You who would desecrate this land of the rising sun…

Yato deftly slashed through the ayakashi, closing his eyes as it exploded and blazed into a brilliant white supernova. He lightly stepped out onto the gray pavement, the empty street lit by twilight. He stood up straight and grinned. Twirling his swords around, he held them in front of him.

"Yukine."

The icy silver blades glowed and flew out of his hands. A young boy shook out his head and looked over to the side at Yato. His frame glowed softly for a minute before fading back into him. "That wasn't that hard, was it?" He rolled his shoulders and stretched.

Yato grinned and gave him a thumbs up. "Not at all! We're getting good at this! Soon we'll definitely be a super cool duo! Just think…" He trailed off. Yukine could practically see the invisible crown hovering above his head and the imaginary gold coins raining from nowhere.

He mentally facepalmed. "Oh, come on...What are you thinking of?! You're just a small-fry god who can't even get an official shrine! You don't even make money for yourself!" He crossed his arms and exasperatedly looked at the god.

Yato looked to the side and his face turned a little red. "Y-yeah well...that's just 'cause…"

"Yato! Yukine!" A young girl wearing a pink scarf rounded the corner and frantically waved at them, a look of relief on her face.

Oh, hey Hiyori!" Yato waved enthusiastically.

Yukine sighed and let it slide. It's not like it's the first time he's gotten caught in his fantasies... "Hi, Hiyori. What's going on?" He looked up and blushed a little.

She stopped to take a breath, putting her hands on her knees "Just saw the ayakashi and came running to see if you guys were alright. Ahaha...I was worrying for nothing, of course." She stood up and rubbed her head sheepishly.

Yato grinned at her. "Course you were!" He held up a peace sign and slung an arm around the irritated Yukine. "That's cuz me and Yukin-"

"A-anyways, Hiyori, why don't you stop by Kofuku's with us? You can have dinner there too." Yukine quickly pushed Yato away and looked up shyly at Hiyori, flushing red a little.

Hiyori stared at them curiously for a minute, but smiled. "Sure, why not?"

"Thanks for the meal!"

Kofuku smiled widely "Not a problem~! Have as much as you want!" She toddled around the bright room, clearly ecstatic to have so many people over.

Her shinki, however, glared at the vagrant god across from him. "Tch...they're always here these days! Don't you guys have somewhere to go?!"

Yato looked up from his gorging for a minute and gave Daikoku a look. "What, got a problem with us being here?" He said through a mouthful food

"Oh, I don't know, maybe you can start doing something, you freeloader!" ("Nya~Don't a meanie, Daikky!") He leaned over the table to get closer.

Yato leaned closer too. "Yeah? Well-"

Hiyori quickly cut between them. "Yato's just a little out of it. ("H-hey!") He drank a little when you guys made dinner, so you can just ignore him." She whacked Yato hard on the head.

Kofuku laughed heartily and waved it off, nearly sending the chicken on her fork flying. "No, no. it's quite alright! Yatty's just like that sometimes!"

Hiyori smiled and looked out the open door to see the garden. "But it is true, they're always around here…" She thought for a minute. "If it really bothers you two, they can stay over at my house tonight...wha-no, not like that!" She quickly withdrew her statement from the gleaming Kofuku. "W-we just have plenty of empty rooms for them to stay at if you guys need a break, that's all!" She turned red at Kofuku's thoughts.

Daikoku wrapped an arm around his master and replied before anyone else could add to the conversation. "That would be splendid. Thanks, Hiyori." He shot Yato a triumphant look. "Hmph." He muttered something before returning to his food.

Yato hmph'd back. "Old geezers these days" He shook his head mournfully.

"What was that, you bastard?!"

"Ah~ It's been a while since we've been at Hiyori's place!" Yato flopped down on the soft bed. Hiyori had snuck them in and lent them the room next to hers for them to stay in for the night. It was rather empty, with just a closet and a desk, but it had two separate beds, and they really couldn't complain about it. "Dontcha think so?" Yukine didn't reply, but was staring off into space. Yato tilted his head and stared at him. "...Hey, Yukine?"

"Wha-Oh, sorry, what was that?"

"Do you get the feeling…" Yato rolled over to look at the ceiling. "...Something feels a bit off today."

Yukine thought for a minute. "Hm...nothing was really out of the ordinary. I don't really feel it..."

"Mm...really now?"

"Yeah, why? Is there something bothering you?" Yukine rolled over to look at him, but Yato was already fast asleep. He shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. "Or not…"

"Smells...good…"

Hiyori awoke and sat up in her bed. Wh-what the heck…? What time is it…She drearily rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. It's three in the morning what could hav-

"SmE-eLLs...goOd…"

She froze.

Oh.

I see.

She quietly slipped out of her room into the dark hallway and made her way to where Yato and Yukine were. She shivered as the ayakashis cried louder and louder, each moan echoing around the corridor. Because she knew she really couldn't stand much against one, not to mention it was scarily dangerous to be going in and out of her body in the first place (If the stupid Yato would just find a way…), she was honestly rather terrified of ayakashi. She raised her trembling hand and knocked very quietly on the room Yato and Yukine were staying at before letting herself in. "Hey, guys…?"

On a second glance, she could tell they were both completely stoned. She let out a sigh. Well, they're not waking up, so I guess it's okay…

"NoTHhiNg's EveR oKAy."

Hiyori flinched at the wail of the ayakashi. "Urgh...I-I guess I could just stay in here for tonight." She whispered to herself as she sidled into the room and slowly closed the door.

"Hiyori?"

She nearly jumped out of her body. "A-ah! Sorry for intruding…"

Yato sat up in the bed. "Nah, it's fine. You heard it too?"

"Yes, but where…?"

He shook his head and rubbed his temple. "It's nearby. I can't pinpoint where it is but...it's definitely nearby. It probably won't bother us, so I'll deal with it tomorrow." His blue eyes pierced the darkness, searching.

Hiyori shivered. "In that case...Is it okay if I stay here?"

Yato blinked. "Well, yeah sure, why not?"

"W-well, because, well...oh, nevermind." She curled up and drew her legs closer to her. "Good night."

…

Yato cleared his throat. "You…"

Hiyori looked up. "?"

"You...plan on sleeping...like that?" He pointed at Hiyori, who was curled up against the wall hugging a pillow she had stolen from Yukine's bed. He mentally shook his head, the image didn't really fit right.

She cocked her head. "There's not another bed around so…"

Yato scoffed. "Don't be daft. There's one right here."

What...? Hiyori blinked. "Y-yeah, but you're using it. It's fine to sleep like this, and besides, it's just for one night."

Yato gave her a look. "Yeah, but...no. It's your house anyways, you shouldn't be sleeping on the floor. Come on, get in." He sidled over to the wall side of the bed and patted the space beside him.

"N-No! Really, I'm fine here!" Hiyori managed to keep her voice down, although she was panicking. He really doesn't get it, does he…She sighed. "It's not that big of a deal, Yato."

Yato groaned and got out of the bed, making his way over to Hiyori. He grabbed her by the hand and walked her over to the bed. "Just use the bed, Hiyori. I need to go out for a minute anyways." He threw the blanket over her and glanced at her once before turning away. Hiyori tried to get a look at his expression, but it was too dark.

She was torn. Ah...but…"W-Wait...Yato."

He angled his head to look at her. "Yeah?"

"..." She shifted on the bed "If you're really going to insist on letting me have the bed, then I guess we...we can share it…" She scooched over to the wall and looked away.

Yato sighed. "If that's how it going to play out, don't make such a big deal out of it, Hiyori." The sheets shifted a little and the bed creaked slightly as he got in. Hiyori tensed, her face scarlet red. Hiyori squeezed her eyes shut and turned around to stare at the wall. You...She quietly facepalmed. I really am making a big deal out of it. She blinked several times at the blank wall some more, thinking about the day. Although it had been several months since her accident, she really still wasn't used to interacting with gods.

"SMellS gOoD"

Hiyori's thoughts stopped and she tensed. She shut her eyes and drew the blankets in a little closer. It's gonna be a long night…

"Hiyori?" Yato lightly touched her on the arm.

"A-ah, yes?"

"There's nothing to worry about, you know." He tugged on Hiyori's arm to turn her around to face him. "Really. Me and Yukine will always be there for you, so don't be so scared." His face was serious.

Hiyori turned a little pink. "Th-thanks, Yato." She smiled a little and relaxed.

Yato let out a sigh of relief and moved in a little closer. "It's fine." He wrapped one arm around Hiyori's shoulders protectively and closed his eyes. Her head rested against his chest, and she could feel the edge of his chin on top of her head. Hiyori drowsily closed her eyes and buried her face in his shirt. He...as usual, he smells...very nice.

Hiyori flushed and tried to untangle herself, but Yato was already fast asleep, and she really didn't want to wake him up again. She briefly contemplated her situation before groaning quietly and settling down. Ah...I guess it's okay...and he's pretty warm...She closed her eyes.

"Ah...Agh!"

Hiyori's eyes shot open. "Yukine…?" She looked up and unsuccessfully tried to look over Yato.

"Yato...Yato!" She shook him a little.

"Mm...Yeah?" His cat-like eyes opened slowly to look at her.

