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“Yato!” Yukine stumbled, “Yato, slow down!”
The cobblestone streets were filled with music and dancing, confetti rained over people in masks and funny hats. Drunken townspeople swayed around performers on stilts as the inhabitants of this port-side city celebrated to their heart's content. While it made blending in a little easier, Yukine didn’t like taking port right near a military base. He pulled his crimson bandana over sweaty blonde bangs as light eyes darted around for any army men. It was hard to keep his head on a swivel, while also trying to follow the obnoxious golden feather that swayed off the blue hat of his captain. The teen took a glance back to make sure the crew was still pushing their way through the crowd before he continued forward.
“Yato please, stop!”
But his captain marched forward, seemingly able to part the sea of pedestrians with nothing but his unwavering gaze.
The man was nothing like the rumors that surrounded him. He was a jovial captain who carried around a knight’s sword, rather than a traditional pirate’s blade. Yato was someone who let anyone on board no matter how shady; a man who spent all his booty the moment it was in his sticky fingers, and who had to beg his crew to call him ‘captain.’ (Which they never did without gagging or tossing him overboard). The man was nothing like his nickname ‘Black Sword’ nor did he act as though he wasn’t the fearsome captain of the Calamity. No, he was the man who took Yukine in and who didn’t make Yukine walk the plank when he was caught stealing; instead letting Yukine have a bed in the captain's quarters and called him second-in-command. To Yukine, he was something like a father, with lofty dreams and the determination to conquer the seven seas.
But Yukine didn’t see that man now.
“Hey!” The cook, Daikoku, barked from over the cheering, “would you knock it off already? Come on, this is ridiculous!” His hollar was followed up with more shouts from the crew, declaring Yato’s silly fantasy was being taken too far.
All their pleas went unnoticed as Yato marched towards the steps of the grand cathedral in the center of the city; as a dark hostility rolling off the shoulders of his dark coat. It was a stark contrast to the celebration around them, whispers of the greatest love story ever told and the prosperity it would bring.
The royal wedding.
Yukine tried to call out to Yato again but it was as if the man were under some sort of curse. That would have been easier, since they’ve run into sirens and cursed objects, and other dangers across the sea. No, instead their captain was walking straight toward his doom of his own volition, heavy boots thudding next to Yukine’s sandals like the march of a dying soldier. He never once tried to sooth Yukine, or convince him of some grand plan that would all work out, or even turn his pout to the teen and whine about things not going his way. Instead, the captain of the Calamity had only a whisper of a frown marring his blank expression.
He didn’t even bother to hide the object tucked under his arm, clasping the priceless treasure in his hand like he held it more often than his sword.
Because, it was everything they’ve ever wanted. It was the reason behind every move they made. The reason the Calamity went to the underworld and back for it - quite literally - and fought against every type of man, woman, and beast to secure it. It was what Yato risked their lives for, what kept Yato awake at night slaving over maps and puzzles, and the very reason the captain and his calamity came to be.
“Hey! You there! Stop!” Sergeant Kuraha spotted them immediately as they stepped through the crowd wall.
“Its the Calamity!”
“Black Sword!”
“Where’s the Sergeant Major?”
“What did you do to Bishamon, you fiend?”
“Someone alert the royal knights!”
Yukine immediately halted, breath caught, as an entire platoon shouted in alarm and readied their weapons. Why? Why did they do this? They had parked The Calamity right outside the capital - right at death's door - where anyone could sink her. They had lost Sergeant Major Bishamon in Izanami’s triangle, but surely she was still hot on their tail. Even if the army had no rifles due to a request from the bride, there were too many. Yato and his crew would be arrested and hanged for all their crimes if they weren’t killed in the scuffle first. The army drew their swords and readied themselves, the crew doing the same.
“Come on, we can still turn back. We can lose them in the crowd.” Daikoku growled behind them.
“Yato, please, we-we don’t even know if that thing holds any actual power!” Yukine hissed.
Their captain remained undeterred.
“...Yatty…?” Kofuku, the ship’s gunner, removed her maroon hat from her curly pink hair.
