gets it, so don't go around feelin' sorry for him. He's in a good place."

I glance up at him, spitting, "A good place? How? The poor kid fucking died! Died! Can you imagine how upsetting and traumatic that is?"

"Don't try to push your emotions off onto me," he hisses, pointing a finger at me. "Yeah, I get that it's sad for you and maybe for them too, but regalia make peace with the fact that they can't go back. They get that. They understand that fact. And sure, maybe it's upsetting at times, but they get over it. So, don't go around pitying them and making them fall back into those emotions from before." He lowers his tone. "They don't deserve that. They don't deserve that at all."

I want to yell at him -to put him in his place for saying such things when it clicks. The look on his face...it is anger, but not anger at me for attempting to call him out, but for something else. It's an anger that's almost warning me. Warning me that he's...protecting Yukine. If what he has said is true, then that means Yukine has found that peace; that he's accepted he's dead. And though I can't imagine that being the case, it is clear Yato is serious about protecting what peace Yukine has.

To be honest, I find that sweet and endearing. I mean, with all their bickering and fighting, it's a side to Yato I never expected to come across. It's...cute...to see him protective like that. It's a nice change of pace.

The corners of my lips slightly draw up into a soft smile as I nod, "Okay. Got it. I'm sorry. You're right -they don't deserve that."

"Damn right I'm -wait, what?" he starts, perking up. His expressions melts from the fierce fire I'm growing accustom to into one that's gentle before a sly smirk bows his lips. "I mean, yeah...of course, I'm right! Glad that you finally see it my way."

I just giggle. It amazes me how quickly his personality can shift like that. It's rather impressive, to be honest. To bounce from playful and goofy to serious and protective is almost attractive. Hold it. I shake my head, trying to kick those feelings away. After all, I barely know this guy. He might be a god and all, but that doesn't change anything.

Still...he is kind of easy on the eyes.

**Ello lovelies! So, another shorter chapter today. But we can see where Yato stands with his feelings about the regalia. He clearly cares about them. He just wants to protect them. Well, that's all I really have to say today. Thank you so, so, soooo much for everything! Y'all are da bestest! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross