Ten Ways How

Summary: Hiyori could feel it, even if he hasn't said it outright. Hiyori felt it, that small pulse when he subtly says I love you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Noragami. Adachi Toka does.

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They were together.

Hiyori and Yato were finally together.

She didn't know how it had happened. Maybe it was because of all the pent-up frustration? Maybe it was because of the thundering rain that day? Or maybe it was simply because they less than 3 each other. Hiyori didn't know. It all passed by in a blur, she guessed it could only be revealed if she had a replay button. But she didn't. All she knew was that the feeling was there and she was happy they were together.

She really was, even if she had to make up excuses as to who her mystery boyfriend was ever since one of her human friends read her and Yato's conversation. It was so embarrassing, Hiyori wished she'd be swallowed by the earth and never to be pushed up again. You could only imagine how she was bombarded by question after question until she finally blew and ran for it. She was still happy, even if every time they went to Kofuku's, the poverty god would tease them and ask when they'd do IT. To their dismay, she still hasn't stopped since. Hiyori was still happy even if Tenjin would sometimes throw disapproving glances whenever she and Yato visited them.

But, after all this, there was still a time when her happiness was marred by the doubts that had floated in her mind. It was a lovely afternoon and Hiyori was walking with her mundane friends. Remember how they figured out that she had a mystery boyfriend? Well, they prodded and asked a question Hiyori never really pondered on: How did she feel whenever Yato would say the infamous phrase which is...

I love you.

The girl blushed but nevertheless, she thought about it. When did the god said those words, exactly? Where? She stopped, her cheerful demeanor suddenly fading.

He hasn't said it once. Yato still hasn't the words exactly… Yet.

Yes, in all the time they've been together, they haven't exchanged a single "I love you" verbally. Initially, Hiyori brooded and tried to subtly hint at the blue-eyed god to say the words (and failing) but after a good night's rest, she understood. She didn't need to hear Yato verbally saying it.

For she could feel, hear and see it. Everyday.

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First way how:

She felt it a few months back, they were out for ice cream with Yukine. The sun had been beating hard on them after a job Yato had to do (he dragged Yukine and Hiyori, unfortunately) and they needed to cool off. Very badly. Yukine's body was soaked with sweat from head to toe, a brooding expression on his face as he dragged his feet on the pavement.

"Yato..." Yukine growled, pointing a deathly stare at his supposed "master", "Remind me again why you just HAD to take that awful job? I mean, who would accept an offer to clean an attic?! In this weather!" Yukine yelled at him, his arms flailing wildly around him, "We're all sweating bullets and I've welts all over my body, take responsibility, oh wise god!"

"To answer your first question, I had to take it because there was a super lucky lucky pot I had to buy." Yato grinned while whipping out a badly dented metal pot. He pulled it to his face and rubbed his cheeks against the clearly rotting piece of garbage, "They say, if I kept it with me at all times, I'll be supah supah mega lucky!" he turned to the irritated half-phantom, "Ne Hiyoriii, want to hug it next?"

Hiyori's head slowly turned to him, the air around the group suddenly dropping to 0 degrees. The tension behind Hiyori's smile was so thick, it made Yukine gulp and inch a little bit away from his two companions. Her smile screamed 'Run for the hills, idiot.' But we all know the jersey-wearing god won't get the message. Yato quirked his eyebrows at her, expecting a reply. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get to hear her answer, because in the blink of an eye, Hiyori had done the savate and the poor poor god was turned to a clearly rotting piece of garbage. Just like his beloved pot.

"TAKE THAT POT WITH YOU AND HIDE, BECAUSE ONCE I SEE YOU AGAIN, I'D TURN YOU INTO MORE THAN A STUPID POT!"

Hiyori wasn't one to resort to force immediately, in fact she prides herself for being patient, but Yato… Yato knew how to push her buttons sometimes. He knew just what to do to invoke a feeling from her, especially that specific feeling Hiyori just discovered she had for the god. It was weird. It was Yato. She sighed and looked behind her, sure she was slightly angry at him but her anger could only last so long when he was that charming.

The first time they met, if someone were to tell her that the raven haired and jersey-wearing twit was charming, she knew she'd laugh at the comment and say: "That guy? Really?". But now she begged to differ. Funny how spending a lot of time with them would change her opinion. Hiyori smiled to herself when Yato got up, and jogged back to them. He was cute that way, she supposed.

"Ne, ne Hiyori." Yato cooed as he walked beside Hiyori, She turned to him and tried her best to act displeased. It wasn't always she got a chance like this. Scratch that. She always got a chance like this one, where he'd apologize for something stupid he had done, but he was too cute like this. It makes her somehow forget he was once the god of calamity. Her thoughts suddenly took a grim turn. She accepted that part of Yato, but you can't blame her for being afraid sometimes.

"Hiyori?" The sound of his voice snapped her out of her trance.

"Oh y-yeah?" she stopped and cleared her throat, berating herself how he made her lose her guard.

"I mean, what Yato?" she said with feint anger. Yato gulped, a wary look on his face, he looked at Yukine who was behind them and asked his regalia, Will I live through this?

To which Yukine rolled his eyes to and replied with a, There's a probability you won't, but when did that ever stop you?

Despite the snappy undertone, Yato puffed his chest and shot a grateful look at Yukine before turning back to Hiyori, the words flowing out of his mouth easily, "Let me treat you to ice cream?"

Her eyes momentarily widened before a blush settled on her cheeks, her façade long been dropped.

She hadn't expected that. The broke god of fortune? Offering to treat her to ice cream? She didn't know what was more shocking, that Yato would spend money on her like that, or the fact that the way he was standing so close, his scent overwhelming her senses, made her heart beat fast and the sound of the town fade into the background. She pondered on this and chuckled, holding a hand to her lips.

"Yeah, I'd like that" she smiled at him before turning back, grabbing Yukine's hand and dragging the regalia to the ice cream parlor. A laugh erupted from her throat, her eyes landing at the god, I wasn't really angry, Yato, but thank you.

Then next move Yato did, made Hiyori's blush deepen against her cheeks and her heart hammer in her chest. He looked at her with a knowing and gentle smile, quietly saying, I know.

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AN: This'll be a 10 chapter story. Not sure when I'll be posting again 'cause, you know, responsibilities. Haha, anyway…. REVIEW AND LEAVE A FEEDBACK! :D I love em, it makes me wanna do a cartwheel (even if I don't know how to. That's the power of a review, I suppose. Haha) :D Constructive criticisms are supreme too, I don't have a beta-reader so the criticisms are all I've got to advise me. THANK YOU FOR READING!