“Yatty, please, we know you really care for this girl and- and even if it is true, and you were childhood friends…that was a long time ago…we just don’t want to see you get hurt.” She said.
“And I doubt the poor future princess wants a pirate to crash her wedding either.” Officer Take grumbled from beside his other seamen. Some seemed to have already turned tail and run, or at least tapered off to find a bar until their captain limped back to ship with a few scratches and a broken heart. Yukine gasped when an army man finally ran forward, spear raised high.
“Die, Black Sword!” The weapon didn’t have a chance to sing through the air before Yato took two steps and nearly cut the man in two.
The crew took a frighted step back, the captain took one more step to kick the soldier into the ground. The man fell hard, gasping as his blood stained his coat a darker red. This wasn’t the playful parries and thrusts of a silly pirate who pulled people’s hats in front of their eyes or yanked down their pants to win a fight before traipsing across rooftops. The Black Sword before them was a man on a single mission with nothing to lose and everything to gain; a single swing, a declaration of war.
“Welp,” Daikoku readied two pistols, “I guess that’s that then. Why do you always have to learn things the hard way?”
Yato paid them no mind, continuing on his path forward, only breaking stride to strike down body after body. The army broke their lines from the path up to the cathedral and keeping the crowd at bay to lunge, only to be knocked back. Yukine ducked under the swing of a spear, stabbing his dagger into the man’s knee and pushing him aside. Yato was at the stairs now, never once looking back at the people who fought by his side.
Daikoku came up and grabbed Yukine, “come on, kid, let’s go. He’s not thinking straight.” The cook and his wife followed after the teen as they caught up to their captain. Those that were meant to be guarding the church door now laid at God’s feet, unmoving, as Yato kicked open heaven’s door.
The royal wedding was a truly grand affair, with fancy white flowers and fabric strewn about the ceiling and floor, leading straight to the alter. Colors dappled acorss the blank canvasses from grand stained glass windows, staining every expensive cloth worn by varies elites and aristocrats. At the very center, as if the sun herself illuminated the pair, was the prince of their country and his bride, covered in a veil. It was clear no one inside thought much of the commotion outside, their cushioned lives making them think they were safe enough to chalk it up to partygoers. The serene air of the church shattered like glass and the peaceful attentends jumped to their feet with a gasp.
Yato continued his march down the isle.
“H-hey!” Yukine hissed, glancing nervously at the petrified expressions of the attentends.
Ahead, the prince bared his teeth and narrowed his crimson eyes. Yato stopped in the center of the church, Yukine halting beside him.
“You.” The prince spat with such venom Yukine felt his own heart shutter.
“That banished knight from years ago…Yaboku.”
“It’s Yato now,” Yato growled back, “and that’s Captain to you.”
The prince’s eyes narrowed. “You’re supposed to be dead. Long dead.” His words echoed in the house of the Goddess with frigid emptiness. In that moment, Yukine understood why the army seemed so relentless in taking down Black Sword…they had funding and orders from the crown itself.
Yato met his stare easily, the bloodied knight's sword dripping onto the carpet.
Yukine pulled on his captain’s coat, “Please, stop this, Yato,” Yukine hissed, “you’re taking this too far! It’s not worth our lives-”
“Guards!” The prince barked, “kill him!”
“Yato!” Yukine begged. Royal knights from the back of the church burst through the side doors and started surrounding the pirates. Daikoku and Kofuku got ready to defend, the rest of the Calamity crew making it to the door, trying to keep the rest out.
Raising a pistol, the captain of the Calamity fired, the rainbow image of the Goddess shattering and falling to the altar. Those in attendance screamed as the priest dove to hide behind the stone table. The groom yelled and covered himself, holding his head as the last of the glass shattered on the carpet. Screams of terror rang out, the knights struggled to decide on attacking or defending, and crew members yelled to retreat.
Yato raised the treasure over his head; a small, round mirror with an eerily pristine surface and gold handles dappled with red gems said to be made from the sun itself. His voice rang with the same promise of power as the depths of the seven seas.