"Yukine...He…" Hiyori gently lifted Yato's arm and look over him. "Yukine!" She gasped. Yukine was covered in patches of maroon. Yato turned over to see what was the problem and his eyes widened. He quickly shot out of bed and rolled Yukine over.

"Ah...Ya...to…?" Yukine's face was also in the same state, but even more alarming, his usually red name imprinted on his collarbone was slowly turning gray. His breathing was labored, and the maroon was clearly spreading rapidly around his body.

"Yato, what…" Hiyori sat down next to him.

"It's a very rare ayakashi poison. It'll slowly drain him until he fades away."

"How...how do we cure him?"

"We'll need purified water, a God, Shinki, and...well, an ayakashi."

"An ayakashi? How do we do that?"

"..." Yato looked at her desperately. "I...I don't know." He looked away and stood up. "First of all, let's get a shinki and holy water. We'll figure out how to get an ayakashi somehow." He shrugged on his jacket, which had been lying over the chair by the desk. He turned steely eyes on Yukine, and then Hiyori. "Come on, let's go."

Hiyori nodded and looked up, then gasped. She quickly grabbed his hand and tugged on his jersey, rising up. "But...Yato…" She leaned in close and lightly touched his face. "You…"

"What?" Yato searched her frantic eyes. "What happened?"

"...Yato, you have it too." His face tensed and he quickly grabbed her hand, ripping it away.

"Ow, Yato, what-"

At that moment, she felt a stab in her hand that was on his cheek and slowly raised it.

There, in the center, was a small spot of scarlet.

"Kofuku! Kofuku!"

"Ye~es? Ah! Hiyori, what's-" She stopped. "Wha-" She took a step to see what was wrong.

"N-no! Don't come too close. it might get on you too!" Hiyori's face was spotted with blazing red spots, and she stumbled away from the house. She tripped and fell onto the hard cobblestone, scratching her hands.

"Is that...Achlys?" She tentatively reached out a hand to Hiyori's gasping figure.

Daikoku caught it and quietly shook his head. "How bad is it?" he murmured to Hiyori. He wouldn't meet her gaze, but instead stared at the nearby bonsai.

"Pretty bad...Yukine's almost covered and Yato can barely stand...Please! We need to help them!"

"Of course we will! But…"

Hiyori saw the uncertainty in Kofuku's eyes. "Ah...the ayakashi…"

She nodded and looked away. "Y-You see, the process works by moving the poison to a different entity, one that either serves as a scapegoat or has a counter to the poison. But...one's never subdued a ayakashi before, u-unless…" She trailed off. She didn't need to say anymore. It couldn't be done.

Hiyori could feel her blood running cold. "But...but then…there's nothing we can do, then!" Her head spun dizzily, and she slumped to the floor. This can't be happening. No way. Yato and Yukine and…

"H-Hiyori!" Daikoku pulled Kofuku away. "I…" She stopped.

Daikoku turned away. "I'm sorry, Hiyori, but...there's really nothing we can do in this situation..." He spared one last glance at her before losing it and stumbling back into the house.

"If only…" Kofuku's voice cracked and she turned away. She slowly made her way onto the steps and sat down.

Hiyori forced out a smile. And to think everything was completely normal yesterday... "It's okay, Kofuku. I still have the afterlife ahea-" She stopped.

…

"Hey, Kofuku?" Hiyori whispered.

"Yes, Hiyori?" Kofuku said in an equally soft tone.

"Does it have to be an ayakashi? I mean, as the like, 'sacrifice?'"

"Well, technically, it could be any kind of spirit...but it's unrealistic to think of using anything but an ayakashi…"

"Kofuku…" Hiyori looked down at her red, bloody hands, and the even redder poison creeping up her wrists. Ah, I see. She softly laughed to herself. This is how it's supposed to be...

"H-Hiyori?"

"Use me instead."

Yay, first chapter! Hey guys, it's y2k here. It's my first Noragami fanfiction (and the only FF I have posted currently orz;) so please be easy with the reviews! I'm not very good at writing fluffy things, as that's generally not the kind of person I am but...y-you know... \\\\

S-so anyways! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please leave a review for what I can do better, I'd really, really appreciate it~

Just to clear things up, the title, Pyromanical was just something I thought was decently nice for a title, and also because the poison spreads rapidly and hits hard. There's really not much to it, but I wanted to clear things up. Also, when Kofuku asks if it's "Achlys," that's the name I gave the poison. Achlys is the god of poison, I believe, in Greek mythology, and besides, it sounds cool (Better than Nessus, anyways...)

So anywoozles, that's all for now, if you guys have any questions about the story, please PM me. I'll consider any suggestions you guys give, but I will not guarantee that they will actually make it into the story. See you guys in the next chapter!

Noragami absolutely positively DOES NOT belong to me-I'm not cool enough to come up with something like that.