Binding Curse (
Short Summary
Bishamonten enters Yomi to save Yato with the help of Kofuku and Kokki.
Extended Summary
Hiyori, Yukine, and Bishamon look with horror upon the remnants of Ebisu after his death. Takemikazuchi holds that Heaven is justified in their execution, much to Bishamon's anger.
Hiyori and Yukine wonder how they can get to Yomi since the entrance is sealed off. Kofuku arrives with Daikoku and tells them that she wouldn't allow them to enter on their own, since Yukine's borderlines alone wouldn't be able to protect them from the large number of ayakashi in Yomi. She asks Yukine if he is willing to become a stray and enter Yomi being wielded as another god's shinki. Before Yukine can answer, Bishamon volunteers to go into Yomi and save Yato by herself. She leaves Kuraha on the Near Shore in his human form, choosing to bring Kazuma, Aiha, and Kinuha in their vessel forms.
Kofuku, upset over Ebisu's death, opens a vent, which Bishamon promptly enters. Daikoku remarks with worry that the vent he opened is unusually weak, and wonders if Izanami is deliberately blocking all exits from Yomi. Meanwhile, Bishamon is immediately confronted with a group of ayakashi. Kazuma is unable to navigate the terrain of Yomi, but he advises that they follow the trail of Izanami's hair.
The scene transitions to Izanami dragging Yato to her using her hair which is wrapped around his ankle. However, she only receives Yato's bloody sandal, implying that he cut his foot to help slip it out of her grasp. The Stray wraps his injured foot for him using cloth she tears off from her kimono. Yato emphasizes to her that he saved Ebisu because he wanted to, not for Father's sake.
The Stray is not worried about their situations because she believes that Father will retrieve them from Yomi. Yato privately comments that the Stray is strange for how she's calm in every situation, and she has never stung him. He realizes that she has certain strengths that Yukine lacks, including how Yukine would have been too afraid of the dark had he come with him instead. He then scolds himself for having these thoughts, since Yukine is his blessed vessel. He swears to himself that he would never use Hiiro or work for Father again after they escape Yomi, but the Stray expresses doubt for this resolve and reminds him that Father is Yato's lifeline.
Just then, they are located by Izanami, who grabs them both using her hair as they attempt to run away. Suddenly, Kinuha (in her vessel form) crashes through the surrounding rock, revealing that Bishamonten has arrived. She declares to Izanami that she is there to take Yato back with her.
On the surface, Kofuku and Daikoku attempt to open another vent, but it closes shortly after. Hiyori and Yukine notice a young girl who they think to be a member of the subjugation force standing behind a nearby electric pole.