“My name is Yato, I am the Captain of the Calamity, and I have found the Mirror of Amaterasu.”
There was a moment of stunned silence until the prince let out a scoff.
“You expect us to believe you have the mirror of our goddess herself?”
There were some strangled chuckles of the aristocrats.
Yato tiled the mirror.
Prince Kouto covered his sneer and continued, “Is this your desperate attempt at fame to woo the future princess? Wasn’t being exiled for your presumptuous indecency enough of a-”
A sound, a thick vibration akin to that of a tuning fork, made itself known as the temperature rose within the cathedral. The more Yato angled the mirror to reflect the sun’s rays the more it seemed the goddess herself was in attendance of the affair. Yukine pulled on his shirt as sweat began to bead his temple. It was suddenly too bright and when Yukine squinted, all he could see was the sun in Yato’s hands; a wavy golden heat stretching far beyond the mirror, scorching Yato’s fingers.
“H-hey!” Yukine pulled Yato’s elbow. The light was no longer reflected and the air instantly cooled, leaving the pristine round mirror of the goddess. Yato’s fingers sizzled, the skin of his hand already starting to blister, but he paid the pain no mind. He simply stared at the future princess, hidden behind her veil, who had yet to utter a single peep since they crashed her big day.
Yukine’s fists clenched and he watched with sick satisfaction at the horror and disbelief that wafted across the prince’s face. How dare these people think Yato was lying? Yato was a lot of things - and sure theatrical and delusional were some of them - but Yato would never risk their lives for a bluff. The man had been frantic towards the end of their journey, receiving the news of the wedding just as they graced Izanami’s triangle, and pushing them beyond their limits to make it back in time. Still, Yukine couldn’t help but glare at the offending woman in white.
Why her?
Yato wouldn’t risk their lives over a fake, but he seemed to be able to when it came to the future princess.
“G-guards!” Kouto shouted, “seize him! Retrieve the mirror, for the crown!”
“I am the crown now!” Yato hollered back, “and I order everyone to stand down.”
Nobody moved, not renegade nor law enforcer, not prince or captain, nor bride, groom, or the man infatuated. The knights teetered on the line of who’s will to follow, while the crew tried to gauge if this battle would turn south.
Yato took another step forward.
“Our country’s law is that whoever is in possession of the mirror will have their bloodline be blessed by Amaterasu.” Yato recited what every child knew.
He continued walking down the aisle, speaking loud enough for the crowd that gathered outside to hear. “Your family lost this relic ages ago, along with any legal right to the throne and the law is whoever holds the mirror would become king.”
Yato stopped just a few paces away from the stairs to the altar. He held up the mirror again.
“I hold the crown now.”
Teeth grinding, Kouto fought against his shaking knees to scowl at the pirate captain.
“I made a promise,” Yato said softly, “and I’m not going to break it.”
The banished prince stood his ground for a few more moments before taking off, down the altar and out the door. One after the other, the knees of the knights buckled and they bowed her heads to the new king.
Yato’s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, the slow release of the breath sounding throughout the church. When the captain’s voice did come out, it was gentle and unsure.
“Hiyori?”
The bride’s shoulders flinched.
“...Hiyori I…” Yato took a small step forward, “I’m sorry I ran away…I mean, I know you told me to protect - to worry about myself more but still, I’m sorry.
Another step.
“I’m sorry I put you in such an uncomfortable position. I’m sorry I crashed your wedding. And I’m sorry I didn’t write. But most of all: I’m sorry it took me so long to come back to you, and that I couldn’t come sooner.”
The veiled woman turned slightly towards him. As if her puppet strings were finally cut from her doll-like being.
Yato let out a hollow laugh, “I, uh, I got you the mirror? The one you told me about? Just like I promised…But, yeah, um, you probably - uh - heard all that.”
A third step.
“I got it for you - for us - if, um, you still want it? If you still want…me?” The man started to take larger steps towards the bride, the offering held to his chest, eyes pleading.
“I do - I mean - I s-still want you. I’ve always wanted you. Not a day went by where I didn’t think of you, nor was at any point did I stray from my goal…I mean I did make some, um, friends.”
Yato finally turned to look back at his crew, who straightened to attention at finally being acknowledged. Even Yukine, himself, forgot he was a presence there and not some ghost witnessing the scene. The man’s smile was so warm and soft.
“They’re good people, people that I thought you would like,” Yato gestured to them, “I even found a cute kid to call my own. He’s spunky but I thought you would get along.”
Yukien scowled slightly, not liking the way Yato talked like something seemed to be ending.
When Yato turned back, his head was bowed. He looked into the mirror of the gods. His thumb rubbed the crystal surface, unable to smudge it.
“I know a lot of time has passed, and I know I’ve done some terrible things. Things that you wouldn’t approve of…I know it is possible that you no longer want me - or even remember me that well…but I at least wanted to bring you this.”
Dirty, sea-soaked boots hit the pristine marble steps leading up to the altar. The room gasped when he handed all the nation’s power towards her.
“Your family is kind, just as you are, I know you would do right by the people here. I’ve come here to finally marry you, it’s what I’ve always wanted, but only if you’ll have me. At the very least, Hiyori, I wanted to be the one to give you the freedom to live however you please.”
“As promised.” Yato finished. The pirate stared longingly at the woman who held his entire heart in her hands, command over the fearsome captain like the gods commanded the sea. There was a moment, then two.
Then she took a step.
She took one, then another, then another. The bride’s heels clacked one after the next, unwaveringly confident in a way not even Captain Yato’s boots could muster. She stopped just two steps above the captain and spoke only loud enough for those closest to hear.
“You’re late.”
Black boots took silent refuge on the first step just before her.
“I know,” he breathed, “I’m sorry.”
Raising hands that were thick with callouses, scares, and sun damage, Yato ever so gently pinched the ends of the veil and lifted it over her head.
White fabric revealed a girl with round, chestnut eyes, shoulder-length brown hair decorated in flowers, and red lipstick that did not suit her. It revealed a face full of tears, building on eyelashes and only allowing one or two to spill over at a time. The woman’s shoulders did not tremble, her nose didn’t turn pink, nor did her mouth curl into some sort of pained grimace. Instead she - Hiyori - in all her sorrow faced the pirate head on who could only gape in awe.
“I was worried I’d never see you again.” She stated, fighting her voice from trembling.
“Yeah, well,” Yato’s smirk was cocky, “I’m hard to get rid of-”
Hiyori pulled him into her arms, the pristine white fingers of her gloves buried themselves in sweaty hair and bunched on top of the worn fabric of his jacket. Yato’s hug was much more gentle, his arms wrapped lightly around her waist and rested on the cage of her dress. He brought his chin to her shoulder while she buried her relief in his.
There were some hiccups, gasps, and sniffles. When her eyes peeked over his shoulder, Yukine was halted in his approach. It felt as if something sickly was poured into his gut and sloshed around. This woman…this random person Yukine’s captain always babbled about…it was no longer a dream, was it? She wasn’t some delusional fantasy Yukine would have to hear about to no end while they conquered the ocean blue. It wasn’t something the crew could wave off anymore - denying his dreams would ever come true. Hiyori was real, she was here, she loved him back, and she…
She looked so happy to have their captain in her arms.
Yukine couldn’t bring himself to take another step.
“I missed you.” Yato said like a prayer.
Hiyori’s eyes squeezed the last of her tears out and she buried her face in his chest.
“I missed you too.”
The two pulled back and stared at each other for a moment. Yato’s smile grew.
“Well then!” He started to pull her away from the altar, “I found us the cutest place in the north - you still like modern houses, right? - it’s just outside the city -”
“Hold on!” Hiyori stopped before they passed the first row of pews, “W-we’re not getting married.”
“What?” Yato whirled back around.
The crew made some sounds in response to the twist. Yukine bit his lip against the horrid hope that swelled.
Hiyori looked red in the face, “I-we! It’s been years! I didn’t even want to get married right now!”
Whatever expression Yato must have made had her backtracking, sputtering and waving her hand.
“I’m not saying we - you know - that we’ll never get married! I’m just saying…I’ve changed, you’ve changed- and- and-!”
“But Hiyori!” Yato whined. He tried to reach for her other hand, one still clasped around hers, but his other hand was full.
“Here, hold this.” The man passed the Mirror of Amaterasu to the first woman in the pew, who squawked and handed it to her husband, who froze and allowed it to be grabbed by the man next to him. The crew balked as their captain handed off their most valuable treasure and best bargaining chip.
“Nice to see you again,” Yato gave a quick wave to the family. The man now holding the country’s power in his hands was the only one to wave back.
“M-mom! Masaomi! Would you just-!” The former princess-to-be was starting to look irritated, pinching her brows where they knitted together.
“Can we not do this here?” Hiyori hissed.
“My-my daughter will not marry you!” The older woman sputtered at Black Sword.
“I mean we could always banish him, now that we’re royalty and all.” Masaomi mused. His sister hissed at him again and louder she declared.
“I cannot marry you! I won’t!” As her voice echoed, Yukine watched her give pointed looks at their audience. Some had already escaped, whether out of fear or lack of need to witness historical events, but most of the wedding guests remained in their seats. For a moment, Yato flinched, eyes widening slightly. Then, a larger grin formed, one of pure childish excitement.
“No! You will marry me!” Yato shouted back.
“You scumbag! She said no-!” Daikoku’s words were cut off by an elbow to the gut by his wife.
“Too bad! I, the Captain of the Calamity, shall be taking you as my bride! And no one shall stop me, yarrgg!” Yato grabbed Hiyori by the waist and started pulling her towards the sea. As he did, he lowered his hat to share a secret that could only be seen and heard by the bride’s family.
“Give us a year or two, yeah? Thanks, your majesties.” Yato sent them a wink.
“A year!” The father sputtered as he watched his ‘kidnapped’ daughter get dragged down the isle in the wrong direction for a bride.
“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” Yato ushered his crew to turn tail and run.
“Oh no!” Masaomi stood with a swoon, “Whatever shall we do? My baby sister is being kidnapped against her will by pirates! Someone please help us!”
“Arrg! The princess is ours now!” Kofuku declared. The gunshots towards the ceiling were unnecessary, along with the fake pirate accent.
Chaos covered the streets, guards and civilians alike unsure what to make of the gossip that was spreading and the bride being pulled by a pirate crew. Halfway to the pier, some of the crew broke off the collect the others and declare they had just stolen one of the most influential people in the county and will surely be enduring Bishamon’s wrath.
“In here!” Kofuku shoved the woman in white into a store, quickly stealing some clothes and replacing the wedding gown with something less conspicuous.
As the men stood in the alley way, watching the panicked and confused crowd run back and forth, Yato’s foot tapped. Yukine watching the man squirm, he was still giddy from the adrenaline but now it was as if he couldn’t let the woman he’s lived without for so long leave his sight. Arms crossed tight, Yukine scowled at him.
“So that’s it then?”
“Huh?” Yato turned towards the teen.
“You’re done? All because of some dame, you’re going to just toss us all away?” Yukine spat.
“What?” Yato opened his mouth, as if to say more, then shut it again. He did this a few more times and Yukine’s gut sank when he realized there might not be anything to say.
“Yukine, I promised I would get you into school, right? You said you wanted to, didn’t you?”
“I said maybe! And not until I was older! You’ve been tutoring me just fine!” Yukine shot back, “or are you really going to just throw me away once you were done with me?” That lost thought - knowing it was becoming a reality - hurt.
“No,” Yato answered, “you and I are a package deal. We always will be so long as you are my boatswain.”
“Look kid,” Daikoku stepped forward, “even the missus and I were thinking of settlin’ in a few years. Once our contract is up.”
“But-!”
“I can’t keep risking your life forever, Yukine,” Yato added, “you don’t deserve that. And I know how badly you want to be a normal kid.”
Yukine’s looked down, this time being the one at a loss for words. His voice came quieter.
“But still, why her?”
They were interpreted by the girls stumbling out of the side door of the shop, dodging stuff being thrown at them.
“Sorry!” Hiyori called before the door shut, “you can keep the dress! It has real gemstones!” She now wore long pants into boots and a maroon top, complete with a small black hat to block the sun. She subconsciously fixed her shirt the longer Yato stared. Yukine nudged him.
“You look great, Hiyori!” Yato gushed. He ran to envelope her in another hug only to be pushed aside, their moment at the altar long gone.
Hiyori coughed in her hand, cheeks pink, “so, where to next?”
“Well that house on the-”
“No,” she cut Yato off with her hand, “not that. Where are we sailing to next?”
“Sailing?” Yukine balked.
Hiyori offered him such a kind smile he felt a little bad for his previous feelings.
“Of course! It’s what Yato promised me, afterall.”
“What?” Yato joined his crew’s exclaimed question. Before Hiyori could blink, some guards shouted at having found her. Thinking quicker than the pirates, Hiyori grabbed Yato’s wrist as Kofuku and Daikoku ran to defend.
“You said you’re Yato’s child, yes?” She asked. Yukine could only shut his mouth and nod dumbly before Hiyori grabbed his hand too and pulled them in the opposite direction. The captain was second to gather his wits, running alongside the woman with ease.
“He’s my boatswain, Yukine! I found him and I don’t like going places without him,” Yato cheerfully informed, “I think he likes me too, since he doesn’t like it when I wander off.”
Hiyori huffed a laugh and turned to the boy, “well then, thank you for letting me abroad, Yukine. I bet you’ve had your hands full with Yato, thank you for all your hard work.”
Her smile really was so honest, nonjudgmental and friendly, like she’s known him the whole time and accepted him inside and out. More than that, Yato’s smile as he looked at her…it was everything Yukine wanted for him. Just like that, Yukine’s walls melted and his heart bent to accommodate the kind soul.
The blonde swallowed thickly, “You're welcome,” he said with pink cheeks. He didn’t mind making extra space for her, since she made Yato so happy. Besides, Yato tended to be right about these sorts of things. (And if he wasn’t, Yukine would be there to protect him and bring him candies for his heartbreak).
“So, Hiyori,” Kofuku suddenly said at their side, Daikoku taking up the rear as they ran towards the horizon.
“Are you the one who commanded the guards not to have rifles? That was real nice of you,” she purred. Hiyori’s blush darkened when she tried to look away only to meet Yato’s cheeky smile.
“W-well! The jerk promised me! I just didn’t want him to do something stupid!”
“Which he’ll do anyway.” Yukine added.
“Hey! It’s not stupid! I made a promise!” Yato whined, “I promised to sail away, become a pirate, and gather a mighty crew to find the Mirror of Amaterasu. That way I could come back and marry you!”
“And take me away across the ocean,” Hiyori finished.
The pirates blinked at her and she huffed.
“You really forgot that part of the promise? You promised me freedom to marry who I please, become a pirate, and travel across the ocean to find ancient relics and civilizations! That was the whole point! We both had the same dream!” Hiyori explained. The crew groaned in second-hand embarrassment as Yato sputtered.
“Well, yes, but we always intended to settle down somewhere! I just wasn't sure if you still wanted that part anymore…”
“I do,” Hiyori responded strongly. She slowed, unable to keep up with people who ran away for a living. They waited for their new crewmate, Yato and Yukine standing close to help her keep steady. Ahead was a mighty pirate ship made of black wood with a single, black knight's sword stitched into the mast. The way Hiyori took the ship in with nothing but longing and excitement made it feel like she’s been a member of their crew the whole time.
“We’ll settle on land again some day, but for now, I just want to be with you,” she turned back to her on-hold-fiance, “don’t tell me I can’t?”
Yato took his hat off, “your wish is my command.” He gave a mock bow. Daikoku and Kofuku ran ahead to lower the bridge as Captain Black Sword placed it back on his head and started nudging her towards her new home.
“Anything for you, Hiyori,” he promised.
“Just for a little while.” She responded just as quietly.
“A year guaranteed to have you in it?” Yato smiled, “it will be my greatest treasure.”